Device for controlling flow in a body organ

Abstract

An apparatus for controlling the flow of fluids and / or body substances in a lumen formed by a tissue wall of a patient's organ, comprising: an implantable compression device for gently compressing (i.e., not significantly damaging the blood circulation of the tissue wall) at least a portion of the tissue wall to affect the flow in the lumen; and stimulation means for stimulating a wall portion of the tissue wall. The control device controls the stimulation device to stimulate the wall portion when the compression device presses the wall portion such that contraction of the wall portion due to compression of the compression device further affects flow in the lumen. The device can be used to limit or stop flow in a lumen, or to effectively move fluid in a lumen, with low risk of organ injury.

Description

[0001] This application is a divisional application of a patent for invention with the application number "201911249058.9", the application date of October 10, 2008, and the invention title of "Device for Controlling Flow in Body Organs". Technical Field

[0002] The present invention relates to controlling the flow of fluids and / or other bodily substances in body organs, and more particularly to a device for controlling the flow of fluids and / or other bodily substances in a lumen formed by the tissue wall of a body organ, such as (but not limited to) the esophagus, stomach, intestine, urinary bladder, urethra, and blood vessels. Background Art

[0003] Some diseases prevent patients from maintaining normal control over the flow of fluids and / or other bodily substances in the lumen of body organs. (The term "patient" generally includes humans, but may also include animals). For example, urinary incontinence is a common disease that causes great embarrassment to patients. Patients with urinary incontinence usually lose complete control over the urine flow in the urethra due to urethral sphincter dysfunction. Anal incontinence often occurs due to anal sphincter dysfunction, resulting in uncontrolled excretion of substances through the anus. Erectile dysfunction is usually caused by the inability to sufficiently reduce blood flow from the penis to achieve erection. Reflux disease is usually caused by cardia dysfunction, resulting in gastric acid flowing back into the esophagus during the movement of the gastric wall during digestion.

[0004] One solution to the problem of sphincter dysfunction is to implant an artificial sphincter to replace the dysfunctional sphincter. Various artificial sphincters have been used in the past. These artificial sphincters include cuffs, clamping elements, or inflatable bands applied externally around the body organ connected to the dysfunctional sphincter.

[0005] For example, U.S. Patent 3,750,194 discloses a hydraulic cuff that is applied around the urethra of a patient with urinary incontinence. The hydraulic fluid flowing into the hydraulic cuff causes the cuff to squeeze the urethra and restrict the fluid flow through the urethra.

[0006] U.S. Patent 6,074,341 discloses a mechanical device in the form of a ring member that is applied around a body organ to replace a lost or damaged organ sphincter. The ring member includes a wire for compressing the relevant organ to close its lumen.

[0007] A common drawback of all prior art artificial sphincters is that fibrosis may form along the artificial sphincter over time and may lead to artificial sphincter dysfunction. Thus, the fibrosis formed will sooner or later form a hard fibrous layer, and the hard fibrous layer may make it more difficult for the artificial sphincter to function.

[0008] Another serious drawback is that elements that compress, clamp, or constrict body organs may damage the organ tissue wall. In this way, the compression action of the element on the organ causes the element to potentially penetrate into the organ over time and, in the worst case, penetrate the compressed part of the organ wall. Additionally, blood circulation in the compressed part of the organ tissue wall is ultimately impaired due to the pressure exerted by the element. Thus, poor blood circulation or, worse, blood circulation stoppage leads to the deterioration of the compressed tissue.

[0009] One solution for preventing tissue deterioration due to poor blood circulation is to apply two or more separately operable compression elements along the organ tissue wall portion and operate the elements sequentially. Thus, each tissue wall portion will have time to recover, that is, to restore normal blood circulation, while compressing one of the other tissue wall portions at the same time. However, devices designed according to this solution have several drawbacks. First, such a device would require a large amount of space, making it practically non-implantable. Second, such a device operates to move the compression element between a compressed and a non-compressed position day and night and would require a large power supply. Such a large power supply would make it necessary to implant a very large high-capacity battery and / or a complex system for continuously transmitting wireless energy from outside the patient's body to frequently charge the rechargeable battery implanted in the patient. Thus, such a device would be impractical or even unrealistic due to its large size and high power consumption. Third, a complex control system is required to control the moving element. Finally, such a complex device of the aforementioned type would significantly increase the cost of treating sphincter dysfunction.

[0010] Another solution to the sphincter dysfunction problem that has been used previously lies in electrically stimulating the sphincter to restore its normal function, that is, to contract and close its associated lumen. This solution is effective when the normal function of the sphincter is slightly weakened but not completely stopped. European Patent Application 1004330 A1 discloses an example of such a solution, in which electrical pulses are transmitted to the lower esophageal sphincter of a patient suffering from reflux disease to minimize reflux. However, the esophageal sphincter has to be continuously stimulated with electrical pulses to keep it closed, except when the patient is eating, which can cause the stimulating effect to decrease over time. A more serious defect of this solution is that continuous stimulation over time can cause the tissue to deteriorate due to poor blood circulation.

[0011] Restoring the sphincter function of a dysfunctional sphincter using electrical stimulation is only feasible when the sphincter responds adequately to the stimulation (i.e., closes the associated lumen). In the case where the sphincter function of the sphincter has completely stopped or the sphincter has been removed from the patient's body, electrical stimulation cannot be employed.

[0012] Electrical stimulation of body organs other than the sphincter may only insignificantly affect the flow in the relevant organ. For example, when the organ is the small intestine of an anal incontinence patient, electrical stimulation of the small intestine affects the excrement flow but may not completely seal the excrement passage, at least not completely by using a low stimulation intensity that is harmless to the human body. Summary of the Invention

[0013] The object of the present invention is to provide a device for controlling the flow of fluid and / or body substances in a lumen formed by the tissue wall of a body organ, so as to at least substantially or even completely eliminate the problem of tissue wall injury caused by implanting prior art devices to compress such body organs.

[0014] For this purpose according to the present invention, there is provided a device for controlling the flow of fluid and / or body substances in a lumen formed by the tissue wall of a body organ, the device comprising: an implantable compression device for gently compressing at least a part of the tissue wall to affect the flow in the lumen; a stimulation device for stimulating a wall part of the tissue wall; and a control device for controlling the stimulation device to stimulate the wall part when the compression device compresses the wall part, so that the contraction of the wall part further affects the flow in the lumen.

[0015] The present invention provides a favorable combination of a compression device and a stimulation device, which results in a two-stage effect on the flow of fluid and / or other body substances in the lumen of a body organ. Thus, the compression device can gently compress the wall part by applying a relatively weak force against the wall part, while the stimulation device can stimulate the compressed wall part to achieve the desired final effect on the flow in the lumen. The term "gently compress a part of the tissue wall" should be understood as compressing the wall part without significantly hindering the blood circulation of the tissue wall.

[0016] Preferably, the stimulation device is adapted to stimulate different regions of the wall part when the compression device compresses the wall part, and the control device controls the stimulation device to intermittently and independently stimulate each region of the wall part. This intermittent and independent stimulation of different regions of the organ wall part allows the wall part tissue to maintain substantially normal blood circulation during the operation of the device of the present invention.

[0017] The combination of the compression and stimulation devices enables the device of the present invention to be applied to any part of any type of body organ, particularly but not limited to tubular body organs, which is a significant advancement over the prior art compared to existing stimulation devices that are limited to electrically stimulating dysfunctional sphincters.

[0018] In most applications of the present invention, there will be a need for daily adjustment of the implanted compression device. Thus, in a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the compression device is adjustable to be able to adjust the compression of the wall portion as needed, wherein the control device controls the compression device to adjust the compression of the wall portion. The control devices can control the compression and stimulation devices independently of each other and simultaneously. Optionally, the control device can control the stimulation device to stimulate or not stimulate the wall portion, while the control device controls the compression device to change the compression of the wall portion.

[0019] Initially, the compression device can be calibrated by using the control device to control the stimulation device to stimulate the wall portion, while simultaneously controlling the compression device to adjust the compression of the wall portion until the desired flow restriction in the lumen is obtained.

[0020] Flow restriction

[0021] The device of the present invention is well adapted to restrict the flow of fluids and / or other bodily substances in the lumen of a body organ. Thus, in a main embodiment of the present invention, the compression device is adapted to compress the wall portion to at least restrict the flow in the lumen, and the control device controls the stimulation device such that the compressed wall portion contracts, so as to at least further restrict the flow in the lumen. In particular, the compression device is adapted to compress the wall portion to a compressed state in which blood circulation in the compressed wall portion is substantially unrestricted and at least the flow in the lumen is restricted; the control device controls the stimulation device such that the wall portion contracts, so as to at least further restrict the flow in the lumen when the wall portion is held in the compressed state by the compression device.

[0022] The compression and stimulation devices can be controlled to compress and stimulate to a certain extent, depending on the flow restriction desired to be achieved in the specific application of the device of the present invention. Thus, according to a first flow restriction option, the control device controls the compression device to compress the wall portion such that the flow in the lumen is restricted but not stopped, and controls the stimulation device to stimulate the compressed wall portion such that the wall portion contracts, so that the flow in the lumen is further restricted but not stopped. More precisely, the control device can control the stimulation device in a first mode to stimulate the compressed wall portion to further restrict but not stop the flow in the lumen, and:

[0023] a) control the stimulation device in a second mode to discontinue the stimulation of the wall portion to increase the flow in the lumen; or

[0024] b) control the stimulation and compression devices in the second mode to discontinue the stimulation of the wall portion and release the wall portion to restore the flow in the lumen.

[0025] According to the second flow restriction option, the control device controls the compression device to compress the wall portion such that the flow in the lumen is restricted but not stopped, and controls the stimulation device to stimulate the compressed wall portion to cause the wall portion to contract such that the flow in the lumen stops. More precisely, the control device may control the stimulation device in a first mode to stimulate the compressed wall portion to further restrict but not stop the flow in the lumen, and:

[0026] a) control the stimulation device in a second mode to discontinue stimulation of the wall portion to allow flow in the lumen; or

[0027] b) control the stimulation and compression devices in the second mode to discontinue stimulation of the wall portion and release the wall portion to restore flow in the lumen.

[0028] According to the third flow restriction option, the control device controls the compression device to compress the wall portion such that the flow in the lumen is substantially stopped, and controls the stimulation device to stimulate the compressed wall portion to cause the wall portion to contract such that the flow in the lumen is completely stopped. More precisely, the control device may control the stimulation device in a first mode to stimulate the compressed wall portion to completely stop the flow in the lumen, and:

[0029] a) control the stimulation device in a second mode to discontinue stimulation of the wall portion to allow flow in the lumen; or

[0030] b) control the stimulation and compression devices in the second mode to discontinue stimulation of the wall portion and release the wall portion to restore flow in the lumen.

[0031] For example, when the present invention is used to control the flow of excrement in an anal incontinence patient, the third flow restriction option may be employed. Thus, the restriction and stimulation devices may be implanted on any part of the large or small intestine of an incontinent patient to serve as an artificial anal sphincter. Between defecations, the control device controls the compression device to gently flatten a portion of the intestine to at least almost completely stop the flow of excrement in the intestine, and controls the stimulation device to stimulate the flattened portion to ensure that the flow of excrement is completely stopped. Since the control device controls the stimulation device to intermittently and independently stimulate various regions of the wall portion, as shown in paragraph

[0015] above, the risk of the implanted compression device damaging the intestine over time is significantly reduced or even eliminated, and the stimulation effect is ensured to be maintained over time. When the patient desires to defecate, the control device controls the compression and stimulation devices to release the intestine portion and discontinue stimulation, whereby excrement can pass through the intestine portion. However, it should be noted that in some other applications of the present invention, such as when the present invention is used to control the flow of urine in a urinary incontinence patient, it may be sufficient to simply discontinue stimulation to enable fluid flow through the relevant organ.

[0032] When the stimulation device stimulates the compressed wall portion to contract so that the flow in the lumen stops, the control device suitably controls the stimulation device to simultaneously and cyclically stimulate the compressed wall portion of the first length and the compressed wall portion of the second length located downstream of the first length, wherein the control device controls the stimulation device to gradually stimulate the first length in the upstream direction of the lumen and gradually stimulate the second length in the downstream direction of the lumen.

[0033] The control device can control the stimulation device to change the stimulation of the wall portion in response to sensed patient physiological parameters or device functional parameters. For example, the control device can control the stimulation device to increase the stimulation intensity of the wall portion in response to a sensed increase in pressure in the lumen so that the flow in the lumen remains stopped. Any sensor for sensing patient physiological parameters (such as the pressure in the patient's body related to the pressure in the lumen) can be provided, and the control device controls the stimulation device in response to a signal from the sensor. Such a sensor can sense, for example, the patient's intra-abdominal pressure, the pressure received by the implanted compression device, or the pressure on the wall of a body organ tissue.

[0034] For example, a pressure sensor can be employed when the present invention is used to control the urine flow of an incontinent patient. Thus, the compression and stimulation devices can be applied to the urethra or urinary bladder of an incontinent patient to serve as an artificial sphincter, wherein the compression device compresses the urethra or urinary bladder so that the urine flow substantially stops, and the stimulation device stimulates the compressed urethra or urinary bladder to contract, thereby completely stopping the urine flow. The control device controls the stimulation device to increase the stimulation intensity in response to a signal from the pressure sensor, wherein the pressure sensor senses a sudden increase in the pressure in the patient's bladder or abdominal cavity, whereby the urine flow remains stopped and the patient maintains continence. In this way, the present invention ensures that the patient can maintain continence even when he or she sneezes or coughs or performs other physical activities that cause a sudden increase in the pressure in the patient's bladder / urinary tract.

[0035] According to the fourth flow restriction option, the control device controls the compression device to compress the wall portion so that the flow in the lumen stops. More precisely, the control device can control the compression device to compress the compressed wall portion to stop the flow in the lumen in a first mode and abort the compression of the wall portion to resume the flow in the lumen in a second mode. In this case, the control device controls the stimulation device to stimulate the wall portion only when needed. A sensor for sensing the physiological parameters of the patient's body related to the pressure in the lumen can be provided, and the control device controls the stimulation device in response to a signal from the sensor. Such physiological parameters can be the patient's intra-abdominal pressure, and the sensor can be a pressure sensor.

[0036] For example, when the present invention is used to control the urine flow of an incontinent patient in a manner similar to that described in paragraph

[0026] above, a fourth flow restriction option can be employed. However, in this example, the stimulation is applied only when it is necessary to maintain continence. Thus, the control device controls the stimulation device to stimulate the urethra or the urinary bladder to contract in response to a signal from a pressure sensor, where the pressure sensor senses a sudden increase in pressure in the patient's bladder or abdominal cavity when the patient sneezes or coughs or performs other physical activities. As a result, the urine flow remains stopped and the patient maintains continence.

[0037] In some applications of the present invention, the implanted compression device can be designed to normally hold a portion of the patient's organ wall in a compressed state. In such a case, the control device is conveniently used by the patient when needed to control the stimulation device to stimulate the compressed tissue wall portion, preferably while also adjusting the stimulation intensity, so that the wall portion contracts and the flow in the lumen is at least further restricted or stopped, and to control the stimulation device to abort the stimulation. More precisely, the control device can:

[0038] a) In a first mode, control the stimulation device to stimulate the compressed wall portion to further restrict the flow in the lumen, and in a second mode, control the stimulation device to abort the stimulation of the wall portion to increase the flow in the lumen; or

[0039] b) In a first mode, control the stimulation device to stimulate the compressed wall portion to stop the flow in the lumen, and in a second mode, control the stimulation device to abort the stimulation of the wall portion to allow the flow in the lumen.

[0040] Either the first mode or the second mode can be temporary.

[0041] The compression device can include: a plurality of discrete compression elements adapted to respectively compress any wall portion of a series of wall portions of the patient's tissue wall. The control device can control the compression device to activate the compression elements randomly or according to a predetermined order. In such a case, the stimulation device includes stimulation elements located on the compression elements, where the control device controls the stimulation device to activate the stimulation elements to stimulate any wall portion of the series of wall portions compressed by the compression elements, so that the organ contracts to close the organ lumen.

[0042] Alternatively, the control device controls the compression device to activate the compression elements to compress all wall portions of the series of wall portions, and controls the stimulation device to activate the stimulation elements to randomly or according to a predetermined order stimulate any compressed wall portion to close the lumen of the organ. The design of the compression device using a plurality of discrete compression elements can counteract the development of hard fibrosis at the site where the compression device is implanted.

[0043] Movement of fluid and / or other bodily substances within a lumen

[0044] The device of the present invention can be used to actively move fluid and / or other bodily substances within the lumen of a patient's organ, as described in the embodiments of the present invention listed hereinafter.

[0045] 1) The control device controls the compression device to close the lumen at the upstream end or the downstream end of the wall portion, and then controls the compression device to compress the remaining portion of the wall portion to move the fluid and / or other bodily substances within the lumen.

[0046] 1a) According to a first alternative of the foregoing embodiment (1), when the compression device compresses the remaining portion of the wall portion, the control device controls the stimulation device to stimulate the wall portion.

[0047] 1b) According to a second alternative, the compression device is adapted to compress the wall portion to restrict but not stop the flow within the lumen. The control device controls the stimulation device to stimulate the wall portion compressed by the compression device at the upstream end or the downstream end of the wall portion to close the lumen, and at the same time controls the compression device to increase the compression of the wall portion to move the fluid and / or other bodily substances within the lumen.

[0048] 2) The compression device is adapted to compress the wall portion to restrict or change the flow within the lumen, and the control device controls the stimulation device to gradually stimulate the compressed wall portion in the upstream or downstream direction along the lumen, such that the gradual contraction of the wall portion moves the fluid and / or other bodily substances within the lumen.

[0049] 3) The control device controls the compression device to change the compression of different regions of the wall portion, such that the wall portion is gradually compressed in the upstream or downstream direction along the lumen to move the fluid and / or other bodily substances within the lumen. The compression device may include at least one elongated compression element extending along the wall portion, wherein the control device controls the elongated compression element to gradually compress the wall portion in the upstream or downstream direction along the lumen.

[0050] 3a) According to a preferred alternative of the foregoing embodiment (3), the control device controls the stimulation device to gradually stimulate the compressed wall portion, so that the gradual contraction of the wall portion is coordinated or consistent with the gradual compression of the wall portion performed by the compression device. When the compression device includes at least one elongated compression element, the control device controls the elongated compression element to gradually compress the wall portion in the upstream or downstream direction along the inner cavity. Suitably, the elongated compression element includes: a contact surface that contacts a length of the wall portion when the compression device compresses the wall portion in terms of scale; the stimulation device includes: a plurality of stimulation elements distributed along the contact surface, such that when the control device controls the stimulation device to stimulate the wall portion, the stimulation elements stimulate different regions of the wall portion along the length of the wall portion.

[0051] 4) The compression device is adapted to compress any one of a series of wall portions of the tissue wall to at least restrict the flow in the inner cavity. The control device controls the compression device to continuously compress the wall portions in the series of wall portions, so that the fluid and / or body substances in the inner cavity move in a peristaltic manner.

[0052] 4a) According to a first alternative of embodiment (4), the compression device includes: a plurality of compression elements adapted to respectively compress the wall portions of the tissue wall. The control device controls the compression device to sequentially activate the compression elements, such that the wall portions in the series of wall portions are continuously compressed along the organ, thereby moving the fluid and / or body substances in the inner cavity.

[0053] 4b) According to a second alternative of embodiment (4), the compression device includes: at least one compression element capable of moving along the wall of the organ to continuously compress the wall portions in the series of wall portions; wherein the control device controls the compression device to move the compression element cyclically along the wall portions in the series of wall portions. Preferably, the compression device includes a plurality of compression elements, each compression element capable of moving along the wall of the organ to continuously compress the wall portions in the series of wall portions; wherein the control device controls the compression device to move the compression elements sequentially and cyclically along the wall portions in the series of wall portions. In particular, the compression device includes a rotor carrying the compression elements, and the control device controls the rotor to rotate such that each compression element cyclically compresses the wall portions in the series of wall portions. Suitably, each compression element includes a roller for rolling on the wall of the organ to compress the wall of the organ.

[0054] 4c) According to a preferred alternative of the foregoing embodiment (4), the stimulating device stimulates a wall portion in the series of wall portions compressed by the compressing device to close the inner cavity. When the compressing device includes at least one compressing element, the stimulating device suitably includes at least one stimulating element located on the compressing element for stimulating the wall portion compressed by the compressing element to close the inner cavity.

[0055] When the compressing device includes a plurality of compressing elements, the stimulating device suitably includes stimulating elements located on the compressing elements for stimulating the wall portions compressed by the compressing elements to close the inner cavity.

[0056] 5) The compressing device is adapted to compress any one of a series of wall portions of a tissue wall to restrict the flow in the inner cavity, wherein the compressing device includes a plurality of compressing elements adapted to compress the wall portions of the tissue wall, and the stimulating device includes stimulating elements located on the compressing elements for stimulating the wall portions compressed by the compressing elements to close the inner cavity. The control device controls the compressing device to activate the compressing elements to compress the wall portions in the series of wall portions without completely closing the organ inner cavity, and controls the stimulating device to activate the stimulating elements to sequentially stimulate the wall portions, so that the wall portions in the series of wall portions continuously contract along the organ to move the fluid and / or other body substances in the patient's inner cavity.

[0057] 6) The compressing device includes a first compressing element for compressing the wall portion at the upstream end of the wall portion, a second compressing element for compressing the wall portion at the downstream end of the wall portion, and a third compressing element for compressing the wall portion between the downstream end and the downstream end of the wall portion. The control device controls the first, second, and third compressing elements to compress and release the wall portion independently of each other. More particularly, the control device controls the first or second compressing element to compress the wall portion at the upstream end or the downstream end of the wall portion to close the inner cavity, and controls the third compressing element to compress the wall portion between the upstream end and the downstream end of the wall portion, whereby the fluid and / or other body substances contained in the wall portion between the upstream end and the downstream end of the wall portion move downstream or upstream in the inner cavity. Optionally, when the third compressing element compresses the wall portion, the control device controls the stimulating device to stimulate the wall portion between the upstream end and the downstream end of the wall portion.

[0058] 6a) According to a first alternative, the control device controls the first compression element to compress the wall portion at the upstream end of the wall portion to restrict the flow in the lumen, and controls the stimulation device to stimulate the compressed wall portion at the upstream end to close the lumen. When the lumen is closed at the upstream end of the compressed wall portion, the control device controls the third compression element to compress the wall portion between the upstream end and the downstream end of the wall portion, and optionally controls the stimulation device to stimulate the wall portion while the wall portion is compressed by the third compression element. As a result, the fluid and / or other body substances contained in the wall portion between the upstream end and the downstream end of the wall portion move downstream in the lumen.

[0059] 6b) According to a second alternative, the control device controls the second compression element to compress the wall portion at the downstream end of the wall portion to restrict the flow in the lumen, and controls the stimulation device to stimulate the compressed wall portion at the downstream end to close the lumen. When the lumen is closed at the downstream end of the compressed wall portion, the control device controls the third compression element to compress the wall portion between the upstream end and the downstream end of the wall portion, and optionally controls the stimulation device to stimulate the wall portion while the wall portion is compressed by the third compression element. As a result, the fluid and / or other body substances contained in the wall portion between the upstream end and the downstream end of the wall portion move upstream in the lumen.

[0060] In any of the foregoing embodiments (1) to (6), the stimulation device can stimulate the wall portion by an electrical pulse.

[0061] When the organ is tubular (such as the small intestine), a particularly long tubular organ wall portion can be surgically prepared to extend along a zigzag line, wherein adjacent walls are sutured together by two rows of parallel seams, and the adjacent walls are cut through between the two rows of seams. As a result, the lumen of such a long organ wall portion can be significantly expanded. In this case, the compression device of the device of the present invention can move a significantly larger amount of fluid each time it compresses the long organ wall portion.

