Partial cuff
OwnerClaude Tihoninventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
To increase the resistance to liquid and substance flow through a lumen of a tubular organ, a cuff comprising a flexible, mesh base member is appended to an exterior wall of the tubular organ such that it only partially surrounds the tubular organ. Ultimately, tissue ingrowth through the mesh base member integrates the cuff into the wall of the tubular organ. When the cuff is applied to the urethra of an incontinent patient, the increased resistance to flow renders the patient continent while still allowing normal voiding. The base member may also support an optional expandable component, e.g., a balloon-like element that can be selectively inflated and/or deflated to restrict the lumen of the tubular organ by a desired degree.
Claims31
A surgically implantable cuff comprising:
- a base member having a length terminating at first and second ends, the base member including a biocompatible material having openings therethrough configured and arranged to facilitate tissue in-growth into at least a portion of the biocompatible material when the cuff is secured to an outer wall of a tubular body organ;
- the base member having a length between the first and second ends dimensioned to span a limited circumferential portion of said outer wall over an arc greater than 180° and less than about 310°, and including a shape-memory alloy configured and arranged with structural rigidity between the first and second ends sufficient to passively limit flow of material through a lumen of the tubular body organ, when the first and second ends are terminated on the tubular body organ, by decreasing elasticity of the outer wall of the tubular body organ via the tissue in-growth and thereby increasing tonicity of said outer wall of the tubular body organ;
- and
- an expandable component attached to the base member between the first and second ends and on one side thereof, the expandable component comprising an inflatable balloon or a pouch containing material that expands with absorption of fluids.
A method for imparting strength and compression to a soft tissue tubular anatomical organ comprising the steps of:
- (a) providing a cuff having a flexible base member of a material permitting tissue in-growth and with first and second ends, the cuff including a shape-memory alloy and being of a length between the first and second ends adapted to only partially surround a tubular organ over an arc greater than 180° and less than about 310°;
- (b) providing a C-shaped clip of a resilient, bio-degradable material dimensioned to partially surround the tubular organ;
- and
- (c) securing the cuff to the tubular organ with said clip such that the cuff is held in contact with an outer wall of the tubular organ for at least a time for allowing said tissue in-growth to take place.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.