[0062] The various solutions for stopping the flow in the lumen of the organ under the heading "Flow restriction" described above can also be used in any of the foregoing embodiments (1a), (1b), (4a), (5), (6), (6a) and (6b).

[0063] Stimulation

[0064] When stimulating nerve or muscle tissue, if the stimulation is not carried out correctly, there is a risk that the tissue will be damaged or degraded over time. The device of the present invention is designed to reduce or even eliminate this risk. Thus, according to the present invention, the control device controls the stimulation device to intermittently stimulate different regions of the organ wall portion such that at least two of the regions are stimulated at different time points, that is, the stimulation is switched from one region to another over time. In addition, the control device controls the stimulation device such that the currently unstimulated regions in different regions have time to return to a substantially normal blood circulation before the stimulation device stimulates that region again. Moreover, the control device controls the stimulation device to stimulate each region in consecutive time periods, where each time period is short enough to maintain a satisfactory blood circulation in the region until the end of the time period. This provides the following advantage: The device of the present invention enables continuous stimulation of the organ wall portion to achieve the desired flow control while substantially maintaining the natural physiological properties of the organ over time without the risk of organ damage.

[0065] Moreover, by changing the body part that stimulates the organ over time as described above, the following advantage can be achieved: changing the stimulation pattern of the organ to achieve the desired flow control.

[0066] The control device can control the stimulation device to stimulate one or more regions of the wall portion at a moment, for example, by sequentially stimulating different regions. Moreover, the control device can control the stimulation device to cyclically transmit the stimulation to the regions along the wall portion, preferably, controlled according to a determined stimulation pattern. In order to achieve the desired tissue wall response during the stimulation of the tissue wall, the control device can control the stimulation device to change the stimulation intensity of the wall portion, preferably, cyclically change the stimulation intensity.

[0067] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the control device controls the stimulation device to intermittently stimulate the regions of the wall portion by pulses, and the pulses preferably form a pulse sequence. At least a first region and a second region of the regions of the wall portion can be repeatedly stimulated by a first pulse sequence and a second pulse sequence respectively such that the first and second pulse sequences are switched with each other over time. For example, while the second region is not stimulated by the second pulse sequence, the first region can be stimulated by the first pulse sequence, and vice versa. Alternatively, the first and second pulse sequences can be switched with each other such that the first and second pulse sequences at least partially overlap each other.

[0068] The pulse sequence can be constructed in a variety of different ways. Thus, the control device can control the stimulation device to change the amplitude of the pulses of the pulse sequence, the duty factor of the individual pulses of each pulse sequence, the width of each pulse of the pulse sequence, the length of each pulse sequence, the repetition frequency of the pulses of the pulse sequence, the repetition frequency of the pulse sequence, the number of pulses of each pulse sequence, and / or the cut-off time period between the pulse sequences. A variety of pulse sequences with different configurations can be used to achieve the desired effect.

[0069] In the case where the control device controls the stimulation device to change the cut-off time period between the pulse sequences for stimulating the wall portion response area, it is also possible to control each cut-off time period between the pulse sequences to last long enough so that when the area is not stimulated during the cut-off time period, substantially normal blood circulation is restored in the area.

[0070] Electrical stimulation

[0071] According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the stimulation device is an electrically actuated stimulation device that electrically stimulates a tissue wall portion of a patient's body organ, preferably by means of electrical pulses. This embodiment is particularly suitable for applications in which the wall portion includes muscle fibers responsive to electrical stimulation. In this embodiment, when the wall portion is in a compressed state, the control device controls the stimulation device to stimulate the wall portion by means of electrical pulses, preferably in the form of an electrical pulse sequence, such that the wall portion contracts. Of course, the configuration of the electrical pulse sequence can be similar to the aforementioned pulse sequence, and the control device can control the stimulation device to electrically stimulate different regions of the organ wall in the same manner as described above.

[0072] Suitably, the electrical stimulation device includes at least one and preferably a plurality of electrical elements, such as electrodes, for engaging and electrically stimulating the wall portion. Optionally, the electrical elements can be arranged in a fixed orientation relative to each other. The control device controls the electrical stimulation device to supply power to the electrical elements, either one electrical element at a time or a group of electrical elements at a time. Preferably, the control device controls the electrical stimulation device to energize each element cyclically by means of electrical pulses. Optionally, the control device can control the stimulation device to energize the electrical elements such that the electrical elements are energized one by one in sequence, or a plurality of or a group of the electrical elements are energized simultaneously. Moreover, the group of electrical elements can be energized randomly or in sequence according to a predetermined pattern.

[0073] The electrical component can be formed into an electrical component of any style. Preferably, the electrical component can be formed into an electrical component of an elongated style, and the component can be applied to the wall of the patient's organ such that the electrical component of the elongated style extends longitudinally along a wall portion of the organ, and the component abuts a corresponding area of the wall portion. The electrical component of the elongated style can include one or more rows of electrical components extending longitudinally along the organ wall. Each row of electrical components can form a straight, spiral, or zigzag electrical component path or any form of path. The control device can control the stimulation device to continuously energize the electrical components longitudinally along the electrical component of the elongated style in a direction the same as or opposite to the flow direction in the patient's lumen.

[0074] Optionally, the control device can control the stimulation device to continuously energize the electrical components from a position at approximately the center of the compressed wall portion towards both ends of the electrical component of the elongated style. When the organ lumen remains closed for a relatively long time, the control device can control the stimulation device to energize the electrical components such that the energized electrical components form two energized electrical component waves that simultaneously travel from the center of the compressed wall portion in two opposite directions towards both ends of the electrical component of the elongated style. Such energized electrical component waves can be repeated multiple times without harming the organ and without causing the fluid or gas in the organ lumen to move in any direction.

[0075] Suitably, the control device controls the stimulation device to energize the electrical components such that the currently energized electrical components form at least one group of adjacent energized electrical components. According to a first alternative, the components in the group of energized electrical components form an energized electrical component path. The energized electrical component path can at least partially surround the patient's organ. In a second alternative, the components in the group of energized electrical components can form two energized electrical component paths extending on opposite sides of the patient's organ, and the energized electrical component paths preferably extend substantially transverse to the flow direction in the organ lumen. In a third alternative, the components in the group of energized electrical components can form more than two energized electrical component paths extending on different sides of the patient's organ, and the energized electrical component paths preferably extend substantially transverse to the flow direction in the patient's lumen.

[0076] According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the electrical elements form multiple sets of elements, and the sets form a series of sets extending along the patient's organ in the flow direction in the patient's lumen. The electrical elements in each set of electrical elements can form an element path that at least partially surrounds the patient's organ. In a first alternative, the electrical elements in each set of electrical elements can form more than two electrical element paths extending on different sides of the patient's organ, and the electrical element paths preferably extend substantially transversely to the flow direction in the patient's lumen. The control device can control the stimulation device to energize the grouped electrical elements in the series of sets randomly or according to a predetermined pattern. Alternatively, the control device can control the stimulation device to continuously energize the grouped electrical elements in the series of sets in a direction the same as or opposite to the flow direction of the patient's lumen or from a position substantially at the center of the compressed wall portion in both directions. For example, the grouped energized electrical elements can form a traveling wave of energized electrical elements, as described above; that is, the control device can control the stimulation device to energize the grouped electrical elements such that the energized electrical elements form two energized electrical element waves traveling simultaneously from the center of the compressed wall portion in two opposite directions towards the ends of the elongated pattern electrical elements.

[0077] A structure for holding the electrical elements in a fixed orientation can be provided. Although the structure can be discrete from the compression device, preferably, the structure can be integrated into the compression device, which is a practical design and beneficial for implanting the compression and stimulation devices. When the electrical elements form elongated pattern electrical elements, the structure can be applied to the patient's organ such that the elongated pattern electrical elements extend along the organ in the same direction as the flow direction in the patient's lumen, and the elements abut corresponding regions of the organ wall portion.

[0078] Thermal stimulation

[0079] In another embodiment of the present invention, the stimulation device thermally stimulates the wall portion of the organ. Thus, the control device can control the stimulation device to cool the wall portion when the wall portion is compressed to cause the wall portion to contract. For example, the compression device can compress the wall portion to at least restrict the flow in the lumen, and the control device can control the stimulation device to cool the compressed wall portion to cause the wall portion to contract such that the flow in the lumen is at least further restricted, or further restricted but not stopped, or stopped. Alternatively, when the wall portion is compressed and contracted, the control device can control the stimulation device to heat the wall portion to cause the wall portion to expand. When the wall portion includes a blood vessel, the control device can control the stimulation device to cool the blood vessel to cause the blood vessel to contract or heat the blood vessel to cause the blood vessel to expand. If feasible, thermal stimulation can be implemented in any embodiment of the present invention, and the thermal stimulation can be controlled in response to various sensors (e.g., strain, motion, or pressure sensors).

[0080] Sensor-controlled compression and / or stimulation device

[0081] As described above, the device may include: at least one implantable sensor, wherein the control device controls the compression device and / or the stimulation device in response to a signal from the sensor. Generally, the sensor directly or indirectly senses at least one physiological parameter of the patient, or at least one functional parameter of the device, or at least one functional parameter of a medical implant of the patient.

[0082] A variety of different types of sensors can be used to sense physiological parameters. For example, a motion sensor for sensing the motion of an organ, i.e., natural contractions, such as gastric or intestinal contractions; a pressure sensor for sensing the pressure in an organ; a strain sensor for sensing the strain of an organ; a flow sensor for sensing the fluid flow in the lumen of an organ; a spectrophotometric sensor; a pH sensor for sensing the acidity or alkalinity of the fluid in the lumen of an organ; an oxygen sensor for sensing the oxygen content of the fluid in the lumen of an organ; or a sensor for sensing the distribution of stimulation on the stimulated organ. Any conceivable sensor for sensing any other type of useful physiological parameter can be used.

[0083] A variety of different types of sensors for sensing device functional parameters can also be used to control the compression device and / or the stimulation device. For example, a sensor for sensing the electrical parameters of the electronic components of the implanted device, or a sensor for sensing the performance of the motor of the implanted device.

[0084] The sensor may include a pressure sensor for sensing the pressure in the patient's body related to the pressure in the lumen of a patient's body organ as a physiological parameter, wherein the control device controls the compression device and / or the stimulation device to change the compression of the patient's wall portion in response to the pressure sensor sensing a predetermined value of the measured pressure.

[0085] Alternatively, or in combination with the pressure sensor, a position sensor may be provided for sensing the orientation of the patient relative to the horizontal line as a physiological parameter. The position sensor may be of a biocompatible type, as shown in U.S. Patents 4,942,668 and 5,900,909. For example, the control device may control the compression device and / or the stimulation device to change the compression of the patient's wall portion in response to the position sensor sensing that the patient has taken a substantially horizontal orientation, i.e., the patient has lain down.

[0086] The aforementioned sensors can be used in any embodiment of the present invention when applicable.

[0087] The control device can control the compression device and / or the stimulation device to change the compression on the patient's wall portion in response to the time of day. For this purpose, the control device can include a clock mechanism for controlling the compression device and / or the stimulation device to change the compression on the patient's wall portion during different time periods of the day to increase or decrease the influence on the flow in the lumen. In the case where any of the foregoing types of sensors are provided to sense physiological parameters or functional parameters, if the parameter sensed by the sensor does not precede the clock mechanism, the clock mechanism can be used to control the compression device and / or the stimulation device; or, if the clock mechanism does not precede the sensor, the sensor can be used to control the compression device and / or the stimulation device. Suitably, the control device generates an indicator in response to a signal from the sensor, and the indicator is, for example, an acoustic signal or display information.

[0088] The control device can include: an implantable internal control unit for directly controlling the compression device and / or the stimulation device in response to a signal from the sensor. The control device can further include: a wireless remote controller adapted to set the control parameters of the internal control unit from outside the patient's body without mechanically penetrating the patient's body. At least one control parameter that can be set by the wireless remote controller is a physiological parameter or a functional parameter. Suitably, the internal control unit includes the foregoing clock mechanism, and the wireless remote controller is also adapted to set the clock mechanism.

[0089] Alternatively, the control device can include an external control unit outside the patient's body for controlling the compression device and / or the stimulation device in response to a signal from the sensor.

[0090] Adjustable compression device

[0091] In various alternative embodiments of the present invention, the compression device is adjustable. In these embodiments, there is an operating device for operating the adjustable compression device to change the compression on the patient wall portion of the organ, and the compression and stimulation devices form a compression / stimulation unit. Preferably, the compression and stimulation devices of the compression / stimulation unit are integrated into a single piece suitable for implementation. The compression device of the unit includes: a contact surface that is sized to contact a length of the patient organ tissue wall portion; the stimulation device of the unit includes: a plurality of stimulation elements arranged and distributed along the contact surface. When the control device controls the stimulation device to stimulate the wall portion, the stimulation elements stimulate different regions of the wall portion along the length of the wall portion. The stimulation elements preferably include the electrical elements as described above for stimulating the wall portion by electrical pulses. However, in most applications of the present invention, other types of stimulation, such as thermal stimulation, can be suitably employed.

[0092] The operating device operates an adjustable compression device of the compression / stimulation unit, and its operating mode depends on the design of the compression device, as will be illustrated in the examples of the following embodiments. 1) The compression device includes at least two elongated clamping elements, the clamping elements having contact surfaces and extending along wall portions on different sides of the organ, and the operating device operates the clamping elements to clamp the wall portion between the clamping elements to compress the organ wall portion.

[0093] 2) The compression device includes an elongated clamping element, the clamping element having a contact surface and extending along a wall portion on one side of the organ, and the operating device operates the clamping element to clamp the wall portion between the clamping element and the patient's bone or tissue to compress the wall portion.

[0094] 3) The compression device includes at least two engaging elements, the engaging elements having contact surfaces and being located on different sides of the organ, and the operating device rotates the engaging elements so that the engaging elements engage and compress the organ wall portion.

[0095] 4) The compression device includes at least two linked clamping elements, the linked clamping elements having contact surfaces and being located on different sides of the organ, and the operating device moves the clamping elements towards each other to clamp the organ wall portion between the clamping elements to compress the wall portion.

[0096] 5) The compression device includes at least two discrete clamping elements, the clamping elements having contact surfaces, and at least one clamping element pivots so that it can rotate in the plane in which the ring of the compression member extends, and the operating device rotates the pivoting clamping element to change the size of the compression opening.

[0097] 6) The compression device includes at least one elongated compression member, the compression member having a contact surface and a forming device for forming the compression member into at least one substantially closed ring around the organ, wherein the ring defines a compression opening. The operating device operates the annular compression member to change the size of the compression opening.

[0098] 6a) The elongated compression member includes a belt having a contact surface, and the operating device operates the belt to change the longitudinal extension of the annular belt, thereby changing the size of the compression opening. The forming device can form the compression member or the belt into a ring having at least one predetermined size.

[0099] 6b) The elongated compression member can be operated to change the size of the compression opening such that the outer peripheral limiting surface of the compression device changes or alternatively does not change.

[0100] 6c) The elongated compression member is elastic and has a thickness variation, as seen in a cross-section through it, and can be operated to rotate about the longitudinal extension of the compression member.

[0101] 6d) The elongated compression member includes two generally or partly semi-circular frame elements having contact surfaces and hinged together such that the semi-circular elements can swing relative to each other from a fully open state (wherein the two semi-circular elements generally or partly form a circle) to a fully folded state (wherein the two semi-circular elements generally form a semi-circle).

[0102] 7) The compression device is adapted to bend the organ wall portion to compress the wall portion.

[0103] In the foregoing embodiments (1) to (7), it is important that the compression device is designed to compress the wall portion of the patient organ tissue of the said length. For this purpose, the compression device may include two or more of said compression elements / members applied in a row, wherein the row extends in the direction of flow in the organ lumen. Preferably, such compression elements / members are non-expandable and are mechanically operable or adjustable.

[0104] In the foregoing embodiments (1) to (7), the operating device may mechanically or hydraulically adjust the compression device of the compression / stimulation unit. Moreover, the operating device may include an electrically actuated operating device for operating the compression device. For various applications of the present invention, suitably, the operating device operates the compression device such that the entire flow area of the lumen takes on the dimensions in the compressed state, whereby the stimulation device can cause the wall portion to contract to stop the flow in the lumen.

[0105] Mechanical operation

[0106] When the operating device mechanically operates the compression device of the compression / stimulation unit, it may be non-expandable. Moreover, the operating device may include a servo system, and the servo system may include a gearbox. The term "servo system" encompasses the normal definition of a servo mechanism, i.e., an automatic device that controls a large amount of power with a very small amount of power. However, it may alternatively or additionally encompass the definition of a mechanism that converts a weak force acting on a moving element with a long stroke into a strong force acting on another moving element with a short stroke. Preferably, the operating device operates the compression device in a non-magnetic and / or non-manual manner. A motor may be operably connected to the operating device. The operating device may be operable to perform at least one reversible function, and the motor can effect function conversion.

[0107] Hydraulic operation

[0108] In the case where the operating device hydraulically operates the compression device of the compression / stimulation unit, it includes hydraulic equipment for adjusting the compression device.

[0109] In an embodiment of the present invention, a hydraulic device includes a reservoir and an expandable / contractible chamber in a compression device, wherein an operating device distributes hydraulic fluid from the reservoir to expand the chamber and distributes hydraulic fluid from the chamber to the reservoir to contract the chamber. The chamber may be defined by a balloon adjacent to a patient organ tissue wall portion of the compression device such that the patient wall portion is compressed when the chamber expands and released when the chamber contracts.

[0110] Alternatively, the chamber may be defined by a telescoping device that displaces a relatively large contraction element (such as a large balloon) of the compression device adjacent to the wall portion, thereby compressing the patient wall portion when the telescoping device contracts and releasing it when the telescoping device expands. In this way, a relatively small increment of hydraulic fluid is added to the telescoping device, resulting in a relatively large increase in the contraction of the wall portion. Such a telescoping device may be replaced by a piston / cylinder mechanism suitable for the design.

[0111] When the hydraulic device includes a chamber in the compression device, the device of the present invention may be designed according to the following options.

[0112] 1) The reservoir includes first and second wall portions, and the operating device displaces the first and second wall portions relative to each other to change the volume of the reservoir, thereby distributing fluid from the reservoir to the chamber or from the chamber to the reservoir.

[0113] 1a) The first and second wall portions of the reservoir may be displaced relative to each other by at least one of a magnetic device, a hydraulic device, or an electric control device.

[0114] 2) The operating device includes a pump for pumping fluid between the reservoir and the chamber.

[0115] 2a) The pump includes a first activation member for activating the pump to pump fluid from the reservoir to the chamber and a second activation member for activating the pump to pump fluid from the chamber to the reservoir.

[0116] 2a1) The first and second activation members are operable by manual manipulation thereof.

[0117] 2a2) At least one of the activation members operates when subjected to an external predetermined pressure.

[0118] 2a3) At least one of the first and second activation members is operated by a magnetic device, a hydraulic device, or an electric control device.

[0119] 2b) The device includes a conduit between the pump and the chamber, wherein the reservoir forms a part of the conduit. The conduit and the pump do not have any check valves. The reservoir forms a fluid chamber with a variable volume, and the pump distributes fluid from the chamber to the chamber by reducing the chamber volume and withdraws fluid from the chamber by expanding the chamber volume. The device further includes a motor for driving the pump, wherein the pump includes a movable reservoir wall for changing the chamber volume.

[0120] In all of the foregoing embodiments 1 to 2b, when the hydraulic equipment includes an expandable chamber in the compression device, the chamber can be replaced by a cylinder / piston mechanism to adjust the compression device. In this case, the operating device distributes hydraulic fluid between the reservoir and the cylinder / piston mechanism to adjust the compression device.

[0121] In a particular embodiment of the present invention, the operating device includes a reverse servomotor operatively connected to the hydraulic equipment. The term "reverse servomotor" should be understood as a mechanism that converts a strong force acting on a moving element with a short stroke into a weak force acting on another moving element with a long stroke; that is, the reverse function of a normal servomechanism. Thus, a small change in the fluid in a smaller reservoir can be converted by the reverse servomotor into a large change in the fluid in a larger reservoir. The reverse servomotor is particularly suitable for its manual operation.

[0122] Preferably, the reverse servomotor includes: an expandable servomotor reservoir containing servomotor fluid, and a fluid supply reservoir hydraulically connected to the servomotor reservoir to form a closed conduit system for the servomotor fluid. The expandable servomotor reservoir has first and second wall portions that can be displaced relative to each other in response to a change in the volume of the expandable servomotor reservoir.

[0123] According to a first alternative, the first and second wall portions of the servomotor reservoir are operatively connected to the hydraulic equipment. The reverse servomotor distributes fluid between the fluid supply reservoir and the expandable servomotor reservoir to change the volume of the servomotor reservoir, whereby the hydraulic equipment is operated to adjust the compression device.

[0124] According to a second alternative, an implantable main reservoir containing a predetermined amount of hydraulic fluid is provided, wherein the reverse servomotor is operable to distribute hydraulic fluid between the main reservoir and the hydraulic equipment to adjust the compression device. More specifically, the main reservoir is provided with first and second wall portions that are operatively connected to the first and second wall portions of the expandable servomotor reservoir such that the volume of the main reservoir changes when the volume of the expandable servomotor reservoir changes. Thus, when the reverse servomotor distributes servomotor fluid between the fluid supply reservoir and the expandable servomotor reservoir to change the volume of the main reservoir, hydraulic fluid is distributed from the main reservoir to the hydraulic equipment or from the hydraulic equipment to the main reservoir. Advantageously, the servomotor and the main reservoir are sized such that: when the volume of the servomotor reservoir changes due to a relatively small amount of servomotor fluid, the volume of the main reservoir changes due to a relatively large amount of hydraulic fluid.

[0125] In the two alternative embodiments described above, the fluid supply reservoir may have first and second wall portions that are displaceable relative to each other to change the volume of the fluid supply reservoir and thereby distribute the servo fluid between the fluid supply reservoir and the expandable servo reservoir. The first and second wall portions of the fluid supply reservoir may be displaced relative to each other by manual manipulation, magnetic means, hydraulic means, or electrical control means to change the volume of the fluid supply reservoir and thereby distribute the servo fluid between the fluid supply reservoir and the expandable servo reservoir.

[0126] In all of the foregoing embodiments 1 to 2b where the hydraulic apparatus includes an expandable chamber in the compression means or in an embodiment where the hydraulic apparatus includes a hydraulically operable mechanical structure, the operating means may include the aforementioned reverse servo. In a further embodiment of the invention, the hydraulic apparatus includes hydraulically interconnected expandable / contractible first and second reservoirs. The first reservoir is operably connected to the compression means such that the compression means changes the compression of the patient wall portion when the first reservoir expands or contracts. By changing the volume of the second reservoir, the hydraulic fluid is distributed between the two reservoirs such that the first reservoir expands or contracts. This embodiment does not require a check valve in the fluid communication conduit between the two reservoirs, which is beneficial for the long-term operation of the hydraulic apparatus.

[0127] Alternatively, the hydraulic apparatus may include hydraulically interconnected first and second piston / cylinder mechanisms in place of the aforementioned first and second reservoirs. The first piston / cylinder mechanism is operably connected to the compression means such that the compression means changes the compression of the patient wall portion in response to the operation of the first piston / cylinder mechanism. By operating the second piston / cylinder mechanism, the hydraulic fluid is distributed between the two piston / cylinder mechanisms such that the first piston / cylinder mechanism adjusts the compression means.

[0128] When the compression means does not include an expandable / contractible chamber, the compression means may include at least two elongate clamping elements having the aforementioned contact surfaces and extending along wall portions on different sides of the organ. The hydraulic apparatus, which may include the aforementioned reverse servo, hydraulically moves the elongate clamping elements towards the wall portions to compress the wall portions. For example, the compression means may have a hydraulic chamber in which the clamping elements reciprocate, and the hydraulic apparatus may further include a pump and an implantable reservoir containing hydraulic fluid. The pump distributes the hydraulic fluid from the reservoir to the chamber to move the clamping elements against the wall portions, and distributes the hydraulic fluid from the chamber to the reservoir to move the clamping elements away from the wall portions.

[0129] Design of the control device

[0130] Suitably, the control device controls the compression / stimulation unit from outside the patient's body. Preferably, the control device can be operated by the patient. For example, the control device may include: a manually operable switch for turning on and off the compression / stimulation unit, where the switch is adapted to be subcutaneously implanted in the patient's body for manual or magnetic operation from outside the patient's body. Alternatively, the control device may include a handheld wireless remote controller that can be conveniently operated by the patient to turn on and off the compression / stimulation unit. The wireless remote controller can also be designed to be worn on the patient's body like a watch. Such a watch-type remote controller can emit a control signal that causes the patient's body to comply with the signal-responsive equipment of the implanted device.

[0131] When the control device wirelessly controls the compression / stimulation unit from outside the patient's body, the wireless control function is preferably performed in a non-magnetic manner, i.e., the control device controls the compression device of the compression / stimulation unit in a non-magnetic manner. The patient can use the remote controller to control the compression / stimulation unit to adjust the stimulation intensity and / or adjust the compression of the wall portion. The wireless remote controller may include at least one external signal transmitter or transceiver and at least one internal signal receiver or transceiver implantable in the patient's body.

[0132] Preferably, the wireless remote controller transmits at least one wireless control signal for controlling the compression / stimulation unit. The control signal may include a frequency, amplitude, phase modulation signal, or a combination thereof, and may be an analog signal, or a digital signal, or a combination of an analog signal and a digital signal. The remote controller can send an electromagnetic carrier wave signal for carrying a digital or analog control signal. Moreover, the carrier signal may include a digital signal, an analog signal, or a combination of an analog signal and a digital signal.

[0133] Any of the above control signals may include a wave signal, such as: an acoustic wave signal, an ultrasonic wave signal, an electromagnetic wave signal, an infrared light signal, a visible light signal, an ultraviolet light signal, a laser signal, a microwave signal, a radio wave signal, an x-ray radiation signal, and a gamma radiation signal. Alternatively, the control signal may include an electric field or a magnetic field or a combination of an electric field and a magnetic field.

[0134] As previously mentioned, the control signal can cause the patient's body to comply with the signal-responsive equipment of the implanted device.

[0135] The control device may include: a programmable internal control unit, such as a microprocessor, capable of being implanted in a patient's body for controlling the compression / stimulation unit. The control device may further include: an external control unit located outside the patient's body, wherein the internal control unit can be programmed by the external control unit. For example, the internal control unit can be programmed to control the compression / stimulation unit over time and suitably according to an activity scheduler. The device of the present invention may include: an external data communicator, and an implantable internal data communicator communicating with the external data communicator, wherein the internal communicator feeds data related to the compression / stimulation unit back to the external data communicator, or the external data communicator feeds the data to the internal data communicator.

[0136] Energy source

[0137] The present invention also provides a solution for supplying energy for use in combination with the operation of the compression / stimulation unit. Thus, in a broad sense, the present invention provides a device for controlling the flow of fluid and / or other bodily substances in a lumen formed by a patient's organ tissue wall, wherein the device includes: an implantable compression device for gently compressing a portion of the tissue wall to affect the flow in the lumen; a stimulation device for intermittently and independently stimulating different regions of the wall portion during the time when the compression device compresses the wall portion so that the contraction of the wall portion further affects the flow in the lumen, wherein the compression device and the stimulation device form an operable compression / stimulation unit; an energy source; and a control device capable of operating from outside the patient's body to control the operation of the energy source in combination with the compression / stimulation unit for releasing energy. In a simple form of the present invention, the energy source, such as a battery or accumulator, is implanted in the patient's body.

[0138] Wireless energy transfer

[0139] In a preferred and more complex form of the present invention, the energy source is outside the patient's body, and the control device controls the external energy source to release wireless energy. In this complex form of the present invention, the device includes an energy transfer device for transferring the released wireless energy from outside the patient's body to inside the patient's body. Wherein, the wireless energy may include: electromagnetic energy, electric field, electromagnetic field or magnetic field or a combination thereof or electromagnetic wave. The energy transfer device can transfer wireless energy for direct use in combination with the operation of the compression / stimulation unit when the wireless energy is being transferred. For example, when an electric motor or pump operates the compression device, wireless energy in the form of a magnetic field or electromagnetic field can be used to directly actuate the motor or pump.

[0140] In this way, the motor or pump operates directly during the transmission of wireless energy. This can be achieved in two different ways: a) using a conversion device implanted in the patient to convert the wireless energy into a different form of energy, preferably electrical energy, and actuating the motor or pump with the converted energy; or b) directly actuating the motor or pump with the wirelessly transmitted energy. Preferably, wireless energy in the form of an electromagnetic field or magnetic field is used to directly affect specific components of the motor or pump to form kinetic energy for driving the motor or pump. Such components may include coils integrated into the motor or pump, or materials affected by the magnetic field, or permanent magnets, where the magnetic field or electromagnetic field affects the coil to form a current for driving the motor or pump, or affects the material or permanent magnet to form kinetic energy for driving the motor or pump.

[0141] Preferably, the energy transmission device transmits energy through at least one wireless signal (suitably a wave signal). The wave signal may include an electromagnetic wave signal, and the electromagnetic wave signal includes one of the following: infrared light signal, visible light signal, ultraviolet light signal, laser signal, microwave signal, radio wave signal, x-ray radiation signal, and gamma radiation signal. Alternatively, the wave signal may include a sound wave signal or an ultrasonic wave signal. The wireless signal may be a digital signal or an analog signal or a combination of a digital signal and an analog signal.

[0142] Wireless energy conversion

[0143] According to a specific embodiment of the present invention, an implantable energy conversion device is provided for converting a first form of wireless energy transmitted by an energy transmission device into a second form of energy, where the second form of energy is generally different from the first form of energy. The compression / stimulation unit can operate in response to the second form of energy. For example, the first form of wireless energy may include sound waves, while the second form of energy may include electrical energy. In this case, the energy conversion device may include a piezoelectric element for converting sound waves into electrical energy. Optionally, one of the first form of energy and the second form of energy may include: magnetic energy, kinetic energy, sound energy, chemical energy, radiant energy, electromagnetic energy, light energy, nuclear energy, or thermal energy. Preferably, one of the first form of energy and the second form of energy is non-magnetic energy, non-kinetic energy, non-chemical energy, non-sound energy, non-nuclear energy, or non-thermal energy.

[0144] The functions of the energy conversion device and the energy transmission device may be different or similar. In a specific embodiment, the energy conversion device includes at least one element having a positive region and a negative region, such as at least one semiconductor, which is capable of forming an energy field between the positive region and the negative region when exposed to the first form of energy transmitted by the energy transmission device, and the energy field generates the second form of energy. More particularly, the element may include an electrical junction element, which is capable of inducing an electric field between the positive region and the negative region when exposed to the first form of energy transmitted by the energy transmission device, whereby the second form of energy includes electrical energy.

[0145] The energy conversion device may directly or indirectly convert the first form of energy into the second form of energy. An implantable motor or pump may be provided for operating the compression device of the compression / stimulation unit, wherein the motor or pump is actuated by the second form of energy. The compression device is capable of operating to perform at least one reversible function, and the motor is capable of reversing the function. For example, the control device may convert the polarity of the second form of energy to reverse the motor.

[0146] When the first form of energy is being converted into the second form of energy, the energy conversion device may directly actuate the motor or pump by the converted energy. Preferably, the energy conversion device directly operates the compression / stimulation unit by the second form of energy in a non-magnetic, non-thermal or non-mechanical manner.

[0147] Under normal circumstances, the compression / stimulation unit includes electrical components powered by electrical energy. Other implantable electrical components of the device may be at least one voltage level protector or at least one constant current protector. Therefore, the energy conversion device may convert the first form of energy into direct current or pulsed direct current or a combination of direct current and pulsed direct current. Alternatively, the energy conversion device may convert the first form of energy into alternating current or a combination of direct current and alternating current.

[0148] The device of the present invention may include an internal energy source implantable in a patient for supplying energy for the operation of the compression / stimulation unit. The device may further include an implantable switch capable of operating to switch from an "off" mode to an "on" mode, in which the internal energy source is not in use in the off mode; in the on mode, the internal energy source supplies energy for the operation of the compression / stimulation unit and / or powers the implanted electronic components of the device. The switch can be operated by the first form of energy transmitted by the energy transmission device or by the second form of energy supplied by the energy conversion device. The switch structure reduces the power consumption of the device between operations.

[0149] The internal energy source can store the second form of energy supplied by the energy conversion device. In this case, the internal energy source suitably includes an electrical energy storage device, such as at least one capacitor or at least one rechargeable battery or a combination of at least one capacitor and at least one rechargeable battery. When the internal energy source is a rechargeable battery, it can be charged only when convenient for the patient, such as when the patient is sleeping. Alternatively, the internal energy source can supply energy for the operation of the compression / stimulation unit, but not for storing the second form of energy. In this alternative, the internal energy source can be a battery and can be provided with or without the aforementioned switch.

[0150] Suitably, the device of the present invention includes: an implantable stabilizer for stabilizing the second form of energy. When the second form of energy is electrical energy, the stabilizer suitably includes at least one capacitor.

[0151] The energy conversion device can be designed to be implanted subcutaneously into the abdominal, thoracic, or head region of a patient. Alternatively, the energy conversion device can be designed to be implanted into an opening in the patient's body and into the muscle beneath the mucosa or outside the mucosal opening.

[0152] Although the compression / stimulation unit in the foregoing embodiments is designed to be most practical as a single implantable piece, it should be noted that, as an alternative, the compression device and the stimulation device can be designed as separate pieces. Either of the foregoing compression and stimulation units can alternatively be replaced by two or more separate compression / stimulation elements that are independently controlled of each other.

[0153] The foregoing device of the present invention is adapted to treat dysfunctions of organs in humans or animals. For example, for treating urinary incontinence and fecal incontinence, constipation and impotence. The device of the present invention is also adapted to treat obesity or gallstone problems, and is adapted to control blood flow in blood vessels or ovulation in the female uterus.

[0154] When the device is used to control the flow of food through the patient's stomach, the device includes: an implantable compression device for gently compressing at least a portion of the tissue wall of the patient's stomach to affect the flow of food in the stomach; a stimulation device for stimulating the wall portion of the tissue wall; and a control device for controlling the stimulation device to stimulate the wall portion when the compression device compresses the wall portion so that the contraction of the wall portion further affects the flow of food in the stomach.

[0155] When the device is used to control the flow of intestinal contents in a patient's intestine, the device includes: an implantable compression device for gently compressing at least a portion of the tissue wall of the patient's intestine to affect the flow of intestinal contents in the intestine; a stimulation device for stimulating a wall portion of the tissue wall; and a control device for controlling the stimulation device to stimulate the wall portion when the compression device compresses the wall portion such that contraction of the wall portion further affects the flow of intestinal contents in the intestine.

[0156] When the device is used to control the flow of urine in a patient's urethra or urinary bladder, the device includes: an implantable compression device for gently compressing at least a portion of the tissue wall of the patient's urethra or urinary bladder to affect the flow of urine in the urethra or urinary bladder; a stimulation device for stimulating a wall portion of the tissue wall; and a control device for controlling the stimulation device to stimulate the wall portion when the compression device compresses the wall portion such that contraction of the wall portion further affects the flow of urine in the urethra or urinary bladder.

[0157] When the device is used as an impotence treatment device, it includes: an implantable compression device implantable in a male impotence patient for gently compressing at least one penile portion of the patient's normal penile tissue or its extension; an implantable stimulation device for stimulating the penile portion; and a control device for controlling the stimulation device to stimulate the penile portion when the compression device compresses the penile portion such that contraction of the penile portion restricts blood flow out of the penis to achieve erection. The term "normal penile tissue" should be understood not to include implanted tissue. Thus, normal penile tissue includes one or both of the corpus cavernosum and the corpus spongiosum urethrae. The term "its extension" includes the bulbospongious and adjacent regions.

[0158] Alternatively, the impotence treatment device includes: an implantable compression device implantable in a male impotence patient for gently compressing at least one penile portion of the patient's normal penile tissue or its extension to restrict blood flow out of the penis; an implantable stimulation device for stimulating the penile portion when the compression device compresses the penile portion; and a control device for controlling the stimulation device to stimulate the penile portion when the compression device compresses the penile portion such that contraction of the penile portion further restricts blood flow out of the penis to achieve erection.

[0159] Alternatively, the impotence treatment device includes: an implantable stimulation device implantable in a male impotence patient for stimulating at least one penile portion of the patient's normal penile tissue or its extension; and a control device for controlling the stimulation device to stimulate the penile portion such that contraction of the penile portion restricts blood flow out of the penis to achieve erection.

[0160] When the device is used to control blood flow in a patient's blood vessel, the device includes: an implantable compression device for gently compressing at least a portion of the tissue wall of the blood vessel to affect blood flow in the blood vessel; a stimulation device for stimulating the tissue wall; and a control device for controlling the stimulation device to stimulate the wall portion when the compression device compresses the wall portion so that contraction of the wall portion further affects blood flow in the blood vessel.

[0161] When the device is used to control the flow of an egg into a female uterus, the device includes: an implantable compression device for gently compressing each female fallopian tube to restrict its passage; and a control device for controlling the compression device to compress the fallopian tube to prevent an egg present in the passage of the fallopian tube from entering the uterine cavity, and for releasing the fallopian tube to allow an egg present in the passage of the fallopian tube to enter the uterine cavity. The compression device can gently compress at least a portion of the tissue wall of the fallopian tube to restrict its passage, and an implantable stimulation device can be provided for stimulating the tissue wall, and the control device controls the stimulation device to stimulate the tissue wall portion when the compression device compresses the tissue wall portion so that contraction of the tissue wall portion further restricts the passage of the fallopian tube.

[0162] Alternatively, the egg flow control device includes: an implantable compression device for gently compressing at least a portion of the tissue wall of each female fallopian tube to restrict its passage; a stimulation device for stimulating the tissue wall portion of the fallopian tube; and a control device for controlling the stimulation device to stimulate the tissue wall portion when the compression device compresses the tissue wall portion, so that contraction of the tissue wall portion further restricts the passage of the fallopian tube to prevent an egg present in the fallopian tube from entering the uterine cavity.

[0163] Alternatively, the egg flow control device includes: an implantable stimulation device for stimulating a portion of the tissue wall of each female fallopian tube; and a control device for controlling the stimulation device to stimulate the tissue wall portion of the fallopian tube to cause contraction of the tissue wall portion to restrict the passage of the fallopian tube to prevent an egg present in the fallopian tube from entering the uterine cavity, and for aborting the stimulation of the tissue wall portion of the fallopian tube to allow an egg present in the passage of the fallopian tube to enter the uterine cavity.

[0164] When the device is used to control the flow of gallstones in a patient suffering from gallstone problems, the device includes: an implantable stimulation device for stimulating a portion of the tissue wall of the patient's gallbladder, hepatic duct or bile duct; and a control device for controlling the stimulation device to gradually stimulate the tissue wall portion so that the tissue wall portion gradually contracts, thereby causing one or more gallstones present in the duct to move in the direction towards the duodenum.

[0165] The present invention also provides a method of using the aforesaid device for controlling the flow of fluid and / or other bodily substances in a lumen formed by the tissue wall of an organ of a patient, the method comprising:

[0166] providing a wireless remote controller adapted to control the compression device and / or the stimulation device from outside the patient; and

[0167] when the patient desires to affect the flow of fluid and / or other bodily substances in the lumen, operating the wireless remote controller by the patient.

[0168] The present invention also provides a method for controlling the flow of fluid and / or other bodily substances in a lumen formed by the tissue wall of an organ of a patient, the method comprising:

[0169] a) gently compressing at least a part of the tissue wall to affect the flow in the lumen; and

[0170] b) stimulating the compressed wall part such that the contraction of the wall part further affects the flow in the lumen.

[0171] The present invention provides a device for controlling the flow of fluid and / or other substances in a fluid conduit formed by a conduit wall, the device comprising: an energy supply device configured to affect the flow in the conduit, the energy supply device including a stimulation device configured to stimulate a wall part of the conduit wall; and a control device operable to control the stimulation device to stimulate the wall part to cause the wall part to contract to affect the flow in the conduit.

[0172] Preferably, the energy supply device is configured to affect the flow of fluid and / or other bodily substances in a lumen formed by the tissue wall of an organ of a patient, the energy supply device further including an implantable compression device configured to gently compress at least a part of the tissue wall to affect the flow in the lumen; and characterized in that when the compression device compresses the wall part, the control device is operable to control the stimulation device to stimulate the wall part such that the contraction of the wall part further affects the flow in the lumen.

[0173] Preferably, the compression device is configured to compress the wall part to a compression state in which blood circulation in the compressed wall part is substantially unrestricted and at least the flow in the lumen is restricted, and the control device is operable to control the stimulation device to cause the wall part to contract such that when the wall part is held in the compression state by the compression device, at least the flow in the lumen is further restricted.

[0174] Preferably, the control device is operable to control the compression device to adjust the compression of the wall portion of the patient, and the control device is operable to control the compression device and the stimulation device independently of each other.

[0175] Preferably, the control device is operable to control the compression device to adjust the compression of the wall portion of the patient, and

[0176] - the control device is operable to control the stimulation device to stimulate or not stimulate the wall portion, while the control device controls the compression device to adjust the compression of the wall portion, and

[0177] - the control device is adapted to calibrate the compression device by controlling the stimulation device to stimulate the wall portion and simultaneously controlling the compression device to adjust the compression of the wall portion until the desired restriction of the flow in the lumen is obtained.

[0178] Preferably, the control device is operable to control the compression device to adjust the compression of the wall portion such that the flow in the lumen is restricted but not stopped, and is operable to

[0179] - control the stimulation device to stimulate the compressed wall portion to cause the wall portion to contract, such that the flow in the lumen is further restricted but not stopped, or

[0180] - control the stimulation device to stimulate the compressed wall portion to stop the flow in the lumen in a first mode and control the stimulation device to discontinue the stimulation of the wall portion to allow the flow in the lumen in a second mode.

[0181] Preferably, the control device is operable to control the compression device to adjust the compression of the wall portion such that the flow in the lumen is substantially stopped, and control the stimulation device to stimulate the compressed wall portion to cause the wall portion to contract such that the flow in the lumen is completely stopped; and characterized in that the control device is operable to control the stimulation device to stimulate the compressed wall portion to completely stop the flow in the lumen in a first mode and control the stimulation device to discontinue the stimulation of the wall portion to allow the flow in the lumen in a second mode, or control the stimulation device to discontinue the stimulation of the wall portion and control the compression device to release the wall portion to restore the flow in the lumen in the second mode.

[0182] Preferably, the control device is operable to control the compression device to compress the compressed wall portion to stop the flow in the lumen in a first mode and control the compression device to discontinue the compression of the wall portion to restore the flow in the lumen in a second mode.

[0183] Preferably, the control device includes a manually operable switch for turning on and off the compression device and / or the stimulation device, and the switch is adapted to be subcutaneously implanted in a patient for manual operation from outside the patient's body.

[0184] Preferably, the compression device is designed to hold a wall portion of the patient in a compressed state under normal circumstances, wherein blood circulation in the compressed wall portion is substantially unrestricted and at least the flow in the lumen is restricted; characterized in that the control device is operable to control the stimulation device to stimulate the compressed wall portion in a first mode to cause the wall portion to contract to further restrict but not stop the flow in the lumen, or to stimulate the compressed wall portion to cause the wall portion to contract such that the flow in the lumen stops; and characterized in that the control device is operable to control the stimulation device to stop stimulating the wall portion in a second mode to increase the flow in the lumen.

[0185] Preferably, the control device is operable to control the stimulation device to adjust the intensity of the stimulation of the wall portion in response to sensed physiological parameters of the patient or functional parameters of the device.

[0186] Preferably, the control device is operable to control the stimulation device to increase the intensity of the stimulation in response to sensed parameters related to an increase in pressure in the lumen such that the flow in the lumen remains stopped; further comprising a sensor configured to sense the physiological parameters of the patient related to the pressure in the lumen, and the control device controls the stimulation device in response to a signal from the sensor, the physiological parameter being related to the pressure in the patient's body, and the sensor being a pressure-related sensor.

[0187] Preferably, the control device is operable to control the stimulation device to intermittently and independently stimulate different regions of the wall portion such that at least two of the regions are stimulated at different time points; and characterized in that the control device is operable to control the stimulation device to intermittently stimulate

[0188] - each of the different regions of the wall portion during consecutive time periods, each time period being short enough to maintain satisfactory blood circulation in the region over time until the end of the time period, or

[0189] - the region of the wall portion such that the currently unstimulated region of the wall portion has time to return to substantially normal blood circulation before the stimulation device stimulates the region again.

[0190] Preferably, the control device is operable to control the stimulation device to stimulate different regions of the wall portion at a moment by sequentially stimulating different regions of the wall portion, or by switching the alternating stimulation of each region over time, or by switching the alternating stimulation of each region over time, such that two regions are temporarily stimulated simultaneously during the stimulation switch.

[0191] Preferably, the control device is operable to control the stimulation device to intermittently and independently electrically stimulate different regions of the wall portion of the patient by electrical pulses; and characterized in that the stimulation device includes at least one electrical element for engaging the wall portion and for stimulating the wall portion by electrical pulses.

[0192] Preferably, the pulses form a pulse sequence; and characterized in that the control device is operable to control the stimulation device to change at least one of the following pulse parameters: the cut-off time period between the pulses of each pulse sequence, the cut-off time period between the pulse sequences, the width of each pulse of the pulse sequence, the length of each pulse sequence, the pulse amplitude of the pulses of the pulse sequence, the frequency of the pulses of the pulse sequence, the frequency of the pulse sequence, and the number of pulses of each pulse sequence; characterized in that at least a first region and a second region of the regions of the wall portion are repeatedly stimulated by a first pulse sequence and a second pulse sequence of the pulse sequence, such that the first and second pulse sequences are switched over time; and characterized in that the first region is stimulated by the first pulse sequence while the second region is not stimulated by the second pulse sequence, and vice versa; or, the first and second pulse sequences are switched such that the first and second pulse sequences at least partially overlap each other.

[0193] Preferably, the wall portion includes muscle fibers, and the stimulation device is configured to stimulate the wall portion including the muscle fibers by electrical pulses, so that the contraction of the muscle fibers causes the wall portion to contract.

[0194] Preferably, the stimulation device includes a plurality of electrical elements and a structure for maintaining the electrical elements in a fixed orientation relative to each other, the structure being integrated in the compression device or separate from the compression device; and characterized in that the electrical elements form an electrical element in a long shape, and the element can be applied to the patient's organ such that the electrical element in the long shape extends along the wall portion of the organ in the flow direction in the lumen, and the element abuts against the corresponding region of the wall portion.

[0195] Preferably, the stimulation device includes a plurality of electrical elements, and the control device is operable to control the stimulation device to supply power to the electrical elements, preferably by cyclically energizing each element with an electrical pulse; and characterized in that the control device is operable to control the stimulation device to supply power to the electrical elements to simultaneously energize one or more groups of the electrical elements, or to energize the electrical elements one by one in sequence, or to energize the groups of the electrical elements in sequence randomly or according to a predetermined pattern.

[0196] Preferably, the stimulation device includes a plurality of electrical elements, and the electrical elements form an electrical element in an elongated pattern; characterized in that the elements can be applied to the wall of the patient such that the electrical elements in the elongated pattern extend along the wall portion of the organ in the flow direction in the lumen, and the elements are adjacent to corresponding regions of the wall portion; and characterized in that the control device is operable to control the stimulation device

[0197] - to continuously energize the electrical elements longitudinally along the electrical elements in the elongated pattern, or

[0198] - when the stimulation device is applied to the patient's organ, to continuously energize the electrical elements along the electrical elements in the elongated pattern in a direction the same as or opposite to the flow direction in the lumen, or

[0199] - when the stimulation device is applied to the patient's organ, to continuously energize the electrical elements from a position approximately at the center of the compressed wall portion towards the two ends of the electrical elements in the elongated pattern.

[0200] Preferably, the stimulation device includes a plurality of electrical elements, and the control device is operable to control the stimulation device to energize the electrical elements such that the currently energized electrical elements form at least one group of adjacent energized electrical elements; characterized in that the elements in the group of energized electrical elements form an energized electrical element path; and characterized in that when the stimulation device is applied to the organ, the energized electrical element path extends along the patient's organ, or at least partially or completely around the patient's organ.

[0201] Preferably, the stimulation device includes a plurality of electrical elements, and when the stimulation device is applied to the organ, the electrical elements form multiple groups of elements, and the groups form a series of groups extending along the patient's organ in the flow direction in the patient's lumen, and the electrical elements in each group of electrical elements form an element path extending along the patient's organ, or at least partially or completely around the patient's organ; and characterized in that the control device is operable to control the stimulation device

[0202] - When the stimulation device is applied to the patient's organ, the grouped electrical elements in the series group are continuously energized in a direction the same as or opposite to the flow direction in the lumen, or

[0203] - When the stimulation device is applied to the patient's organ, the grouped electrical elements in the series group are continuously energized from a position approximately at the center of the compressed wall portion in a direction the same as or opposite to the flow direction in the lumen.

[0204] Preferably, the stimulation device is configured to cause contraction of the wall portion by cooling the compressed wall portion or to thermally stimulate the wall portion by heating the wall portion, so as to cause expansion of the wall portion when the wall portion compresses and contracts; and characterized in that the compression device is configured to compress the wall portion to at least restrict the flow in the lumen, and the control device can be operated to control the stimulation device to cool the compressed wall portion to cause the wall portion to contract, so that the flow in the lumen is at least further restricted without stopping, or is further restricted and stopped.

[0205] Preferably, the tissue wall portion of the organ extends between the upstream end and the downstream end of the wall portion with respect to the flow direction in the lumen; and characterized in that the control device can be operated to control at least one of the contraction and stimulation devices to affect the wall portion, so that the fluid and / or other body substances move effectively in the lumen.

[0206] Preferably, the compression device is configured to compress the entire wall portion between the upstream end and the downstream end of the wall portion to restrict the flow in the lumen, and the control device

[0207] - can be operated to control the stimulation device to gradually stimulate the compressed wall portion in the downstream or upstream direction of the lumen, so that the wall portion gradually contracts, thereby moving the fluid and / or other body substances in the lumen, or

[0208] - controls the stimulation device to stimulate the compressed wall portion to close the lumen at the upstream end or the downstream end of the wall portion, and simultaneously controls the compression device to increase the compression of the entire wall portion to move the fluid and / or other body substances in the lumen.

[0209] Preferably, the control device can be operated to control the compression device to change the compression of the wall portion, and simultaneously control the stimulation device to gradually stimulate the compressed wall portion in the downstream or upstream direction of the lumen, so that the wall portion gradually contracts, thereby moving the fluid and / or other body substances in the lumen.

[0210] Preferably, the control device is operable to control the compression device to stimulate the wall portion and simultaneously control the compression device to vary the compression of different regions of the wall portion such that the wall portion is gradually compressed in a downstream or upstream direction along the lumen; and wherein,

[0211] the control device is operable to control the stimulation device to gradually stimulate the compressed wall portion so as to cause contraction of the wall portion to coordinate with the gradual compression of the wall portion performed by the compression device, or

[0212] the control device is operable to control the elongate compression element of the compression device to extend along the wall portion to gradually compress the wall portion in a downstream or upstream direction along the lumen; wherein the elongate compression element includes a contact surface dimensioned to contact a length of the wall portion when the compression device compresses the wall portion; the stimulation device includes a plurality of stimulation elements distributed along the contact surface such that when the control device controls the stimulation device to stimulate the wall portion, the stimulation elements stimulate different regions of the wall portion along the length of the wall portion.

[0213] Preferably, the compression device is configured to compress any one of a series of wall portions of the tissue wall to at least restrict flow in the lumen, the stimulation device is configured to stimulate the wall portion compressed by the compression device to occlude the lumen, the control device is operable to control the compression device to continuously compress the wall portions in the series of wall portions of the organ such that fluid and / or bodily substances in the lumen are moved in a peristaltic manner; and wherein the compression device includes at least one compression element that is movable along the organ to continuously compress the wall portions in the series of wall portions of the organ; the stimulation device includes at least one stimulation element located on the compression element for stimulating the wall portion compressed by the compression element to occlude the lumen.

[0214] Preferably, the control device is operable to control the compression device to cause the compression element to move cyclically along the wall portions in the series of wall portions.

[0215] Preferably, the compression device includes a plurality of compression elements, each of which is capable of moving along the organ to continuously compress a wall portion of the series of wall portions of the organ; characterized in that the stimulation device includes a stimulation element located on the compression element for stimulating the wall portion compressed by the compression element to close the lumen; characterized in that the control device is operable to control the compression device to cyclically move the compression elements sequentially along the wall portions of the series of wall portions of the organ; characterized in that the compression device includes a rotor carrying the compression elements, and the control device is operable to control the rotation of the rotor such that each compression element cyclically compresses a wall portion of the series of wall portions of the organ; and characterized in that each compression element includes a roller for rolling on the organ to compress the organ.

[0216] Preferably, the compression device includes a first compression element for compressing a wall portion of the organ at an upstream end of the wall portion, a second compression element for compressing the wall portion at a downstream end of the wall portion, and a third compression element for compressing the wall portion between the upstream end and the downstream end of the wall portion, and the control device is operable to control the first, second, and third compression elements to compress and release the wall portion independently of each other; and characterized in that

[0217] the control device is operable to control the first or second compression element to compress the wall portion at the upstream end or the downstream end of the wall portion to close the lumen, and control the third compression element to compress the wall portion between the upstream end and the downstream end of the wall portion, whereby a fluid or other bodily substance contained in the wall portion between the upstream end and the downstream end of the wall portion moves downstream or upstream in the lumen, and when the third compression element compresses the wall portion, the control device controls the stimulation device to stimulate the wall portion between the upstream end and the downstream end of the wall portion, or

[0218] the control device is operable to control the first compression element to compress the wall portion at the upstream end to restrict the flow in the lumen, and control the stimulation device to stimulate the compressed wall portion at the upstream end to close the lumen; and characterized in that the control device is operable to control the third compression element to compress the wall portion between the upstream end and the downstream end of the wall portion, whereby a fluid and / or other bodily substance contained in the wall portion between the upstream end and the downstream end of the wall portion moves downstream in the lumen, or

[0219] The control device can be operated to control the second compression element to compress the wall portion at the downstream end of the wall portion to restrict the flow in the lumen, and control the stimulation device to stimulate the compressed wall portion at the downstream end to close the lumen, and the control device can be operated to control the third compression element to compress the wall portion between the upstream end and the downstream end of the wall portion, whereby the fluid and / or other body substances contained in the wall portion between the upstream end and the downstream end of the wall portion move upstream in the lumen.

[0220] Preferably, the compression device is adjustable and further includes an operating device for operating the adjustable compression device to change the compression of the wall portion of the patient's organ; wherein the operating device operates the compression device mechanically or hydraulically.

[0221] Preferably, the operating device operates the compression device mechanically. The compression device includes at least two elongated clamping elements that extend along the organ in the flow direction in the patient's lumen on different sides of the organ, and the operating device operates the clamping elements to clamp the wall portion between the clamping elements to compress the wall portion.

[0222] Preferably, the control device can be operated to control the compression device to close the lumen at the upstream end or the downstream end of the wall portion, and control the compression device to compress the remaining portion of the wall portion to move the fluid and / or other body substances in the lumen; and wherein when the compression device compresses the remaining portion of the wall portion, the control device can be operated to control the stimulation device to stimulate the wall portion.

[0223] Preferably, the compression device is configured to compress the wall portion to restrict but not stop the flow in the lumen. The control device can be operated to control the stimulation device to stimulate the wall portion compressed by the compression device at the upstream end or the downstream end of the wall portion to close the lumen, and simultaneously control the compression device to increase the compression of the wall portion to move the fluid and / or other body substances in the lumen.

[0224] Preferably, the compression device includes a plurality of discrete compression elements adapted to compress any of the wall portions in a series of wall portions of the organ respectively, and the control device can be operated to control the compression device to activate the compression elements randomly or according to a predetermined order.

[0225] Preferably, the stimulation device includes a stimulation element located on the compression element; and is characterized in that the control device is operable to control the stimulation device to activate the stimulation element to stimulate any of the wall portions in the series of wall portions compressed by the compression element.

[0226] Preferably, the control device is operable to control the compression device to activate the compression element

[0227] - to compress the wall portions in the series of wall portions without completely closing the lumen, and control the stimulation device to sequentially activate the stimulation element to stimulate the compressed wall portions, such that the wall portions in the series of wall portions contract continuously along the organ to move the fluid and / or other bodily substances in the lumen, or

[0228] - to compress all of the wall portions in the series of wall portions, and control the stimulation device to activate the stimulation element to randomly or according to a predetermined order stimulate any of the compressed wall portions to close the lumen of the organ.

[0229] Intestinal dysfunction

[0230] The present invention provides a device for treating intestinal dysfunction, comprising an implantable compression device configured to gently compress at least a part of the tissue wall of the patient's intestine to affect the flow of intestinal contents in the intestinal passage of the intestine; a stimulation device configured to stimulate the wall portions of the tissue wall; and a control device operable to control the stimulation device to stimulate the wall portions when the compression device compresses the wall portions such that the contraction of the wall portions further affects the flow of intestinal contents.

[0231] Preferably, the compression device is configured to compress the wall portions to a compressed state in which blood circulation in the compressed wall portions is substantially unrestricted and at least the flow in the intestinal passage is restricted, and the control device is operable to control the stimulation device to cause the wall portions to contract such that when the wall portions are held in the compressed state by the compression device, at least the flow in the intestinal passage is further restricted.

[0232] Preferably, the control device is operable to control the compression device to adjust the compression of the wall portions of the patient, and the control device is operable to control the compression device and the stimulation device independently of each other.

[0233] Preferably, the control device is operable to control the compression device to adjust the compression of the wall portions of the patient, and

[0234] - The control device is operable to control the stimulation device to stimulate or not stimulate the wall portion, and the control device controls the compression device to adjust the compression of the wall portion, and

[0235] - The control device is adapted to calibrate the compression device by controlling the stimulation device to stimulate the wall portion and simultaneously controlling the compression device to adjust the compression of the wall portion until a desired restriction of the flow in the intestinal passage is obtained.

[0236] Preferably, the control device is operable to control the compression device to adjust the compression of the wall portion such that the flow in the intestinal passage is restricted but not stopped, and is operable to

[0237] - control the stimulation device to stimulate the compressed wall portion to cause the wall portion to contract such that the flow in the intestinal passage is further restricted but not stopped, or

[0238] - control the stimulation device to stimulate the compressed wall portion to stop the flow in the intestinal passage in a first mode and control the stimulation device to abort the stimulation of the wall portion to allow the flow in the intestinal passage in a second mode.

[0239] Preferably, the control device is operable to control the compression device to adjust the compression of the wall portion such that the flow in the intestinal passage is substantially stopped, and control the stimulation device to stimulate the compressed wall portion to cause the wall portion to contract such that the flow in the intestinal passage is completely stopped; and characterized in that the control device is operable to control the stimulation device to stimulate the compressed wall portion to completely stop the flow in the intestinal passage in a first mode and control the stimulation device to abort the stimulation of the wall portion to allow the flow in the intestinal passage in a second mode, or control the stimulation device to abort the stimulation of the wall portion and control the compression device to release the wall portion to restore the flow in the intestinal passage in the second mode.

[0240] Preferably, the control device is operable to control the compression device to compress the compressed wall portion to stop the flow in the intestinal passage in a first mode and control the compression device to abort the compression of the wall portion to restore the flow in the intestinal passage in a second mode.

[0241] Preferably, the control device includes a manually operable switch for turning on and off the compression device and / or the stimulation device, and the switch is adapted to be subcutaneously implanted in a patient for manual operation from outside the patient's body.

[0242] Preferably, the compression device is designed to hold the wall portion of the patient in a compressed state under normal circumstances, wherein blood circulation in the compressed wall portion is substantially unrestricted, and at least the flow in the intestinal passage is restricted; characterized in that the control device is operable to control the stimulation device to stimulate the compressed wall portion in a first mode to cause the wall portion to contract to further restrict but not stop the flow in the intestinal passage, or to stimulate the compressed wall portion to cause the wall portion to contract such that the flow in the intestinal passage stops; and characterized in that the control device is operable to control the stimulation device to cease stimulation of the wall portion in a second mode to increase the flow in the intestinal passage.

[0243] Preferably, the control device is operable to control the stimulation device to adjust the intensity of the stimulation of the wall portion in response to sensed physiological parameters of the patient or functional parameters of the device.

[0244] Preferably, the control device is operable to control the stimulation device to increase the intensity of the stimulation in response to sensed parameters related to an increase in pressure in the intestinal passage such that the flow in the intestinal passage remains stopped; further comprising a sensor configured to sense the physiological parameters of the patient related to the pressure in the intestinal passage, the control device controlling the stimulation device in response to a signal from the sensor, the physiological parameter being related to the pressure in the patient's body, and the sensor being a pressure-related sensor.

[0245] Preferably, the control device is operable to control the stimulation device to intermittently and independently stimulate different regions of the wall portion such that at least two of the regions are stimulated at different time points; and characterized in that the control device is operable to control the stimulation device to intermittently stimulate

[0246] - each of the different regions of the wall portion during consecutive time periods, each time period being short enough to maintain satisfactory blood circulation in the region over time until the end of the time period, or

[0247] - the regions of the wall portion such that the currently unstimulated regions of the wall portion have time to return to substantially normal blood circulation before the stimulation device stimulates that region again.

[0248] Preferably, the control device is operable to control the stimulation device to stimulate different regions of the wall portion at one moment by sequentially stimulating different regions of the wall portion, or by switching the alternating stimulation of the regions over time, or by switching the alternating stimulation of the regions over time such that two regions are temporarily stimulated simultaneously during the stimulation switch.

[0249] Preferably, the control device is operable to control the stimulation device to intermittently and independently electrically stimulate different regions of the wall portion of the patient by electrical pulses; and is characterized in that the stimulation device includes at least one electrical element for engaging the wall portion and for stimulating the wall portion by electrical pulses.

[0250] Preferably, the pulses form a pulse sequence; and is characterized in that the control device is operable to control the stimulation device to change at least one of the following pulse parameters: the off-time period between the pulses of each pulse sequence, the off-time period between the pulse sequences, the width of each pulse of the pulse sequence, the length of each pulse sequence, the pulse amplitude of the pulses of the pulse sequence, the frequency of the pulses of the pulse sequence, the frequency of the pulse sequence, and the number of pulses of each pulse sequence; and is characterized in that at least a first region and a second region of the region of the wall portion are repeatedly stimulated by a first pulse sequence and a second pulse sequence of the pulse sequence, respectively, such that the first and second pulse sequences are converted with respect to each other over time; and is characterized in that while the second region is not stimulated by the second pulse sequence, the first region is stimulated by the first pulse sequence, and vice versa; or, the first and second pulse sequences are converted with respect to each other such that the first and second pulse sequences at least partially overlap each other.

[0251] Preferably, the wall portion includes muscle fibers, and the stimulation device is configured to stimulate the wall portion including the muscle fibers by electrical pulses, so that the contraction of the muscle fibers causes the wall portion to contract.

[0252] Preferably, the stimulation device includes a plurality of electrical elements and a structure for maintaining the electrical elements in a fixed orientation relative to each other, the structure being integrated in the compression device or being separate from the compression device; and is characterized in that the electrical elements form electrical elements in an elongated pattern, the elements being applicable to the patient's intestine such that the electrical elements in the elongated pattern extend along the wall portion of the intestine in the flow direction in the intestinal passage, and the elements are adjacent to the corresponding regions of the wall portion.

[0253] Preferably, the stimulation device has a plurality of electrical elements, and the control device is operable to control the stimulation device to supply power to the electrical elements, preferably to cyclically energize each element by electrical pulses; and is characterized in that the control device is operable to control the stimulation device to supply power to the electrical elements to simultaneously energize one or more groups of the electrical elements, or to energize the electrical elements one by one in sequence, or to randomly or according to a predetermined pattern to sequentially energize the groups of the electrical elements.

[0254] Preferably, the stimulating device comprises a plurality of electrical elements which form an elongate pattern of electrical elements; characterized in that the elements can be applied to the patient's wall such that the elongate pattern of electrical elements extends along a wall portion of the intestine in the direction of flow in the intestinal passage, the elements adjoining corresponding regions of the wall portion; and characterized in that the control device is operable to control the stimulating device

[0255] - to energize the electrical elements continuously longitudinally along the elongate pattern of electrical elements, or

[0256] - when the stimulating device is applied to the patient's intestine, to energize the electrical elements continuously along the elongate pattern of electrical elements in a direction the same as or opposite to the direction of flow in the intestinal passage, or

[0257] - when the stimulating device is applied to the patient's intestine, to energize the electrical elements continuously from a position substantially at the center of the compressed wall portion towards the ends of the elongate pattern of electrical elements.

[0258] Preferably, the stimulating device comprises a plurality of electrical elements, the control device being operable to control the stimulating device to energize the electrical elements such that the currently energized electrical elements form at least one group of adjacent energized electrical elements; characterized in that the elements in the one group of energized electrical elements form an energized electrical element path; and characterized in that when the stimulating device is applied to the intestine, the energized electrical element path extends along the patient's intestine, or at least partially or completely around the patient's intestine.

[0259] Preferably, the stimulating device comprises a plurality of electrical elements which, when the stimulating device is applied to the intestine, form a plurality of groups of elements, the groups forming a series of groups extending along the patient's intestine in the direction of flow in the patient's intestinal passage, the electrical elements in each group of electrical elements forming an element path extending along the patient's intestine, or at least partially or completely around the patient's intestine; and characterized in that the control device is operable to control the stimulating device

[0260] - when the stimulating device is applied to the patient's intestine, to energize the groups of electrical elements in the series of groups continuously in a direction the same as or opposite to the direction of flow in the intestinal passage, or

[0261] - when the stimulating device is applied to the patient's intestine, to energize the groups of electrical elements in the series of groups continuously from a position substantially at the center of the compressed wall portion in a direction the same as or opposite to the direction of flow in the intestinal passage.

[0262] Preferably, the stimulating device is configured to cause contraction of the compressed wall portion by cooling the compressed wall portion or to thermally stimulate the wall portion by heating the wall portion, so as to cause expansion of the wall portion when the wall portion compresses and contracts; and characterized in that the compressing device is configured to compress the wall portion to at least restrict the flow in the intestinal passage, and the control device is operable to control the stimulating device to cool the compressed wall portion to cause the wall portion to contract, so that the flow in the intestinal passage is at least further restricted without stopping, or is further restricted and stopped.

[0263] Preferably, the tissue wall portion of the intestinal part extends between the upstream end and the downstream end of the wall portion relative to the flow direction in the intestinal passage; and characterized in that the control device is operable to control at least one of the contracting and stimulating devices to affect the wall portion, so that the intestinal contents effectively move in the intestinal passage.

[0264] Preferably, the compressing device is configured to compress the entire wall portion between the upstream end and the downstream end of the wall portion to restrict the flow in the intestinal passage, and the control device

[0265] - is operable to control the stimulating device to gradually stimulate the compressed wall portion in the downstream or upstream direction along the intestinal passage, so that the wall portion gradually contracts, thereby moving the intestinal contents in the intestinal passage, or

[0266] - controls the stimulating device to stimulate the compressed wall portion to close the intestinal passage at the upstream end or the downstream end of the wall portion, and simultaneously controls the compressing device to increase the compression of the entire wall portion to move the intestinal contents in the intestinal passage.

[0267] Preferably, the control device is operable to control the compressing device to change the compression of the wall portion, and simultaneously control the stimulating device to gradually stimulate the compressed wall portion in the downstream or upstream direction along the intestinal passage, so that the wall portion gradually contracts, thereby moving the intestinal contents in the intestinal passage.

[0268] Preferably, the control device is operable to control the compressing device to stimulate the wall portion, and simultaneously control the compressing device to change the compression of different regions of the wall portion, so that the wall portion is gradually compressed in the downstream or upstream direction along the intestinal passage; and characterized in that

[0269] the control device is operable to control the stimulating device to gradually stimulate the compressed wall portion, so as to cause contraction of the wall portion, to coordinate with the gradual compression of the wall portion performed by the compressing device, or

[0270] The control device is operable to control a elongate compression element of the compression device to extend along the wall portion to gradually compress the wall portion in a downstream or upstream direction of the intestinal passage; characterized in that the elongate compression element includes a contact surface, the contact surface being dimensioned to contact a length of the wall portion when the compression device compresses the wall portion; the stimulation device includes a plurality of stimulation elements distributed along the contact surface, such that when the control device controls the stimulation device to stimulate the wall portion, the stimulation elements stimulate different regions of the wall portion along the length of the wall portion.

[0271] Preferably, the compression device is configured to compress any one of a series of wall portions of the tissue wall to at least restrict the flow in the intestinal passage, the stimulation device is configured to stimulate the wall portion compressed by the compression device to close the intestinal passage, the control device is operable to control the compression device to continuously compress the wall portions in the series of wall portions of the intestinal part, so that the intestinal contents move in a peristaltic manner in the intestinal passage; and characterized in that the compression device includes at least one compression element capable of moving along the intestinal part to continuously compress the wall portions in the series of wall portions of the intestinal part; the stimulation device includes at least one stimulation element located on the compression element for stimulating the wall portion compressed by the compression element to close the intestinal passage.

[0272] Preferably, the control device is operable to control the compression device to move the compression element cyclically along the wall portions in the series of wall portions.

[0273] Preferably, the compression device includes a plurality of compression elements, each compression element capable of moving along the intestinal part to continuously compress the wall portions in the series of wall portions of the intestinal part; characterized in that the stimulation device includes a stimulation element located on the compression element for stimulating the wall portion compressed by the compression element to close the intestinal passage; characterized in that the control device is operable to control the compression device to move the compression elements cyclically along the wall portions in the series of wall portions of the intestinal part in sequence; characterized in that the compression device includes a rotor carrying the compression elements, the control device is operable to control the rotor to rotate such that each compression element cyclically compresses the wall portions in the series of wall portions of the intestinal part; and characterized in that each compression element includes a roller for rolling on the intestinal part to compress the intestinal part.

[0274] Preferably, the compression device includes a first compression element for compressing the wall portion of the intestinal part at the upstream end of the wall portion, a second compression element for compressing the wall portion at the downstream end of the wall portion, and a third compression element for compressing the wall portion between the upstream end and the downstream end of the wall portion. The control device can be operated to control the first, second, and third compression elements to compress and release the wall portion independently of each other; and it is characterized in that

[0275] the control device can be operated to control the first or second compression element to compress the wall portion at the upstream end or the downstream end of the wall portion to close the intestinal passage, and control the third compression element to compress the wall portion between the upstream end and the downstream end of the wall portion. Thus, the intestinal contents contained in the wall portion between the upstream end and the downstream end of the wall portion move downstream or upstream in the intestinal passage. When the third compression element compresses the wall portion, the control device controls the stimulation device to stimulate the wall portion between the upstream end and the downstream end of the wall portion, or

[0276] the control device can be operated to control the first compression element to compress the wall portion at the upstream end to restrict the flow in the intestinal passage, and control the stimulation device to stimulate the compressed wall portion at the upstream end to close the intestinal passage; and it is characterized in that the control device can be operated to control the third compression element to compress the wall portion between the upstream end and the downstream end of the wall portion. Thus, the intestinal contents contained in the wall portion between the upstream end and the downstream end of the wall portion move downstream in the intestinal passage, or

[0277] the control device can be operated to control the second compression element to compress the wall portion at the downstream end to restrict the flow in the intestinal passage, and control the stimulation device to stimulate the compressed wall portion at the downstream end to close the intestinal passage, and the control device can be operated to control the third compression element to compress the wall portion between the upstream end and the downstream end of the wall portion. Thus, the intestinal contents contained in the wall portion between the upstream end and the downstream end of the wall portion move upstream in the intestinal passage.

[0278] Preferably, the compression device is adjustable and further includes an operating device for operating the adjustable compression device to change the compression on the wall portion of the patient's intestinal part; it is characterized in that the operating device operates the compression device mechanically or hydraulically.

[0279] Preferably, the operating device mechanically operates the compression device, which includes at least two elongated clamping elements that extend along the intestine in the flow direction in the patient's intestinal passage on different sides of the intestine, and the operating device operates the clamping elements to clamp the wall portion between the clamping elements to compress the wall portion.

[0280] Preferably, the control device can be operated to control the compression device to close the intestinal passage at the upstream end or the downstream end of the wall portion, and control the compression device to compress the remaining portion of the wall portion to move the intestinal contents in the intestinal passage; and it is characterized in that when the compression device compresses the remaining portion of the wall portion, the control device can be operated to control the stimulating device to stimulate the wall portion.

[0281] Preferably, the compression device is configured to compress the wall portion to restrict but not stop the flow in the intestinal passage, and the control device can be operated to control the stimulating device to stimulate the wall portion compressed by the compression device at the upstream end or the downstream end of the wall portion to close the intestinal passage, and at the same time control the compression device to increase the compression on the wall portion to move the intestinal contents in the intestinal passage.

[0282] Preferably, the compression device includes a plurality of discrete compression elements adapted to respectively compress any wall portion in a series of wall portions of the intestine, and the control device can be operated to control the compression device to activate the compression elements randomly or according to a predetermined order.

[0283] Preferably, the stimulating device includes a stimulating element located on the compression element; and it is characterized in that the control device can be operated to control the stimulating device to activate the stimulating element to stimulate any wall portion in the series of wall portions compressed by the compression element.

[0284] Preferably, the control device can be operated to control the compression device to activate the compression elements

[0285] - to compress the wall portion in the series of wall portions without completely closing the intestinal passage, and control the stimulating device to sequentially activate the stimulating elements to stimulate the compressed wall portion, so that the wall portions in the series of wall portions continuously contract along the intestine to move the intestinal contents in the intestinal passage, or

[0286] - to compress all the wall portions in the series of wall portions, and control the stimulating device to activate the stimulating elements to randomly or according to a predetermined order stimulate any compressed wall portion to close the intestinal passage.

[0287] Urinary dysfunction

[0288] Preferably, the compression device is configured to compress the wall portion to a compressed state in which blood circulation in the compressed wall portion is substantially unrestricted and at least the flow in the urinary passage is restricted, and the control device is operable to control the stimulation device to contract the wall portion such that when the wall portion is held in the compressed state by the compression device, the flow in the urinary passage is at least further restricted.

[0289] Preferably, the control device is operable to control the compression device to adjust the compression of the wall portion of the patient, and the control device is operable to control the compression device and the stimulation device independently of each other.

[0290] Preferably, the control device is operable to control the compression device to adjust the compression of the wall portion of the patient, and

[0291] - the control device is operable to control the stimulation device to stimulate or not stimulate the wall portion, while the control device controls the compression device to adjust the compression of the wall portion, and

[0292] - the control device is operable to calibrate the compression device by controlling the stimulation device to stimulate the wall portion and simultaneously controlling the compression device to adjust the compression of the wall portion until the desired restriction of the flow in the urinary passage is obtained.

[0293] Preferably, the control device is operable to control the compression device to adjust the compression of the wall portion such that the flow in the urinary passage is restricted but not stopped, and is operable to

[0294] - control the stimulation device to stimulate the compressed wall portion to contract the wall portion such that the flow in the urinary passage is further restricted but not stopped, or

[0295] - control the stimulation device to stimulate the compressed wall portion to stop the flow in the urinary passage in a first mode and control the stimulation device to discontinue stimulating the wall portion to allow the flow in the urinary passage in a second mode.

[0296] Preferably, the control device is operable to control the compression device to adjust the compression of the wall portion such that the flow in the urinary tract is substantially stopped, and to control the stimulation device to stimulate the compressed wall portion to cause the wall portion to contract such that the flow in the urinary tract is completely stopped; and is characterized in that the control device is operable to control the stimulation device to stimulate the compressed wall portion in a first mode to completely stop the flow in the urinary tract, and to control the stimulation device to abort the stimulation of the wall portion in a second mode to allow the flow in the urinary tract, or to control the stimulation device to abort the stimulation of the wall portion and to control the compression device to release the wall portion to resume the flow in the urinary tract in the second mode.

[0297] Preferably, the control device is operable to control the compression device to compress the compressed wall portion to stop the flow in the urinary tract in a first mode, and to control the compression device to abort the compression of the wall portion to resume the flow in the urinary tract in a second mode.

[0298] Preferably, the control device includes a manually operable switch for turning on and off the compression device and / or the stimulation device, and the switch is adapted to be implanted subcutaneously in a patient for manual operation from outside the patient's body.

[0299] Preferably, the compression device is designed to keep the wall portion of the patient in a compressed state under normal conditions, wherein the blood circulation in the compressed wall portion is substantially unrestricted and at least the flow in the urinary tract is restricted; and is characterized in that the control device is operable to control the stimulation device to stimulate the compressed wall portion in a first mode to cause the wall portion to contract to further restrict but not stop the flow in the urinary tract, or to stimulate the compressed wall portion to cause the wall portion to contract such that the flow in the urinary tract is stopped; and is characterized in that the control device is operable to control the stimulation device to abort the stimulation of the wall portion in a second mode to increase the flow in the urinary tract.

[0300] Preferably, the control device is operable to control the stimulation device to adjust the intensity of the stimulation of the wall portion in response to sensed physiological parameters of the patient or functional parameters of the device.

[0301] Preferably, the control device is operable to control the stimulation device to increase the intensity of the stimulation in response to a sensed parameter associated with an increased pressure in the urinary tract, such that the flow in the urinary tract remains stopped; further comprising a sensor configured to sense a physiological parameter of the patient associated with the pressure in the urinary tract, the control device controlling the stimulation device in response to a signal from the sensor, the physiological parameter being associated with a pressure in the patient's body, the sensor being a pressure-related sensor.

[0302] Preferably, the control device is operable to control the stimulation device to intermittently and independently stimulate different regions of the wall portion such that at least two of the regions are stimulated at different time points; and is characterized in that the control device is operable to control the stimulation device to intermittently stimulate

[0303] - each of the different regions of the wall portion during successive time periods, each time period being short enough to maintain satisfactory blood circulation in the region over time until the end of the time period, or

[0304] the region of the wall portion such that the currently unstimulated region of the wall portion has time to return to substantially normal blood circulation before the stimulation device stimulates that region again.

[0305] Preferably, the control device is operable to control the stimulation device to stimulate different regions of the wall portion at a moment by sequentially stimulating different regions of the wall portion, or by switching the alternating stimulation of the regions over time, or by switching the alternating stimulation of the regions over time such that two regions are simultaneously and temporarily stimulated during the stimulation switch.

[0306] Preferably, the control device is operable to control the stimulation device to intermittently and independently electrically stimulate different regions of the wall portion of the patient by electrical pulses; and is characterized in that the stimulation device includes at least one electrical element for engaging the wall portion and for stimulating the wall portion by electrical pulses.

[0307] Preferably, the pulses form a pulse sequence; and it is characterized in that the control device is operable to control the stimulation device to change at least one of the following pulse parameters: the cut-off time period between the pulses of each pulse sequence, the cut-off time period between the pulse sequences, the width of each pulse of the pulse sequence, the length of each pulse sequence, the pulse amplitude of the pulses of the pulse sequence, the frequency of the pulses of the pulse sequence, the frequency of the pulse sequence, and the number of pulses of each pulse sequence; it is characterized in that at least a first region and a second region of the region of the wall portion are repeatedly stimulated by a first pulse sequence and a second pulse sequence of the pulse sequence, respectively, such that the first and second pulse sequences are converted with respect to each other over time; and it is characterized in that while the second region is not stimulated by the second pulse sequence, the first region is stimulated by the first pulse sequence, and vice versa; or, the first and second pulse sequences are converted with respect to each other such that the first and second pulse sequences at least partially overlap each other.

[0308] Preferably, the wall portion includes muscle fibers, and the stimulation device is configured to stimulate the wall portion including the muscle fibers by an electric pulse, so that the contraction of the muscle fibers causes the wall portion to contract.

[0309] Preferably, the stimulation device includes a plurality of electrical elements and a structure that holds the electrical elements in a fixed orientation relative to each other, and the structure is integrated in the compression device or is discrete from the compression device; and it is characterized in that the electrical elements form electrical elements in an elongated pattern, and the elements can be applied to the patient's urethra, urinary catheter, renal pelvis or urinary bladder, such that the electrical elements in the elongated pattern extend along the wall portion of the urethra, urinary catheter, renal pelvis or urinary bladder in the flow direction in the urinary tract, and the elements are adjacent to the corresponding regions of the wall portion.

[0310] Preferably, the stimulation device includes a plurality of electrical elements, and the control device is operable to control the stimulation device to supply power to the electrical elements, preferably by cyclically energizing each element by an electric pulse; and it is characterized in that the control device is operable to control the stimulation device to supply power to the electrical elements to energize one or more groups of the electrical elements simultaneously, or to energize the electrical elements one by one in sequence, or to energize the groups of the electrical elements in sequence randomly or according to a predetermined pattern.

[0311] Preferably, the stimulation device includes a plurality of electrical elements, and the electrical elements form electrical elements in an elongated pattern; it is characterized in that the elements can be applied to the patient's wall, such that the electrical elements in the elongated pattern extend along the wall portion of the urethra, urinary catheter, renal pelvis or urinary bladder in the flow direction in the urinary tract, and the elements are adjacent to the corresponding regions of the wall portion; and it is characterized in that the control device is operable to control the stimulation device

[0312] - continuously energizing the electrical elements in the longitudinal direction along the elongated pattern of electrical elements, or

[0313] - continuously energizing the electrical elements along the elongated pattern in the same or opposite direction to the direction of flow in the urine passage when the stimulation device is applied to the patient's urethra, ureter, renal pelvis or urinary bladder, or

[0314] - When the stimulation device is applied to the patient's urethra, urinary catheter, renal pelvis or urinary bladder, the electrical element is continuously energized from a position approximately at the center of the compressed wall portion towards both ends of the elongated pattern of electrical elements.

[0315] Preferably, the stimulation device comprises a plurality of electrical elements, and the control device is operable to control the stimulation device to energize the electrical elements so that the currently energized electrical elements form at least one group of adjacent powered electrical elements; characterized in that the elements in the group of powered electrical elements form a powered electrical element path; and characterized in that when the stimulation device is applied to the urethra, ureter, renal pelvis or urinary bladder, the powered electrical element path extends along the patient's urethra, ureter, renal pelvis or urinary bladder, or at least partially or completely around the patient's urethra, ureter, renal pelvis or urinary bladder.

[0316] Preferably, the stimulation device comprises a plurality of electrical elements, and when the stimulation device is applied to the urethra, ureter, renal pelvis or urinary bladder, the electrical elements form a plurality of groups of elements, and the groups form a series of groups extending along the patient's urethra, ureter, renal pelvis or urinary bladder along the flow direction in the patient's urine passage, and the electrical elements in each group of electrical elements form an element path extending along the patient's urethra, ureter, renal pelvis or urinary bladder, or at least partially or completely surrounding the patient's urethra, ureter, renal pelvis or urinary bladder; and it is characterized in that the control device is operable to control the stimulation device

[0317] - continuously energizing the groups of electrical elements in the series grouping in a direction that is the same as or opposite to the direction of flow in the urine passage when the stimulation device is applied to the patient's urethra, ureter, renal pelvis or urine bladder, or

[0318] -When the stimulation device is applied to the patient's urethra, urinary catheter, renal pelvis or urinary bladder, the groups of electrical elements in the series grouping are continuously energized from a position approximately at the center of the compressed wall portion in the same or opposite direction as the flow direction in the urine passage.

[0319] Preferably, the stimulating device is configured to cause contraction of the compressed wall portion by cooling the compressed wall portion or to thermally stimulate the wall portion by heating the wall portion, so as to cause expansion of the wall portion when the wall portion compresses and contracts; and characterized in that the compressing device is configured to compress the wall portion to at least restrict the flow in the urinary passage, and the control device is operable to control the stimulating device to cool the compressed wall portion to cause the wall portion to contract, so that the flow in the urinary passage is at least further restricted without stopping, or is further restricted and stopped.

[0320] Preferably, the tissue wall portion of the organ extends between an upstream end and a downstream end of the wall portion with respect to the flow direction in the urinary passage; and characterized in that the control device is operable to control at least one of the contraction and stimulating devices to affect the wall portion, so that the urine effectively moves in the urinary passage.

[0321] Preferably, the compressing device is configured to compress the entire wall portion between an upstream end and a downstream end of the wall portion to restrict the flow in the urinary passage, and the control device

[0322] - is operable to control the stimulating device to gradually stimulate the compressed wall portion in the downstream or upstream direction along the urinary passage, so that the wall portion gradually contracts, thereby causing the urine to move in the urinary passage, or

[0323] - controls the stimulating device to stimulate the compressed wall portion to close the urinary passage at the upstream end or the downstream end of the wall portion, and simultaneously controls the compressing device to increase the compression on the entire wall portion to cause the urine to move in the urinary passage.

[0324] Preferably, the control device is operable to control the compressing device to change the compression on the wall portion, and simultaneously control the stimulating device to gradually stimulate the compressed wall portion in the downstream or upstream direction along the urinary passage, so that the wall portion gradually contracts, thereby causing the urine to move in the urinary passage.

[0325] Preferably, the control device is operable to control the compressing device to stimulate the wall portion, and simultaneously control the compressing device to change the compression on different regions of the wall portion, so that the wall portion is gradually compressed in the downstream or upstream direction along the urinary passage; and characterized in that,

[0326] the control device is operable to control the stimulating device to gradually stimulate the compressed wall portion, thereby causing contraction of the wall portion, to coordinate with the gradual compression of the wall portion performed by the compressing device, or

[0327] The control device is operable to control the elongated compression element of the compression device to extend along the wall portion so as to gradually compress the wall portion in the downstream or upstream direction of the urinary tract; characterized in that the elongated compression element includes a contact surface, the contact surface being dimensioned to contact a length of the wall portion when the compression device compresses the wall portion; the stimulation device includes a plurality of stimulation elements distributed along the contact surface, such that when the control device controls the stimulation device to stimulate the wall portion, the stimulation elements stimulate different regions of the wall portion along the length of the wall portion.

[0328] Preferably, the compression device is configured to compress any one of a series of wall portions of the urethra, ureter, renal pelvis or urinary bladder to at least restrict the flow in the urinary tract, the stimulation device is configured to stimulate the wall portion compressed by the compression device to close the urinary tract, the control device is operable to control the compression device to continuously compress the wall portions in the series of wall portions so that the urine moves in a peristaltic manner in the urinary tract; and characterized in that the compression device includes at least one compression element that can move along the urethra, ureter, renal pelvis or urinary bladder to continuously compress the wall portions in the series of wall portions; the stimulation device includes at least one stimulation element located on the compression element for stimulating the wall portion compressed by the compression element to close the urinary tract.

[0329] Preferably, the control device is operable to control the compression device to move the compression element cyclically along the wall portions in the series of wall portions.

[0330] Preferably, the compression device includes a plurality of compression elements, each compression element being able to move along the urethra, ureter, renal pelvis or urinary bladder to continuously compress the wall portions in the series of wall portions; characterized in that the stimulation device includes a stimulation element located on the compression element for stimulating the wall portion compressed by the compression element to close the urinary tract; characterized in that the control device is operable to control the compression device to move the compression elements cyclically in sequence along the wall portions in the series of wall portions; characterized in that the compression device includes a rotor carrying the compression elements, and the control device is operable to control the rotation of the rotor such that each compression element cyclically compresses the wall portions in the series of wall portions; and characterized in that each compression element includes a roller for rolling on the urethra, ureter, renal pelvis or urinary bladder to compress the urethra, ureter, renal pelvis or urinary bladder.

[0331] Preferably, the compression device includes a first compression element for compressing a wall portion of the urethra, ureter, renal pelvis, or urinary bladder at an upstream end of the wall portion, a second compression element for compressing the wall portion at a downstream end of the wall portion, and a third compression element for compressing the wall portion between the upstream end and the downstream end of the wall portion, and the control device is operable to control the first, second, and third compression elements to compress and release the wall portion independently of each other; and characterized in that,

[0332] the control device is operable to control the first or second compression element to compress the wall portion at the upstream end or the downstream end of the wall portion to close the urinary passage, and control the third compression element to compress the wall portion between the upstream end and the downstream end of the wall portion, whereby the urine contained in the wall portion between the upstream end and the downstream end of the wall portion moves downstream or upstream in the urinary passage, and when the third compression element compresses the wall portion, the control device controls the stimulation device to stimulate the wall portion between the upstream end and the downstream end of the wall portion, or

[0333] the control device is operable to control the first compression element to compress the wall portion at the upstream end to restrict the flow in the urinary passage, and control the stimulation device to stimulate the compressed wall portion at the upstream end to close the urinary passage; and characterized in that, the control device is operable to control the third compression element to compress the wall portion between the upstream end and the downstream end of the wall portion, whereby the urine contained in the wall portion between the upstream end and the downstream end of the wall portion moves downstream in the urinary passage, or

[0334] the control device is operable to control the second compression element to compress the wall portion at the downstream end to restrict the flow in the urinary passage, and control the stimulation device to stimulate the compressed wall portion at the downstream end to close the urinary passage, and the control device is operable to control the third compression element to compress the wall portion between the upstream end and the downstream end of the wall portion, whereby the urine contained in the wall portion between the upstream end and the downstream end of the wall portion moves upstream in the urinary passage.

[0335] Preferably, the compression device is adjustable and further includes an operating device for operating the adjustable compression device to change the compression on the wall portion of the patient's urethra, ureter, renal pelvis, or urinary bladder; characterized in that, the operating device operates the compression device mechanically or hydraulically.

[0336] Preferably, the operating device mechanically operates the compression device, which includes at least two elongated clamping elements that extend along the urethra, ureter, renal pelvis, or urinary bladder in the flow direction in the patient's urinary tract on different sides of the urethra, ureter, renal pelvis, or urinary bladder, and the operating device operates the clamping elements to clamp the wall portion between the clamping elements to compress the wall portion.

[0337] Preferably, the control device can be operated to control the compression device to close the urinary tract at the upstream end or the downstream end of the wall portion, and control the compression device to compress the remaining portion of the wall portion to move the urine in the urinary tract; and it is characterized in that when the compression device compresses the remaining portion of the wall portion, the control device can be operated to control the stimulation device to stimulate the wall portion.

[0338] Preferably, the compression device is configured to compress the wall portion to restrict but not stop the flow in the urinary tract, and the control device can be operated to control the stimulation device to stimulate the wall portion compressed by the compression device at the upstream end or the downstream end of the wall portion to close the urinary tract, and at the same time control the compression device to increase the compression on the wall portion to move the urine in the urinary tract.

[0339] Preferably, the compression device includes a plurality of discrete compression elements, and the compression elements are adapted to respectively compress any wall portion in a series of wall portions of the urethra, ureter, renal pelvis, or urinary bladder, and the control device can be operated to control the compression device to activate the compression elements randomly or according to a predetermined order.

[0340] Preferably, the stimulation device includes a stimulation element located on the compression element; and it is characterized in that the control device can be operated to control the stimulation device to activate the stimulation element to stimulate any wall portion in the series of wall portions compressed by the compression element.

[0341] Preferably, the control device can be operated to control the compression device to activate the compression elements

[0342] - to compress the wall portion in the series of wall portions without completely closing the urinary tract, and control the stimulation device to sequentially activate the stimulation elements to stimulate the compressed wall portion, so that the wall portions in the series of wall portions continuously contract along the urethra, ureter, renal pelvis, or urinary bladder to move the urine in the urinary tract, or

[0343] - to compress all wall portions in the series of wall portions, and control the stimulation device to activate the stimulation elements to randomly or according to a predetermined order stimulate any compressed wall portion to close the urinary tract.

[0344] Gastric banding for obesity

[0345] The present invention provides an obesity treatment device, comprising an implantable compression device configured to gently compress at least a part of the tissue wall of a patient's stomach to affect the flow of food in the food passage of the stomach; a stimulation device configured to stimulate a wall portion of the tissue wall; and a control device capable of operating to control the stimulation device to stimulate the wall portion when the compression device compresses the wall portion, so that the contraction of the wall portion further affects the flow of food in the food passage of the stomach.

[0346] Preferably, the compression device is configured to compress the wall portion to a compressed state in which blood circulation in the compressed wall portion is substantially unrestricted and at least the flow in the food passage is restricted, and the control device is capable of operating to control the stimulation device to cause the wall portion to contract, so that when the wall portion is held in the compressed state by the compression device, at least the flow in the food passage is further restricted.

[0347] Preferably, the control device is capable of operating to control the compression device to adjust the compression of the wall portion of the patient, and the control device is capable of independently controlling the compression device and the stimulation device with respect to each other.

[0348] Preferably, the control device is capable of operating to control the compression device to adjust the compression of the wall portion of the patient, and

[0349] - the control device is capable of operating to control the stimulation device to stimulate or not stimulate the wall portion, while the control device controls the compression device to adjust the compression of the wall portion, and

[0350] - the control device is capable of operating to calibrate the compression device by controlling the stimulation device to stimulate the wall portion and simultaneously controlling the compression device to adjust the compression of the wall portion until the desired restriction of the flow in the food passage is obtained.

[0351] Preferably, the control device is capable of operating to control the compression device to adjust the compression of the wall portion such that the flow in the food passage is restricted but not stopped, and is capable of operating to

[0352] - control the stimulation device to stimulate the compressed wall portion to cause the wall portion to contract, so that the flow in the food passage is further restricted but not stopped, or

[0353] - Control the stimulation device to stimulate the compressed wall portion in the first mode to stop the flow in the food passage, and control the stimulation device to abort the stimulation of the wall portion in the second mode to allow the flow in the food passage.

[0354] Preferably, the control device is operable to control the compression device to adjust the compression of the wall portion such that the flow in the food passage is substantially stopped, and control the stimulation device to stimulate the compressed wall portion to cause the wall portion to contract such that the flow in the food passage is completely stopped; and is characterized in that the control device is operable to control the stimulation device to stimulate the compressed wall portion to completely stop the flow in the food passage in the first mode, and control the stimulation device to abort the stimulation of the wall portion to allow the flow in the food passage in the second mode, or control the stimulation device to abort the stimulation of the wall portion and control the compression device to release the wall portion to restore the flow in the food passage in the second mode.

[0355] Preferably, the control device is operable to control the compression device to compress the compressed wall portion to stop the flow in the food passage in the first mode, and control the compression device to abort the compression of the wall portion to restore the flow in the food passage in the second mode.

[0356] Preferably, the control device includes a manually operable switch for switching on and off the compression device and / or the stimulation device, the switch being adapted to be manually operated from outside the patient's body when subcutaneously implanted in the patient.

[0357] Preferably, the compression device is designed to keep the patient's wall portion in a compressed state under normal conditions, wherein the blood circulation in the compressed wall portion is substantially unrestricted and at least the flow in the food passage is restricted; and is characterized in that the control device is operable to control the stimulation device to stimulate the compressed wall portion to cause the wall portion to contract to further restrict but not stop the flow in the food passage in the first mode, or stimulate the compressed wall portion to cause the wall portion to contract such that the flow in the food passage is stopped; and is characterized in that the control device is operable to control the stimulation device to abort the stimulation of the wall portion in the second mode to increase the flow in the food passage.

[0358] Preferably, the control device is operable to control the stimulation device to adjust the intensity of the stimulation of the wall portion in response to sensed physiological parameters of the patient or functional parameters of the device.

[0359] Preferably, the control device is operable to control the stimulation device to increase the intensity of the stimulation in response to a sensed parameter related to an increase in pressure in the food passageway such that flow in the food passageway remains stopped; further comprising a sensor configured to sense a physiological parameter of the patient related to the pressure in the food passageway, the control device controlling the stimulation device in response to a signal from the sensor, the physiological parameter being related to pressure in the patient's body, the sensor being a pressure-related sensor.

[0360] Preferably, the control device is operable to control the stimulation device to intermittently and independently stimulate different regions of the wall portion such that at least two of the regions are stimulated at different points in time; and is characterized in that the control device is operable to control the stimulation device to intermittently stimulate

[0361] - each of the different regions of the wall portion during successive time periods, each time period being short enough to maintain satisfactory blood circulation in the region over time until the end of the time period, or

[0362] - a region of the wall portion such that the currently unstimulated region of the wall portion has time to return to substantially normal blood circulation before the stimulation device stimulates that region again.

[0363] Preferably, the control device is operable to control the stimulation device to stimulate different regions of the wall portion at a moment by sequentially stimulating different regions of the wall portion, or by switching the alternating stimulation of the regions over time, or by switching the alternating stimulation of the regions over time such that two regions are simultaneously and temporarily stimulated during the stimulation switch.

[0364] Preferably, the control device is operable to control the stimulation device to intermittently and independently electrically stimulate different regions of the wall portion of the patient by means of electrical pulses; and is characterized in that the stimulation device comprises at least one electrical element for engaging the wall portion and for stimulating the wall portion by means of electrical pulses.

[0365] Preferably, the pulses form a pulse sequence; and it is characterized in that the control device can be operated to control the stimulation device to change at least one of the following pulse parameters: the cut-off time period between the pulses of each pulse sequence, the cut-off time period between the pulse sequences, the width of each pulse of the pulse sequence, the length of each pulse sequence, the pulse amplitude of the pulses of the pulse sequence, the frequency of the pulses of the pulse sequence, the frequency of the pulse sequence, and the number of pulses of each pulse sequence; it is characterized in that at least a first region and a second region of the region of the wall portion are repeatedly stimulated by a first pulse sequence and a second pulse sequence of the pulse sequence, respectively, such that the first and second pulse sequences are converted with respect to each other over time; and it is characterized in that while the second region is not stimulated by the second pulse sequence, the first region is stimulated by the first pulse sequence, and vice versa; or, the first and second pulse sequences are converted with respect to each other such that the first and second pulse sequences at least partially overlap each other.

[0366] Preferably, the wall portion includes muscle fibers, and the stimulation device is configured to stimulate the wall portion including the muscle fibers by an electrical pulse, so that the contraction of the muscle fibers causes the wall portion to contract.

[0367] Preferably, the stimulation device includes a plurality of electrical elements and a structure that holds the electrical elements in a fixed orientation relative to each other, and the structure is integrated in the compression device or is discrete from the compression device; and it is characterized in that the electrical elements form electrical elements in an elongated pattern, and the elements can be applied to the patient's stomach such that the electrical elements in the elongated pattern extend along the wall portion of the stomach in the flow direction in the lumen, and the elements are adjacent to corresponding regions of the wall portion.

[0368] Preferably, the stimulation device includes a plurality of electrical elements, and the control device can be operated to control the stimulation device to supply power to the electrical elements, preferably by energizing each element cyclically by an electrical pulse; and it is characterized in that the control device can be operated to control the stimulation device to supply power to the electrical elements to supply power to one or more groups of the electrical elements simultaneously, or to supply power to the electrical elements one by one in sequence, or to supply power to the groups of the electrical elements in sequence randomly or according to a predetermined pattern.

[0369] Preferably, the stimulation device includes a plurality of electrical elements, and the electrical elements form electrical elements in an elongated pattern; it is characterized in that the elements can be applied to the patient's wall such that the electrical elements in the elongated pattern extend along the wall portion of the stomach in the flow direction in the food passage, and the elements are adjacent to corresponding regions of the wall portion; and it is characterized in that the control device can be operated to control the stimulation device

[0370] -energize the electrical element continuously along the longitudinal direction of the electrical element along the elongated pattern, or

[0371] -when the stimulation device is applied to the patient's stomach, energize the electrical element continuously along the electrical element along the elongated pattern in a direction the same as or opposite to the flow direction in the food passage, or

[0372] -when the stimulation device is applied to the patient's stomach, energize the electrical element continuously from a position approximately at the center of the compressed wall portion towards both ends of the electrical element along the elongated pattern.

[0373] Preferably, the stimulation device includes a plurality of electrical elements, and the control device is operable to control the stimulation device to energize the electrical elements such that the currently energized electrical elements form at least one set of adjacent energized electrical elements; characterized in that the elements in the set of energized electrical elements form an energized electrical element path; and characterized in that when the stimulation device is applied to the stomach, the energized electrical element path extends along the patient's stomach, or at least partially or completely surrounds the patient's stomach.

[0374] Preferably, the stimulation device includes a plurality of electrical elements, and when the stimulation device is applied to the stomach, the electrical elements form multiple sets of elements, and the sets form a series of sets extending along the patient's stomach in the flow direction in the patient's food passage, and the electrical elements in each set of electrical elements form an element path extending along the patient's stomach, or at least partially or completely surrounding the patient's stomach; and characterized in that the control device is operable to control the stimulation device

[0375] -when the stimulation device is applied to the patient's stomach, energize the grouped electrical elements in the series of sets continuously in a direction the same as or opposite to the flow direction in the food passage, or

[0376] -when the stimulation device is applied to the patient's stomach, energize the grouped electrical elements in the series of sets continuously from a position approximately at the center of the compressed wall portion in a direction the same as or opposite to the flow direction in the food passage.

[0377] Preferably, the stimulating device is configured to cause contraction of the compressed wall portion by cooling the compressed wall portion or to thermally stimulate the wall portion by heating the wall portion, so as to cause expansion of the wall portion when the wall portion compresses and contracts; and characterized in that the compressing device is configured to compress the wall portion to at least restrict the flow in the food passage, and the control device is operable to control the stimulating device to cool the compressed wall portion to cause the wall portion to contract, so that the flow in the food passage is at least further restricted without stopping, or is further restricted and stopped.

[0378] Preferably, the tissue wall portion of the stomach extends between an upstream end and a downstream end of the wall portion relative to the flow direction in the food passage; and characterized in that the control device is operable to control at least one of the contracting and stimulating devices to affect the wall portion, so that the food moves effectively in the food passage.

[0379] Preferably, the compressing device is configured to compress the entire wall portion between an upstream end and a downstream end of the wall portion to restrict the flow in the food passage, and the control device

[0380] - is operable to control the stimulating device to gradually stimulate the compressed wall portion in the downstream or upstream direction along the food passage, so that the wall portion gradually contracts, thereby causing the food to move in the food passage, or

[0381] - controls the stimulating device to stimulate the compressed wall portion to close the food passage at the upstream end or the downstream end of the wall portion, and simultaneously controls the compressing device to increase the compression on the entire wall portion to cause the food to move in the food passage.

[0382] Preferably, the control device is operable to control the compressing device to change the compression on the wall portion, and simultaneously control the stimulating device to gradually stimulate the compressed wall portion in the downstream or upstream direction along the food passage, so that the wall portion gradually contracts, thereby causing the food to move in the food passage.

[0383] Preferably, the control device is operable to control the compressing device to stimulate the wall portion, and simultaneously control the compressing device to change the compression on different regions of the wall portion, so that the wall portion is gradually compressed in the downstream or upstream direction along the food passage; and characterized in that

[0384] the control device is operable to control the stimulating device to gradually stimulate the compressed wall portion, thereby causing contraction of the wall portion, to coordinate with the gradual compression of the wall portion performed by the compressing device, or

[0385] The control device is operable to control a elongate compression element of the compression device to extend along the wall portion to gradually compress the wall portion in a downstream or upstream direction of the food passageway; wherein the elongate compression element includes a contact surface dimensioned to contact a length of the wall portion when the compression device compresses the wall portion; the stimulation device includes a plurality of stimulation elements distributed along the contact surface such that when the control device controls the stimulation device to stimulate the wall portion, the stimulation elements stimulate different regions of the wall portion along the length of the wall portion.

[0386] Preferably, the compression device is configured to compress any one of a series of wall portions of the stomach tissue wall to at least restrict the flow in the food passageway, the stimulation device is configured to stimulate the wall portion compressed by the compression device to close the food passageway, the control device is operable to control the compression device to continuously compress the wall portions in the series of wall portions so that the food moves in a peristaltic manner in the food passageway; and wherein the compression device includes at least one compression element movable along the stomach to continuously compress the wall portions in the series of wall portions; the stimulation device includes at least one stimulation element located on the compression element for stimulating the wall portion compressed by the compression element to close the food passageway.

[0387] Preferably, the control device is operable to control the compression device to move the compression element cyclically along the wall portions in the series of wall portions.

[0388] Preferably, the compression device includes a plurality of compression elements each movable along the stomach to continuously compress the wall portions in the series of wall portions; wherein the stimulation device includes stimulation elements located on the compression elements for stimulating the wall portions compressed by the compression elements to close the food passageway; wherein the control device is operable to control the compression device to move the compression elements cyclically in sequence along the wall portions in the series of wall portions; wherein the compression device includes a rotor carrying the compression elements and the control device is operable to control the rotation of the rotor such that each compression element cyclically compresses the wall portions in the series of wall portions; and wherein each compression element includes a roller for rolling on the stomach to compress the stomach.

[0389] Preferably, the compression device includes a first compression element for compressing the wall portion of the stomach at the upstream end of the wall portion, a second compression element for compressing the wall portion at the downstream end of the wall portion, and a third compression element for compressing the wall portion between the upstream end and the downstream end of the wall portion. The control device is operable to control the first, second, and third compression elements to compress and release the wall portion independently of each other; and it is characterized in that,

[0390] the control device is operable to control the first or second compression element to compress the wall portion at the upstream end or the downstream end of the wall portion to close the food passage, and control the third compression element to compress the wall portion between the upstream end and the downstream end of the wall portion. Thus, the food contained in the wall portion between the upstream end and the downstream end of the wall portion moves downstream or upstream in the food passage. When the third compression element compresses the wall portion, the control device controls the stimulation device to stimulate the wall portion between the upstream end and the downstream end of the wall portion, or

[0391] the control device is operable to control the first compression element to compress the wall portion at the upstream end to restrict the flow in the food passage, and control the stimulation device to stimulate the compressed wall portion at the upstream end to close the food passage; and it is characterized in that the control device is operable to control the third compression element to compress the wall portion between the upstream end and the downstream end of the wall portion. Thus, the food contained in the wall portion between the upstream end and the downstream end of the wall portion moves downstream in the food passage, or

[0392] the control device is operable to control the second compression element to compress the wall portion at the downstream end to restrict the flow in the food passage, and control the stimulation device to stimulate the compressed wall portion at the downstream end to close the food passage, and the control device is operable to control the third compression element to compress the wall portion between the upstream end and the downstream end of the wall portion. Thus, the food contained in the wall portion between the upstream end and the downstream end of the wall portion moves upstream in the food passage.

[0393] Preferably, the compression device is adjustable and further includes an operating device for operating the adjustable compression device to change the compression on the wall portion of the patient's stomach; it is characterized in that the operating device operates the compression device mechanically or hydraulically.

[0394] Preferably, the operating device mechanically operates the compression device, which comprises at least two elongate clamping elements that extend along the stomach along the flow direction in the patient's food passage on different sides of the stomach, and the operating device operates the clamping elements to clamp the wall portion between the clamping elements to compress the wall portion.

[0395] Preferably, the control device can be operated to control the compression device to close the food passage at the upstream end or the downstream end of the wall portion, and control the compression device to compress the remaining portion of the wall portion to move the food in the food passage; and it is characterized in that when the compression device compresses the remaining portion of the wall portion, the control device can be operated to control the stimulation device to stimulate the wall portion.

[0396] Preferably, the compression device is configured to compress the wall portion to restrict but not stop the flow in the food passage, and the control device can be operated to control the stimulation device to stimulate the wall portion compressed by the compression device at the upstream end or the downstream end of the wall portion to close the food passage, and at the same time control the compression device to increase the compression of the wall portion to move the food in the food passage.

[0397] Preferably, the compression device comprises a plurality of discrete compression elements adapted to compress any of the wall portions in a series of wall portions of the stomach respectively, and the control device can be operated to control the compression device to activate the compression elements randomly or according to a predetermined sequence.

[0398] Preferably, the stimulation device comprises stimulation elements located on the compression elements; and it is characterized in that the control device can be operated to control the stimulation device to activate the stimulation elements to stimulate any of the wall portions in the series of wall portions compressed by the compression elements.

[0399] Preferably, the control device can be operated to control the compression device to activate the compression elements

[0400] - to compress the wall portion in the series of wall portions without completely closing the food passage, and control the stimulation device to sequentially activate the stimulation elements to stimulate the compressed wall portion, so that the wall portions in the series of wall portions continuously contract along the stomach to move the food in the food passage, or

[0401] - to compress all the wall portions in the series of wall portions, and control the stimulation device to activate the stimulation elements to randomly or according to a predetermined sequence stimulate any compressed wall portion to close the food passage.

[0402] Obesity Vertical Banded Gastroplasty

[0403] The present invention provides an obesity treatment device for treating obese patients improved by any one of a group of surgeries known as vertical banded gastroplasty, characterized in that the stomach is partitioned into a smaller proximal compartment adjacent to the esophagus and a larger distal compartment, the smaller proximal compartment communicates with the larger distal compartment through an outlet opening, the device includes an implantable constriction device configured to gently compress at least a portion of the tissue wall of the patient's stomach to affect the flow of food in the food passage extending in the smaller proximal compartment through the outlet opening; a stimulation device configured to stimulate a wall portion of the tissue wall; and a control device capable of operating to control the stimulation device to stimulate the wall portion when the constriction device compresses the wall portion so that the contraction of the wall portion further affects the flow of food within the food passageway.

[0404] Preferably, the constriction device is configured to compress the wall portion to a compressed state in which blood circulation in the compressed wall portion is substantially unrestricted and at least the flow in the food passage is restricted, and the control device is capable of operating to control the stimulation device to cause the wall portion to contract so that when the wall portion is held in the compressed state by the constriction device, at least the flow in the food passage is further restricted.

[0405] Preferably, the control device is capable of operating to control the constriction device to adjust the compression of the wall portion of the patient, and the control device is capable of independently controlling the constriction device and the stimulation device with respect to each other.

[0406] Preferably, the control device is capable of operating to control the constriction device to adjust the compression of the wall portion of the patient, and

[0407] - the control device is capable of operating to control the stimulation device to stimulate or not stimulate the wall portion, while the control device controls the constriction device to adjust the compression of the wall portion, and

[0408] - the control device is capable of operating to calibrate the constriction device by controlling the stimulation device to stimulate the wall portion and simultaneously controlling the constriction device to adjust the compression of the wall portion until a desired restriction of the flow in the food passage is obtained.

[0409] Preferably, the control device is capable of operating to control the constriction to form the size of the outlet opening such that the flow of food in the food passage is restricted but not stopped, and is capable of operating to

[0410] - controlling the stimulation device to stimulate the compressed wall portion to cause the wall portion to contract, reducing the outlet opening such that the flow in the food passage is further restricted but not stopped, or

[0411] - controlling the stimulation device to stimulate the compressed wall portion to stop the flow in the food passage in a first mode, and controlling the stimulation device to discontinue the stimulation of the wall portion to allow the flow in the food passage in a second mode.

[0412] Preferably, the control device is operable to control the compression device to adjust the compression of the wall portion to form the size of the outlet opening such that the food flow in the food passage is substantially stopped, and to control the stimulation device to stimulate the compressed wall portion to cause the wall portion to contract such that the flow in the food passage is completely stopped; and is characterized in that the control device is operable to control the stimulation device in a first mode to stimulate the compressed wall portion to cause the outlet opening to nearly completely stop the food flow in the food passage, and in a second mode to control the stimulation device to discontinue the stimulation of the wall portion to open the outlet opening to allow the food flow in the food passage, or in the second mode to control the stimulation device to discontinue the stimulation of the wall portion and to control the compression device to release the wall portion to resume the flow in the food passage.

[0413] Preferably, the control device is operable to control the compression device to compress the compressed wall portion to close the outlet opening to stop the food flow in the food passage in a first mode, and to control the compression device to discontinue the compression of the wall portion to open the outlet opening to resume the food flow in the food passage in a second mode.

[0414] Preferably, the control device includes a manually operable switch for turning on and off the compression device and / or the stimulation device, the switch being adapted to be implanted subcutaneously in the patient for manual operation from outside the patient's body.

[0415] Preferably, the compression device is designed to hold the patient's wall portion in a compressed state under normal conditions, wherein the blood circulation in the compressed wall portion is substantially unrestricted and at least the flow in the food passage is restricted; and is characterized in that the control device is operable to control the stimulation device to stimulate the compressed wall portion in a first mode to cause the wall portion to contract to further restrict but not stop the flow in the food passage, or to stimulate the compressed wall portion to cause the wall portion to contract such that the flow in the food passage is stopped; and is characterized in that the control device is operable to control the stimulation device to discontinue the stimulation of the wall portion in a second mode to open the outlet to allow the food flow in the food passage.

[0416] Preferably, the control device is operable to control the stimulation device to adjust the intensity of the stimulation of the wall portion in response to sensed physiological parameters of the patient or functional parameters of the device.

[0417] Preferably, the control device is operable to control the compression device to compress the wall portion to form an outlet opening size that substantially stops the flow of food in the food passage, and to control the stimulation device to stimulate the compressed wall portion to cause the wall portion to contract, so that the flow in the food passage is completely stopped; and characterized in that the control device is operable to control the stimulation device to increase the intensity of the stimulation in response to sensed parameters related to an increase in pressure in the food passage, so that the flow in the food passage remains stopped; further comprising a sensor configured to sense the physiological parameters of the patient related to the pressure in the food passage, the control device controlling the stimulation device in response to a signal from the sensor, the physiological parameter being related to the pressure in the patient's body, and the sensor being a pressure-related sensor.

[0418] Preferably, the control device is operable to control the stimulation device to intermittently and independently stimulate different regions of the wall portion, such that at least two of the regions are stimulated at different time points; and characterized in that the control device is operable to control the stimulation device to intermittently stimulate

[0419] - each of the different regions of the wall portion during consecutive time periods, each time period being short enough to maintain satisfactory blood circulation in the region over time until the end of the time period, or

[0420] - the region of the wall portion such that the currently unstimulated region of the wall portion has time to return to substantially normal blood circulation before the stimulation device stimulates that region again.

[0421] Preferably, the control device is operable to control the stimulation device to stimulate different regions of the wall portion at one moment by sequentially stimulating different regions of the wall portion, or by switching the alternating stimulation of the regions over time, or by switching the alternating stimulation of the regions over time, such that two regions are temporarily stimulated simultaneously during the stimulation switch.

[0422] Preferably, the control device is operable to control the stimulation device to intermittently and independently electrically stimulate different regions of the wall portion of the patient by electrical pulses; and characterized in that the stimulation device includes at least one electrical element for engaging the wall portion and for stimulating the wall portion by electrical pulses.

[0423] Preferably, the pulses form a pulse sequence; and it is characterized in that the control device can be operated to control the stimulation device to change at least one of the following pulse parameters: the cut-off time period between the pulses of each pulse sequence, the cut-off time period between the pulse sequences, the width of each pulse of the pulse sequence, the length of each pulse sequence, the pulse amplitude of the pulses of the pulse sequence, the frequency of the pulses of the pulse sequence, the frequency of the pulse sequence, and the number of pulses of each pulse sequence; it is characterized in that at least a first region and a second region of the region of the wall portion are repeatedly stimulated by a first pulse sequence and a second pulse sequence of the pulse sequence, respectively, such that the first and second pulse sequences are converted with respect to each other over time; and it is characterized in that while the second region is not stimulated by the second pulse sequence, the first region is stimulated by the first pulse sequence, and vice versa; or, the first and second pulse sequences are converted with respect to each other such that the first and second pulse sequences at least partially overlap each other.

[0424] Preferably, the wall portion includes muscle fibers, and the stimulation device is configured to stimulate the wall portion including the muscle fibers by an electric pulse, so that the contraction of the muscle fibers causes the wall portion to contract.

[0425] Preferably, the stimulation device includes a plurality of electrical elements and a structure that holds the electrical elements in a fixed orientation relative to each other, and the structure is integrated in the compression device or is discrete from the compression device; and it is characterized in that the electrical elements form electrical elements in an elongated pattern, and the elements can be applied to the patient's stomach such that the electrical elements in the elongated pattern extend along the wall portion of the stomach in the flow direction in the lumen, and the elements are adjacent to corresponding regions of the wall portion.

[0426] Preferably, the stimulation device includes a plurality of electrical elements, and the control device can be operated to control the stimulation device to supply power to the electrical elements, preferably by cyclically energizing each element by an electric pulse; and it is characterized in that the control device can be operated to control the stimulation device to supply power to the electrical elements to supply power to one or more groups of the electrical elements simultaneously, or to supply power to the electrical elements one by one in sequence, or to supply power to the groups of the electrical elements in sequence randomly or according to a predetermined pattern.

[0427] Preferably, the stimulation device includes a plurality of electrical elements, and the electrical elements form electrical elements in an elongated pattern; it is characterized in that the elements can be applied to the patient's wall such that the electrical elements in the elongated pattern extend along the wall portion of the stomach in the flow direction in the food passage, and the elements are adjacent to corresponding regions of the wall portion; and it is characterized in that the control device can be operated to control the stimulation device

[0428] - Energize the electrical element continuously along the longitudinal direction of the electrical element along the elongated pattern, or

[0429] - When the stimulation device is applied to the patient's stomach, energize the electrical element continuously along the electrical element along the elongated pattern in a direction the same as or opposite to the flow direction in the food pathway, or

[0430] - When the stimulation device is applied to the patient's stomach, energize the electrical element continuously from a position approximately at the center of the compressed wall portion towards both ends of the electrical element along the elongated pattern.

[0431] Preferably, the stimulation device includes a plurality of electrical elements, and the control device is operable to control the stimulation device to energize the electrical elements such that the currently energized electrical elements form at least one set of adjacent energized electrical elements; characterized in that the elements in the set of energized electrical elements form an energized electrical element path; and characterized in that when the stimulation device is applied to the stomach, the energized electrical element path extends along the patient's stomach, or at least partially or completely around the patient's stomach.

[0432] Preferably, the stimulation device includes a plurality of electrical elements. When the stimulation device is applied to the stomach, the electrical elements form multiple sets of elements, and the sets form a series of sets extending along the patient's stomach in the flow direction in the patient's food pathway. The electrical elements in each set of electrical elements form an element path extending along the patient's stomach, or at least partially or completely around the patient's stomach; and characterized in that the control device is operable to control the stimulation device

[0433] - When the stimulation device is applied to the patient's stomach, energize the grouped electrical elements in the series of sets continuously in a direction the same as or opposite to the flow direction in the food pathway, or

[0434] - When the stimulation device is applied to the patient's stomach, energize the grouped electrical elements in the series of sets continuously from a position approximately at the center of the compressed wall portion in a direction the same as or opposite to the flow direction in the food pathway.

[0435] Preferably, the stimulating device is configured to cause contraction of the compressed wall portion by cooling the compressed wall portion or to thermally stimulate the wall portion by heating the wall portion, so as to cause expansion of the wall portion when the wall portion compresses and contracts; and characterized in that the compressing device is configured to compress the wall portion to form the size of the outlet opening and at least restrict the flow of food in the food passage, and the control device is operable to control the stimulating device to cool the compressed wall portion to cause the wall portion to contract, reduce the outlet opening so that the flow in the food passage is further restricted but not stopped, or further restrict and stop the flow of food in the food passage.

[0436] Preferably, the tissue wall portion of the stomach extends between an upstream end and a downstream end of the wall portion relative to the flow direction in the food passage; and characterized in that the control device is operable to control at least one of the contraction and stimulating devices to affect the wall portion so that the food moves effectively in the food passage.

[0437] Preferably, the compressing device is configured to compress the wall portion between an upstream end and a downstream end of the wall portion to restrict the flow in the food passage, and the control device is operable to control the stimulating device to gradually stimulate the compressed wall portion in the downstream or upstream direction of the food passage, so as to cause the wall portion to gradually contract, thereby moving the food in the food passage, or

[0438] control the stimulating device to stimulate the compressed wall portion to close the food passage at the upstream end or the downstream end of the wall portion, and at the same time control the compressing device to increase the compression on the entire wall portion to move the food in the food passage.

[0439] Preferably, the control device is operable to control the compressing device to change the compression on the wall portion, and at the same time control the stimulating device to gradually stimulate the compressed wall portion in the downstream or upstream direction of the food passage, so as to cause the wall portion to gradually contract, thereby moving the food in the food passage.

[0440] Preferably, the control device is operable to control the compressing device to stimulate the wall portion, and at the same time control the compressing device to change the compression on different regions of the wall portion, so that the wall portion is gradually compressed in the downstream or upstream direction of the food passage; and characterized in that

[0441] the control device is operable to control the stimulating device to gradually stimulate the compressed wall portion, so as to cause contraction of the wall portion, to coordinate with the gradual compression of the wall portion performed by the compressing device, or

[0442] The control device is operable to control a elongate compression element of the compression device to extend along the wall portion to gradually compress the wall portion in a downstream or upstream direction of the food passage; characterized in that the elongate compression element includes a contact surface, the contact surface being dimensioned to contact a length of the wall portion when the compression device compresses the wall portion; the stimulation device includes a plurality of stimulation elements distributed along the contact surface, such that when the control device controls the stimulation device to stimulate the wall portion, the stimulation elements stimulate different regions of the wall portion along the length of the wall portion.

[0443] Preferably, the compression device is configured to compress any one of a series of wall portions of the stomach tissue wall to at least restrict the flow in the food passage, the stimulation device is configured to stimulate the wall portion compressed by the compression device to close the food passage, the control device is operable to control the compression device to continuously compress the wall portions in the series of wall portions, so that the food moves in a peristaltic manner in the food passage; and characterized in that the compression device includes at least one compression element that can move along the stomach to continuously compress the wall portions in the series of wall portions; the stimulation device includes at least one stimulation element located on the compression element for stimulating the wall portion compressed by the compression element to close the food passage.

[0444] Preferably, the control device is operable to control the compression device to move the compression element cyclically along the wall portions in the series of wall portions.

[0445] Preferably, the compression device includes a plurality of compression elements, each compression element being able to move along the stomach to continuously compress the wall portions in the series of wall portions; characterized in that the stimulation device includes stimulation elements located on the compression elements for stimulating the wall portions compressed by the compression elements to close the food passage; characterized in that the control device is operable to control the compression device to move the compression elements cyclically along the wall portions in the series of wall portions in sequence; characterized in that the compression device includes a rotor carrying the compression elements, and the control device is operable to control the rotation of the rotor such that each compression element cyclically compresses the wall portions in the series of wall portions; and characterized in that each compression element includes a roller for rolling on the stomach to compress the stomach.

[0446] Preferably, the compression device includes a first compression element for compressing the wall portion of the stomach at the upstream end of the wall portion, a second compression element for compressing the wall portion at the downstream end of the wall portion, and a third compression element for compressing the wall portion between the upstream end and the downstream end of the wall portion. The control device is operable to control the first, second, and third compression elements to compress and release the wall portion independently of each other; and is characterized in that,

[0447] the control device is operable to control the first or second compression element to compress the wall portion at the upstream end or the downstream end of the wall portion to close the food passage, and control the third compression element to compress the wall portion between the upstream end and the downstream end of the wall portion, whereby the food contained in the wall portion between the upstream end and the downstream end of the wall portion moves downstream or upstream in the food passage. When the third compression element compresses the wall portion, the control device controls the stimulation device to stimulate the wall portion between the upstream end and the downstream end of the wall portion, or

[0448] the control device is operable to control the first compression element to compress the wall portion at the upstream end to restrict the flow in the food passage, and control the stimulation device to stimulate the compressed wall portion at the upstream end to close the food passage; and is characterized in that the control device is operable to control the third compression element to compress the wall portion between the upstream end and the downstream end of the wall portion, whereby the food contained in the wall portion between the upstream end and the downstream end of the wall portion moves downstream in the food passage, or

[0449] the control device is operable to control the second compression element to compress the wall portion at the downstream end to restrict the flow in the food passage, and control the stimulation device to stimulate the compressed wall portion at the downstream end to close the food passage, and the control device is operable to control the third compression element to compress the wall portion between the upstream end and the downstream end of the wall portion, whereby the food contained in the wall portion between the upstream end and the downstream end of the wall portion moves upstream in the food passage.

[0450] Preferably, the compression device is adjustable and further includes an operating device for operating the adjustable compression device to change the compression on the wall portion of the patient's stomach; and is characterized in that the operating device operates the compression device mechanically or hydraulically.

[0451] Preferably, the operating device mechanically operates the compression device, which includes at least two elongate clamping elements that extend along the stomach along the flow direction in the patient's food passage on different sides of the stomach, and the operating device operates the clamping elements to clamp the wall portion between the clamping elements to compress the wall portion.

[0452] Preferably, the control device can be operated to control the compression device to close the food passage at the upstream end or the downstream end of the wall portion, and control the compression device to compress the remaining portion of the wall portion to move the food in the food passage; and it is characterized in that when the compression device compresses the remaining portion of the wall portion, the control device can be operated to control the stimulation device to stimulate the wall portion.

[0453] Preferably, the compression device is configured to compress the wall portion to restrict but not stop the flow in the food passage, and the control device can be operated to control the stimulation device to stimulate the wall portion compressed by the compression device at the upstream end or the downstream end of the wall portion to close the food passage, and at the same time control the compression device to increase the compression of the wall portion to move the food in the food passage.

[0454] Preferably, the compression device includes a plurality of discrete compression elements adapted to respectively compress any wall portion in a series of wall portions of the stomach, and the control device can be operated to control the compression device to activate the compression elements randomly or according to a predetermined order.

[0455] Preferably, the stimulation device includes a stimulation element located on the compression element; and it is characterized in that the control device can be operated to control the stimulation device to activate the stimulation element to stimulate any wall portion in the series of wall portions compressed by the compression element.

[0456] Preferably, the control device can be operated to control the compression device to activate the compression elements

[0457] - to compress the wall portion in the series of wall portions without completely closing the food passage, and control the stimulation device to sequentially activate the stimulation elements to stimulate the compressed wall portion, so that the wall portions in the series of wall portions continuously contract along the stomach to move the food in the food passage, or

[0458] - to compress all the wall portions in the series of wall portions, and control the stimulation device to activate the stimulation elements to randomly or according to a predetermined order stimulate any compressed wall portion to close the food passage.

[0459] Male sexual dysfunction

[0460] The present invention provides a sexual dysfunction treatment device for treating male impotence patients, comprising: a stimulation device configured to stimulate at least one penile part of the patient's normal penile tissue or its extension; and a control device capable of operating to control the stimulation device to stimulate the penile part such that the contraction of the penile part restricts blood flow from leaving the penis to achieve erection.

[0461] Preferably, it further comprises an implantable compression device configured to gently compress the penile part to restrict blood flow from leaving the penis, and the control device is capable of operating to control the stimulation device to stimulate the penile part compressed by the compression device to at least further restrict blood flow from leaving the penis to achieve erection.

[0462] Preferably, the compression device is configured to compress the penile part to a compressed state in which blood circulation in the compressed penile part is substantially unrestricted and at least restricts the blood flow exiting the penis, and the control device is capable of operating to control the stimulation device to cause the penile part to contract such that when the penile part is held in the compressed state by the compression device, at least further restricts the blood flow exiting the penis.

[0463] Preferably, the control device is capable of operating to control the compression device to adjust the compression of the patient's penile part, and the control device is capable of independently controlling the compression device and the stimulation device with respect to each other.

[0464] Preferably, the control device is capable of operating to control the compression device to adjust the compression of the patient's penile part, and

[0465] - the control device is capable of operating to control the stimulation device to stimulate or not stimulate the penile part, while the control device controls the compression device to adjust the compression of the penile part, and

[0466] - the control device is capable of operating to calibrate the compression device by controlling the stimulation device to stimulate the penile part and simultaneously controlling the compression device to adjust the compression of the penile part until the desired restriction of blood flow from the penile outlet is obtained.

[0467] Preferably, the control device is capable of operating to control the compression device to adjust the compression of the penile part such that the blood flow from the penile outlet is restricted but not stopped, and is capable of operating to

[0468] - control the stimulation device to stimulate the compressed penile part to cause the compressed penile part to contract such that the blood flow from the penile outlet is further restricted but not stopped, or

[0469] - In a first mode, control the stimulation device to stimulate the compressed penile portion to stop the penile blood outflow, and in a second mode, control the stimulation device to discontinue the stimulation of the penile portion to allow the penile blood outflow.

[0470] Preferably, the control device is operable to control the compression device to adjust the compression of the penile portion such that the penile blood outflow is substantially stopped, and to control the stimulation device to stimulate the compressed penile portion to contract the compressed penile portion so as to completely stop the penile blood outflow; and is characterized in that the control device is operable to control the stimulation device to stimulate the compressed penile portion to completely stop the penile blood outflow in a first mode, and to control the stimulation device to discontinue the stimulation of the penile portion to allow the penile blood outflow in a second mode, or to control the stimulation device to discontinue the stimulation of the penile portion and control the compression device to release the penile portion to restore the penile blood outflow in the second mode.

[0471] Preferably, the control device is operable to control the compression device to compress the compressed penile portion to stop the penile blood outflow in a first mode, and to control the compression device to discontinue the compression of the penile portion to restore the penile blood outflow in a second mode.

[0472] Preferably, the control device includes a manually operable switch for turning on and off the compression device and / or the stimulation device, and the switch is adapted to be implanted subcutaneously in the patient for manual operation from outside the patient's body.

[0473] Preferably, the compression device is designed to maintain the patient's penile portion in a compressed state under normal circumstances, wherein the blood circulation in the compressed penile portion is substantially unrestricted and at least the penile blood outflow is restricted; and is characterized in that the control device is operable to control the stimulation device to stimulate the compressed penile portion to contract the penile portion to further restrict but not stop the penile blood outflow in a first mode, or to stimulate the compressed penile portion to contract the penile portion so as to stop the penile blood outflow; and is characterized in that the control device is operable to control the stimulation device to discontinue the stimulation of the penile portion to increase the penile blood outflow in a second mode.

[0474] Preferably, the control device is operable to control the stimulation device to adjust the intensity of the stimulation of the penile portion in response to sensed physiological parameters of the patient or functional parameters of the device.

[0475] Preferably, the control device is operable to control the compression device to adjust the compression of the compressed penile portion such that blood flow out of the penis is substantially stopped, and to control the stimulation device to stimulate the compressed penile portion to cause the penile portion to contract such that blood flow out of the penis is completely stopped; and is characterized in that the control device is operable to control the stimulation device to increase the intensity of the stimulation in response to a sensed parameter related to an increase in pressure in the penile portion such that blood flow out of the penis remains stopped; further comprising a sensor configured to sense a physiological parameter of the patient related to the pressure in the penile portion, the control device controlling the stimulation device in response to a signal from the sensor, the physiological parameter being related to the pressure in the patient's body, and the sensor being a pressure-related sensor.

[0476] Preferably, the control device is operable to control the stimulation device to intermittently and independently stimulate different regions of the penile portion such that at least two of the regions are stimulated at different points in time; and is characterized in that the control device is operable to control the stimulation device to intermittently stimulate

[0477] - each of the different regions of the penile portion during consecutive time periods, each time period being short enough to maintain satisfactory blood circulation in the region over time until the end of the time period, or

[0478] - the regions of the penile portion such that the currently unstimulated regions of the penile portion have time to return to substantially normal blood circulation before the stimulation device stimulates that region again.

[0479] Preferably, the control device is operable to control the stimulation device to stimulate different regions of the penile portion at a moment in time by sequentially stimulating different regions of the penile portion, or by switching the alternating stimulation of the regions over time, or by switching the alternating stimulation of the regions over time such that two regions are temporarily stimulated simultaneously during the stimulation switch.

[0480] Preferably, the control device is operable to control the stimulation device to intermittently and independently electrically stimulate different regions of the patient's penile portion by means of electrical pulses; and is characterized in that the stimulation device comprises at least one electrical element for engaging the penile portion and for stimulating the penile portion by means of electrical pulses.

[0481] Preferably, the pulses form a pulse train; and it is characterized in that the control device is operable to control the stimulation device to change at least one of the following pulse parameters: the cut-off time period between the pulses of each pulse train, the cut-off time period between the pulse trains, the width of each pulse of the pulse train, the length of each pulse train, the pulse amplitude of the pulses of the pulse train, the frequency of the pulses of the pulse train, the frequency of the pulse train, and the number of pulses of each pulse train; it is characterized in that at least a first region and a second region of the region of the penile portion are repeatedly stimulated by a first pulse train and a second pulse train of the pulse train, respectively, such that the first and second pulse trains are converted with respect to each other over time; and it is characterized in that the first region is stimulated by the first pulse train while the second region is not stimulated by the second pulse train, and vice versa; or, the first and second pulse trains are converted with respect to each other such that the first and second pulse trains at least partially overlap each other.

[0482] Preferably, the penile portion includes muscle fibers, and the stimulation device is configured to stimulate the penile portion including the muscle fibers by electrical pulses, so that the contraction of the muscle fibers causes the penile portion to contract.

[0483] Preferably, the stimulation device includes a plurality of electrical elements and a structure that holds the electrical elements in a fixed orientation relative to each other, and the structure is integrated in the compression device or is discrete from the compression device; and it is characterized in that the electrical elements form electrical elements in an elongated pattern, and the elements can be applied to the penile portion of the patient such that the electrical elements in the elongated pattern extend along the penile portion in the direction of blood flow out of the penis, and the elements are adjacent to the corresponding regions of the penile portion.

[0484] Preferably, the stimulation device includes a plurality of electrical elements, and the control device is operable to control the stimulation device to supply power to the electrical elements, preferably by energizing each element cyclically by electrical pulses; and it is characterized in that the control device is operable to control the stimulation device to supply power to the electrical elements to supply power to one or more groups of the electrical elements simultaneously, or to supply power to the electrical elements one by one in sequence, or to supply power to the groups of the electrical elements in sequence randomly or according to a predetermined pattern.

[0485] Preferably, the stimulation device includes a plurality of electrical elements, and the electrical elements form electrical elements in an elongated pattern; it is characterized in that the elements can be applied to the penile portion such that the electrical elements in the elongated pattern extend along the penile portion in the direction of blood flow out of the penis, and the elements are adjacent to the corresponding regions of the penile portion; and it is characterized in that the control device is operable to control the stimulation device

[0486] -energize the electrical component continuously along the longitudinal direction of the electrical component along the elongated pattern, or

[0487] -when the stimulation device is applied to the penile part of the patient, energize the electrical component continuously along the electrical component along the elongated pattern in a direction the same as or opposite to the direction of blood flow out of the penis, or

[0488] -when the stimulation device is applied to the penile part of the patient, energize the electrical component continuously from a position approximately at the center of the compressed penile part towards both ends of the electrical component along the elongated pattern.

[0489] Preferably, the stimulation device includes a plurality of electrical components, and the control device is operable to control the stimulation device to energize the electrical components such that the currently energized electrical components form at least one set of adjacent energized electrical components; characterized in that the components in the set of energized electrical components form an energized electrical component path; and characterized in that when the stimulation device is applied to the penile part, the energized electrical component path extends along the penile part of the patient, or at least partially or completely surrounds the penile part of the patient.

[0490] Preferably, the stimulation device includes a plurality of electrical components. When the stimulation device is applied to the penile part, the electrical components form multiple sets of components, and the sets form a series of sets extending along the penile part of the patient in the direction of blood flow out of the penis. The electrical components in each set of electrical components form a component path extending along the penile part of the patient, or at least partially or completely surrounding the penile part of the patient; and characterized in that the control device is operable to control the stimulation device

[0491] -when the stimulation device is applied to the penile part of the patient, energize the grouped electrical components in the series of sets continuously in a direction the same as or opposite to the direction of blood flow out of the penis, or

[0492] -when the stimulation device is applied to the penile part of the patient, energize the grouped electrical components in the series of sets continuously from a position approximately at the center of the penile part in a direction the same as or opposite to the direction of blood flow out of the penis.

[0493] Preferably, the stimulation device is configured to cause contraction of the compressed penile portion by cooling the compressed penile portion or to thermally stimulate the penile portion by heating the penile portion, so as to cause expansion of the penile portion when the penile portion compresses and contracts; and characterized in that the compression device is configured to compress the penile portion to at least restrict blood flow out of the penile outlet, and the control device is operable to control the stimulation device to cool the compressed penile portion to cause contraction of the penile portion, so that the blood flow out of the penile outlet is at least further restricted without stopping, or is further restricted and stopped.

[0494] Female sexual dysfunction

[0495] The present invention provides a sexual dysfunction treatment device for treating female patients, comprising: a stimulation device configured to stimulate at least a part of the female erectile tissue of the patient, and a control device operable to control the stimulation device to stimulate the erectile tissue part such that contraction of the erectile tissue part at least restricts venous blood flow out of the erectile tissue to obtain congestion of the female erectile tissue.

[0496] Preferably, it further comprises an implantable compression device configured to gently compress the erectile tissue part to restrict venous blood flow out of the erectile tissue, and the control device is operable to control the stimulation device to stimulate the erectile tissue part compressed by the compression device to at least further restrict venous blood flow out of the erectile tissue to obtain congestion of the female erectile tissue.

[0497] Preferably, the compression device is configured to compress the erectile tissue part to a compressed state in which blood circulation in the compressed erectile tissue part is substantially unrestricted and at least restricts blood flow out of the erectile outlet, and the control device is operable to control the stimulation device to cause contraction of the erectile tissue part such that when the erectile tissue part is held in the compressed state by the compression device, blood flow out of the erectile outlet is at least further restricted.

[0498] Preferably, the control device is operable to control the compression device to adjust the compression of the patient's erectile tissue part, and the control device is operable to control the compression device and the stimulation device independently of each other.

[0499] Preferably, the control device is operable to control the compression device to adjust the compression of the patient's erectile tissue part, and

[0500] - the control device is operable to control the stimulation device to stimulate or not stimulate the erectile tissue part, while the control device controls the compression device to adjust the compression of the erectile tissue part, and

[0501] - The control device is operable to stimulate the erectile tissue portion by controlling the stimulation device and, at the same time, control the compression device to adjust the compression of the erectile tissue portion until a desired restriction of the blood flow at the erectile outlet is obtained, thereby calibrating the compression device.

[0502] Preferably, the control device is operable to control the compression device to adjust the compression of the erectile tissue portion such that the blood flow at the erectile outlet is restricted but not stopped, and is operable to

[0503] - control the stimulation device to stimulate the compressed erectile tissue portion to contract the erectile portion such that the blood flow at the erectile outlet is further restricted but not stopped, or

[0504] - control the stimulation device to stimulate the compressed erectile tissue portion to stop the blood flow at the erectile outlet in a first mode, and control the stimulation device to discontinue the stimulation of the erectile tissue portion to allow the blood flow of the erectile outlet in a second mode.

[0505] Preferably, the control device is operable to control the compression device to adjust the compression of the erectile tissue portion such that the blood flow at the erectile outlet is substantially stopped; and characterized in that the control device is operable to control the stimulation device to stimulate the compressed erectile tissue portion to completely stop the blood flow at the erectile outlet in a first mode, and control the stimulation device to discontinue the stimulation of the erectile tissue portion to allow the blood flow of the erectile outlet in a second mode, or control the stimulation device to discontinue the stimulation of the erectile tissue portion and control the compression device to release the erectile tissue portion to restore the blood flow at the erectile outlet in the second mode.

[0506] Preferably, the control device is operable to control the compression device to compress the compressed erectile tissue portion to stop the blood flow at the erectile outlet in a first mode, and control the compression device to discontinue the compression of the erectile tissue portion to restore the blood flow of the erectile outlet in a second mode.

[0507] Preferably, the control device includes a manually operable switch for turning on and off the compression device and / or the stimulation device, and the switch is adapted to be manually operated from outside the patient's body after being subcutaneously implanted in the patient.

[0508] Preferably, the compression device is designed to hold the patient's erectile tissue portion in a compressed state under normal conditions, wherein blood circulation in the compressed erectile tissue portion is substantially unrestricted and at least the blood flow out of the erection is restricted; characterized in that the control device is operable to control the stimulation device to stimulate the compressed erectile tissue portion in a first mode to cause the erectile portion to contract to further restrict but not stop the blood flow out of the erection, or to stimulate the compressed erectile tissue portion to cause the erectile portion to contract such that the blood flow out of the erection stops; and characterized in that the control device is operable to control the stimulation device to cease stimulation of the erectile tissue portion in a second mode to allow the blood flow out of the erection.

[0509] Preferably, the control device is operable to control the stimulation device to adjust the intensity of the stimulation of the erectile tissue portion in response to sensed physiological parameters of the patient or functional parameters of the device.

[0510] Preferably, the control device is operable to control the compression device to adjust the compression of the erectile tissue portion such that the blood flow out of the erection is substantially stopped, and to control the stimulation device to stimulate the compressed erectile tissue portion to cause the erectile tissue portion to contract such that the blood flow out of the erection is completely stopped; and characterized in that the control device is operable to control the stimulation device to increase the intensity of the stimulation in response to sensed parameters related to an increase in pressure in the erectile tissue portion such that the blood flow out of the erection remains stopped; further comprising a sensor configured to sense the physiological parameters of the patient related to the pressure in the erectile tissue portion, the control device controlling the stimulation device in response to a signal from the sensor, the physiological parameter being related to the pressure in the patient's body, and the sensor being a pressure-related sensor.

[0511] Preferably, the control device is operable to control the stimulation device to intermittently and independently stimulate different regions of the erectile tissue portion such that at least two of the regions are stimulated at different time points; and characterized in that the control device is operable to control the stimulation device to intermittently stimulate

[0512] - each of the different regions of the erectile tissue portion during consecutive time periods, each time period being short enough to maintain satisfactory blood circulation in the region over time until the end of the time period, or

[0513] - the regions of the erectile tissue portion such that the currently unstimulated regions of the erectile tissue portion have time to return to substantially normal blood circulation before the stimulation device stimulates that region again.

[0514] Preferably, the control device is operable to control the stimulation device to stimulate different regions of the erectile tissue portion at a moment by sequentially stimulating different regions of the erectile tissue portion, or by switching the alternating stimulation of each region over time, or by switching the alternating stimulation of each region over time, such that two regions are temporarily stimulated simultaneously during the stimulation switch.

[0515] Preferably, the control device is operable to control the stimulation device to intermittently and independently electrically stimulate different regions of the erectile tissue portion of the patient by electrical pulses; and characterized in that the stimulation device includes at least one electrical element for engaging the erectile tissue portion and for stimulating the erectile tissue portion by electrical pulses.

[0516] Preferably, the pulses form a pulse sequence; and characterized in that the control device is operable to control the stimulation device to change at least one of the following pulse parameters: the cut-off time period between the pulses of each pulse sequence, the cut-off time period between the pulse sequences, the width of each pulse of the pulse sequence, the length of each pulse sequence, the pulse amplitude of the pulses of the pulse sequence, the frequency of the pulses of the pulse sequence, the frequency of the pulse sequence, and the number of pulses of each pulse sequence; characterized in that at least a first region and a second region of the regions of the erectile tissue portion are repeatedly stimulated by a first pulse sequence and a second pulse sequence of the pulse sequence, such that the first and second pulse sequences are switched with respect to each other over time; and characterized in that the first region is stimulated by the first pulse sequence while the second region is not stimulated by the second pulse sequence, and vice versa; or, the first and second pulse sequences are switched such that the first and second pulse sequences at least partially overlap each other.

[0517] Preferably, the erectile tissue portion includes muscle fibers, and the stimulation device is configured to stimulate the erectile tissue portion including the muscle fibers by electrical pulses, so that the contraction of the muscle fibers causes the contraction of the erectile tissue portion.

[0518] Preferably, the stimulation device includes a plurality of electrical elements and a structure for maintaining the electrical elements in a fixed orientation relative to each other, the structure being integrated in the compression device or being discrete from the compression device; and characterized in that the electrical elements form an electrical element in a long shape, and the element can be applied to the erectile tissue portion of the patient such that the electrical element in the long shape extends along the erectile tissue portion in the direction of the erectile outlet blood flow, and the element abuts against the corresponding region of the erectile tissue portion.

[0519] Preferably, the stimulation device comprises a plurality of electrical elements, and the control device is operable to control the stimulation device to supply power to the electrical elements, preferably by cyclically energizing each element with an electrical pulse; and is characterized in that the control device is operable to control the stimulation device to supply power to the electrical elements to simultaneously energize one or more groups of the electrical elements, or to energize the electrical elements one by one in sequence, or to energize the groups of electrical elements in sequence randomly or according to a predetermined pattern.

[0520] Preferably, the stimulation device comprises a plurality of electrical elements, and the electrical elements form an electrical element in an elongated pattern; and is characterized in that the elements can be applied to the erectile tissue portion such that the electrical elements in the elongated pattern extend along the erectile tissue portion in the direction of blood flow out of the erectile, and the elements are adjacent to corresponding regions of the erectile tissue portion; and is characterized in that the control device is operable to control the stimulation device

[0521] - to continuously energize the electrical elements longitudinally along the electrical elements in the elongated pattern, or

[0522] - when the stimulation device is applied to the patient's erectile tissue portion, to continuously energize the electrical elements along the electrical elements in the elongated pattern in a direction the same as or opposite to the direction of blood flow out of the erectile, or

[0523] - when the stimulation device is applied to the patient's erectile tissue portion, to continuously energize the electrical elements from a position substantially at the center of the compressed erectile tissue portion towards the two ends of the electrical elements in the elongated pattern.

[0524] Preferably, the stimulation device comprises a plurality of electrical elements, and the control device is operable to control the stimulation device to supply power to the electrical elements such that the currently energized electrical elements form at least one group of adjacent energized electrical elements; and is characterized in that the elements in the group of energized electrical elements form an energized electrical element path; and is characterized in that when the stimulation device is applied to the erectile tissue portion, the energized electrical element path extends along the patient's erectile tissue portion, or at least partially or completely surrounds the patient's erectile tissue portion.

[0525] Preferably, the stimulation device comprises a plurality of electrical elements, and when the stimulation device is applied to the erectile tissue portion, the electrical elements form multiple groups of elements, and the groups form a series of groups extending along the patient's erectile tissue portion in the direction of blood flow out of the erectile, and the electrical elements in each group of electrical elements form an element path extending along the patient's erectile tissue portion, or at least partially or completely surrounding the patient's erectile tissue portion; and is characterized in that the control device is operable to control the stimulation device

[0526] - When the stimulation device is applied to the erectile tissue part of the patient, the grouped electrical elements in the series group are continuously energized in a direction the same as or opposite to the direction of blood flow at the erectile outlet, or

[0527] - When the stimulation device is applied to the erectile tissue part, the grouped electrical elements in the series group are continuously energized in a direction the same as or opposite to the direction of blood flow at the erectile outlet from a position substantially at the center of the erectile tissue part.

[0528] Preferably, the stimulation device is configured to cause contraction of the erectile tissue part by cooling the compressed erectile tissue part or to thermally stimulate the erectile tissue part by heating the erectile tissue part, so as to cause expansion of the erectile tissue part when the erectile tissue part compresses and contracts; and is characterized in that the compression device is configured to compress the erectile tissue part to at least restrict blood flow at the erectile outlet, and the control device can be operated to control the stimulation device to cool the compressed erectile tissue part to cause contraction of the erectile tissue part, so that blood flow at the erectile outlet is at least further restricted without stopping, or is further restricted and stopped.

[0529] Pregnancy control - Egg movement

[0530] The present invention provides a pregnancy control device, comprising: a movement influencing device configured to influence the movement of an egg present in the lumen of the fallopian tube of a female patient, and a control device capable of being operated to control the movement influencing device to influence the movement of the egg in the lumen of the fallopian tube.

[0531] Preferably, the movement influencing device includes an implantable compression device configured to compress at least a part of the fallopian tube wall, and the control device can be operated to control the compression device to compress the fallopian tube wall part to influence the movement of the egg in the fallopian tube.

[0532] Preferably, the control device can be operated to control the compression device to compress the fallopian tube wall part to restrict the lumen of the fallopian tube to prevent the egg present in the lumen of the fallopian tube from entering the uterine cavity, and to control the compression device to release the fallopian tube to allow the egg to enter the uterine cavity.

[0533] Preferably, the movement influencing device includes a stimulation device configured to stimulate the fallopian tube wall part, and the control device can be operated to control the stimulation device to stimulate the fallopian tube wall part when the compression device compresses the fallopian tube wall part, so that the contraction of the fallopian tube wall part further influences the movement of the egg present in the fallopian tube.

[0534] Preferably, the compression device is configured to gently compress the fallopian tube wall portion to restrict the movement of the egg within the lumen of the fallopian tube; the control device is operable to control the stimulation device to stimulate the fallopian tube wall portion when the compression device compresses the fallopian tube wall portion, such that the contraction of the fallopian tube wall portion further restricts the movement of the egg within the lumen of the fallopian tube.

[0535] Preferably, the compression device is configured to compress the fallopian tube wall portion to a compressed state in which blood circulation in the compressed fallopian tube wall portion is substantially unrestricted and at least restricts the movement of the egg within the lumen of the fallopian tube, and the control device is operable to control the stimulation device to cause the fallopian tube wall portion to contract such that when the fallopian tube wall portion is held in the compressed state by the compression device, at least further restricts the movement of the egg within the lumen of the fallopian tube.

[0536] Preferably, the control device is operable to control the compression device to adjust the compression of the fallopian tube wall portion of the patient, and the control device is operable to independently control the compression device and the stimulation device with respect to each other.

[0537] Preferably, the control device is operable to control the compression device to adjust the compression of the fallopian tube wall portion of the patient, and the control device is operable to control the stimulation device to stimulate or not stimulate the fallopian tube wall portion, and the control device controls the compression device to adjust the compression of the fallopian tube wall portion; and characterized in that the control device is adapted to calibrate the compression device by controlling the stimulation device to stimulate the fallopian tube wall portion and simultaneously controlling the compression device to adjust the compression of the fallopian tube wall portion until the desired restriction of the movement of the egg within the lumen of the fallopian tube is obtained.

[0538] Preferably, the control device is operable to control the compression device to adjust the compression of the fallopian tube wall portion such that the movement of the egg within the lumen of the fallopian tube is restricted but not stopped, and is operable to

[0539] - control the stimulation device to stimulate the compressed fallopian tube wall portion to cause the compressed fallopian tube wall portion to contract such that the movement of the egg within the lumen of the fallopian tube is further restricted but not stopped, or

[0540] - control the stimulation device to stimulate the compressed fallopian tube wall portion to stop the movement of the egg within the lumen of the fallopian tube in a first mode and control the stimulation device to discontinue the stimulation of the fallopian tube wall portion to allow the movement of the egg within the lumen of the fallopian tube in a second mode.

[0541] Preferably, the control device is operable to control the compression device to adjust the compression of the fallopian tube wall portion such that the movement of the egg in the lumen of the fallopian tube is substantially stopped; and is characterized in that the control device is operable to control the stimulation device in a first mode to stimulate the compressed fallopian tube wall portion to completely stop the movement of the egg in the lumen of the fallopian tube, and in a second mode to control the stimulation device to abort the stimulation of the fallopian tube wall portion to allow the movement of the egg in the lumen of the fallopian tube, or in the second mode to control the stimulation device to abort the stimulation of the fallopian tube wall portion and control the compression device to release the fallopian tube wall portion to resume the movement of the egg in the lumen of the fallopian tube.

[0542] Preferably, the control device includes a manually operable switch for turning on and off the compression device and / or the stimulation device, and the switch is adapted to be subcutaneously implanted in the patient's body for manual operation from outside the patient's body.

[0543] Preferably, the compression device is designed to hold the fallopian tube wall portion of the patient in a compressed state under normal circumstances, wherein the blood circulation in the compressed fallopian tube wall portion is substantially unrestricted and at least the movement of the egg in the lumen of the fallopian tube is restricted; the control device is operable to control the stimulation device in a first mode to stimulate the compressed fallopian tube wall portion to cause the fallopian tube wall portion to contract to further restrict but not stop the movement of the egg in the lumen of the fallopian tube, or to stimulate the compressed fallopian tube wall portion to cause the fallopian tube wall portion to contract such that the movement of the egg in the lumen of the fallopian tube stops; and is characterized in that the control device is operable to control the stimulation device in a second mode to abort the stimulation of the fallopian tube wall portion to allow the movement of the egg in the lumen of the fallopian tube.

[0544] Preferably, the control device is operable to control the stimulation device to adjust the intensity of the stimulation of the fallopian tube wall portion in response to sensed physiological parameters of the patient or functional parameters of the device.

[0545] Preferably, the control device is operable to control the stimulation device to stimulate the fallopian tube wall portion so that the fallopian tube wall portion contracts and the movement of the egg is stopped. The control device is further operable to control the stimulation device to increase the intensity of the stimulation in response to a sensed parameter related to an increase in pressure in the fallopian tube lumen, so that the movement of the egg remains stopped. The apparatus further includes a sensor configured to sense a physiological parameter of the patient related to the pressure in the fallopian tube lumen, and the control device controls the stimulation device in response to a signal from the sensor. The physiological parameter is related to the pressure in the patient's body, and the sensor is a pressure-related sensor.

[0546] Preferably, the control device is operable to control the stimulation device to intermittently and independently stimulate different regions of the fallopian tube wall portion such that at least two of the regions are stimulated at different time points; and is characterized in that the control device is operable to control the stimulation device to intermittently stimulate

[0547] - each of the different regions of the fallopian tube wall portion during successive time periods, each time period being short enough to maintain satisfactory blood circulation in the region over time until the end of the time period, or

[0548] - a region of the fallopian tube wall portion such that the currently unstimulated region of the fallopian tube wall portion has time to return to substantially normal blood circulation before the stimulation device stimulates that region again.

[0549] Preferably, the control device is operable to control the stimulation device to stimulate different regions of the fallopian tube wall portion at a moment by sequentially stimulating different regions of the fallopian tube wall portion, or by switching the alternating stimulation of the regions over time, or by switching the alternating stimulation of the regions over time such that two regions are temporarily stimulated simultaneously during the stimulation switch.

[0550] Preferably, the control device is operable to control the stimulation device to intermittently and independently electrically stimulate different regions of the fallopian tube wall portion of the patient by means of electrical pulses; and is characterized in that the stimulation device includes at least one electrical element for engaging the fallopian tube wall portion and for stimulating the fallopian tube wall portion by means of electrical pulses.

[0551] Preferably, the pulses form a pulse sequence; and it is characterized in that the control device is operable to control the stimulation device to change at least one of the following pulse parameters: the off-time period between the pulses of each pulse sequence, the off-time period between the pulse sequences, the width of each pulse of the pulse sequence, the length of each pulse sequence, the pulse amplitude of the pulses of the pulse sequence, the frequency of the pulses of the pulse sequence, the frequency of the pulse sequence, and the number of pulses of each pulse sequence; it is characterized in that at least a first region and a second region of the region of the fallopian tube wall portion are repeatedly stimulated by a first pulse sequence and a second pulse sequence of the pulse sequence respectively, such that the first and second pulse sequences are converted with respect to each other over time; and it is characterized in that while the second region is not stimulated by the second pulse sequence, the first region is stimulated by the first pulse sequence, and vice versa; or, the first and second pulse sequences are converted with respect to each other such that the first and second pulse sequences at least partially overlap each other.

[0552] Preferably, the fallopian tube wall portion includes muscle fibers, and the stimulation device is configured to stimulate the fallopian tube wall portion including the muscle fibers by an electrical pulse, such that contraction of the muscle fibers causes contraction of the fallopian tube wall portion.

[0553] Preferably, the stimulation device includes a plurality of electrical elements and a structure that holds the electrical elements in a fixed orientation relative to each other, the structure being integrated in the compression device or being discrete from the compression device; and it is characterized in that the electrical elements form electrical elements in an elongated pattern, the elements being applicable to the fallopian tube such that the electrical elements in the elongated pattern extend along the fallopian tube and the elements are adjacent to corresponding regions of the fallopian tube wall portion.

[0554] Preferably, the stimulation device includes a plurality of electrical elements, and the control device is operable to control the stimulation device to supply power to the electrical elements, preferably by energizing each element cyclically by an electrical pulse; and it is characterized in that the control device is operable to control the stimulation device to supply power to the electrical elements to energize one or more groups of the electrical elements simultaneously, or to energize the electrical elements one by one in sequence, or to energize groups of the electrical elements in sequence randomly or according to a predetermined pattern.

[0555] Preferably, the stimulation device includes a plurality of electrical elements, and the electrical elements form electrical elements in an elongated pattern; it is characterized in that the elements are applicable to the fallopian tube wall such that the electrical elements in the elongated pattern extend along the fallopian tube and the elements are adjacent to corresponding regions of the fallopian tube wall portion; and it is characterized in that the control device is operable to control the stimulation device

[0556] -energize the electrical component continuously along the longitudinal direction of the electrical component along the elongated pattern, or

[0557] -when the stimulation device is applied to the fallopian tube of the patient, energize the electrical component continuously along the electrical component along the elongated pattern in a direction the same as or opposite to the direction of movement of the egg in the lumen of the fallopian tube, or

[0558] -when the stimulation device is applied to the fallopian tube, energize the electrical component continuously from a position substantially at the center of the compressed fallopian tube wall portion towards both ends of the electrical component along the elongated pattern.

[0559] Preferably, the stimulation device includes a plurality of electrical components, and the control device can be operated to control the stimulation device to energize the electrical components such that the currently energized electrical components form at least one set of adjacent energized electrical components; characterized in that the components in the set of energized electrical components form an energized electrical component path; and characterized in that when the stimulation device is applied to the fallopian tube, the energized electrical component path extends along the fallopian tube, or at least partially or completely surrounds the fallopian tube.

[0560] Preferably, the stimulation device includes a plurality of electrical components. When the stimulation device is applied to the fallopian tube, the electrical components form a plurality of sets of components, and the sets form a series of sets extending along the fallopian tube. The electrical components in each set of electrical components form a component path extending along the fallopian tube, or at least partially or completely surrounding the fallopian tube; and characterized in that the control device can be operated to control the stimulation device

[0561] -when the stimulation device is applied to the fallopian tube, energize the grouped electrical components in the series of sets continuously in a direction the same as or opposite to the direction of movement of the egg in the lumen of the fallopian tube, or

[0562] -when the stimulation device is applied to the fallopian tube, energize the grouped electrical components in the series of sets continuously from a position substantially at the center of the compressed fallopian tube wall portion in a direction the same as or opposite to the direction of movement of the egg in the lumen of the fallopian tube.

[0563] Preferably, the stimulating device is configured to cause contraction of the compressed fallopian tube wall portion by cooling the compressed fallopian tube wall portion or to thermally stimulate the fallopian tube wall portion by heating the fallopian tube wall portion, so as to cause expansion of the fallopian tube wall portion when the fallopian tube wall portion compresses and contracts; and is characterized in that the compressing device is configured to compress the fallopian tube wall portion to at least restrict the movement of the egg in the lumen of the fallopian tube, and the control device is operable to control the stimulating device to cool the compressed fallopian tube wall portion to cause contraction of the fallopian tube wall portion, so that the movement of the egg in the lumen of the fallopian tube is at least further restricted without stopping, or is further restricted and stopped.

[0564] Preferably, the fallopian tube wall portion extends between an upstream end and a downstream end of the fallopian tube wall portion with respect to the moving direction of the egg in the lumen of the fallopian tube; and is characterized in that the control device is operable to control at least one of the contracting and stimulating devices to affect the fallopian tube wall portion, so that the egg moves effectively in the lumen of the fallopian tube.

[0565] Preferably, the compressing device is configured to compress the entire fallopian tube wall portion between the upstream end and the downstream end of the fallopian tube wall portion to restrict the movement of the egg in the lumen of the fallopian tube, and the control device is operable to

[0566] - control the stimulating device to gradually stimulate the compressed fallopian tube wall portion in the downstream or upstream direction along the lumen of the fallopian tube, so as to cause the fallopian tube wall portion to gradually contract, thereby causing the egg to move in the lumen of the fallopian tube, or

[0567] - control the stimulating device to stimulate the compressed fallopian tube wall portion to close the lumen of the fallopian tube at the upstream end or the downstream end of the fallopian tube wall portion, and at the same time control the compressing device to increase the compression on the entire fallopian tube wall portion to cause the egg to move in the lumen of the fallopian tube.

[0568] Preferably, the control device is operable to control the compressing device to change the compression on the fallopian tube wall portion, and at the same time control the stimulating device to gradually stimulate the compressed fallopian tube wall portion in the downstream or upstream direction along the lumen of the fallopian tube, so as to cause the fallopian tube wall portion to gradually contract, thereby causing the egg to move in the lumen of the fallopian tube.

[0569] Preferably, the control device is operable to control the compressing device to stimulate the fallopian tube wall portion, and at the same time control the compressing device to change the compression on different regions of the fallopian tube wall portion, so that the fallopian tube wall portion is gradually compressed in the downstream or upstream direction along the lumen of the fallopian tube; and is characterized in that,

[0570] - The control device is operable to control the stimulation device to gradually stimulate the compressed fallopian tube wall portion, so as to cause contraction of the fallopian tube wall portion, in coordination with the gradual compression of the fallopian tube wall portion performed by the compression device, or

[0571] - The control device is operable to control the elongate compression element of the compression device to extend along the fallopian tube wall portion to gradually compress the fallopian tube wall portion in a downstream or upstream direction along the fallopian tube lumen; wherein the elongate compression element includes a contact surface dimensioned to contact a length of the fallopian tube wall portion when the compression device compresses the fallopian tube wall portion; the stimulation device includes a plurality of stimulation elements distributed along the contact surface such that when the control device controls the stimulation device to stimulate the fallopian tube wall portion, the stimulation elements stimulate different regions of the fallopian tube wall portion along the length of the wall portion.

[0572] Preferably, the compression device is configured to compress any one of a series of fallopian tube wall portions of the fallopian tube to at least restrict the movement of the egg in the fallopian tube lumen, the stimulation device is configured to stimulate the fallopian tube wall portion compressed by the compression device to close the fallopian tube lumen, the control device is operable to control the compression device to continuously compress the fallopian tube wall portion in the series of fallopian tube wall portions so that the egg moves in a peristaltic manner in the fallopian tube lumen; and wherein the compression device includes at least one compression element capable of moving along the fallopian tube to continuously compress the fallopian tube wall portion in the series of fallopian tube wall portions; the stimulation device includes at least one stimulation element located on the compression element for stimulating the fallopian tube wall portion compressed by the compression element.

[0573] Preferably, the control device is operable to control the compression device to cause the compression element to sequentially move cyclically along the fallopian tube wall portion in the series of fallopian tube wall portions.

[0574] Preferably, the compressing device includes a plurality of compressing elements, each of which is capable of moving along the fallopian tube to continuously compress the fallopian tube wall portion among the series of fallopian tube wall portions; characterized in that the stimulating device includes a stimulating element located on the compressing element for stimulating the fallopian tube wall portion compressed by the compressing element; characterized in that the control device is operable to control the compressing device to cause the compressing elements to sequentially move cyclically along the fallopian tube wall portion among the series of fallopian tube wall portions; characterized in that the compressing device includes a rotor carrying the compressing elements, and the control device is operable to control the rotation of the rotor such that each compressing element cyclically compresses the fallopian tube wall portion among the series of fallopian tube wall portions; and characterized in that each compressing element includes a roller for rolling on the fallopian tube to compress the fallopian tube.

[0575] Preferably, the compressing device includes a first compressing element for compressing the fallopian tube wall portion at the upstream end of the fallopian tube wall portion, a second compressing element for compressing the fallopian tube wall portion at the downstream end of the fallopian tube wall portion, and a third compressing element for compressing the fallopian tube wall portion between the upstream end and the downstream end of the fallopian tube wall portion, and the control device is operable to control the first, second, and third compressing elements to compress and release the fallopian tube wall portion independently of each other; and characterized in that

[0576] - the control device is operable to control the first or second compressing element to compress the fallopian tube wall portion at the upstream end or the downstream end of the fallopian tube wall portion to close the lumen of the fallopian tube, and control the third compressing element to compress the fallopian tube wall portion between the upstream end and the downstream end of the fallopian tube wall portion, whereby the egg contained in the fallopian tube wall portion between the upstream end and the downstream end of the fallopian tube wall portion moves downstream or upstream in the lumen of the fallopian tube, and when the third compressing element compresses the fallopian tube wall portion, the control device controls the stimulating device to stimulate the fallopian tube wall portion between the upstream end and the downstream end of the fallopian tube wall portion, or

[0577] - the control device is operable to control the first compressing element to compress the fallopian tube wall portion at the upstream end of the fallopian tube wall portion to restrict the movement of the egg in the lumen of the fallopian tube, and control the stimulating device to stimulate the compressed fallopian tube wall portion at the upstream end to close the lumen of the fallopian tube; and characterized in that the control device is operable to control the third compressing element to compress the fallopian tube wall portion between the upstream end and the downstream end of the fallopian tube wall portion, whereby the egg contained in the fallopian tube wall portion between the upstream end and the downstream end of the fallopian tube wall portion moves downstream in the lumen of the fallopian tube, or

[0578] - The control device is operable to control the second compression element to compress the fallopian tube wall portion at the downstream end of the fallopian tube wall portion to restrict movement of the egg in the lumen of the fallopian tube, and to control the stimulation device to stimulate the compressed fallopian tube wall portion at the downstream end to close the lumen of the fallopian tube, and the control device is operable to control the third compression element to compress the fallopian tube wall portion between the upstream end and the downstream end of the fallopian tube wall portion, whereby an egg contained in the fallopian tube wall portion between the upstream end and the downstream end of the fallopian tube wall portion moves upstream in the lumen of the fallopian tube.

[0579] Preferably, the compression device is adjustable and further includes an operating device for operating the adjustable compression device to change the compression on the fallopian tube wall portion of the patient; characterized in that the operating device operates the compression device mechanically or hydraulically.

[0580] Preferably, the operating device operates the compression device mechanically, the compression device includes at least two elongate clamping elements that extend along the fallopian tube on different sides of the fallopian tube, and the operating device operates the clamping elements to clamp the fallopian tube wall portion between the clamping elements to compress the fallopian tube wall portion.

[0581] Preferably, the control device is operable to control the compression device to close the lumen of the fallopian tube at the upstream end or the downstream end of the fallopian tube wall portion, and to control the compression device to compress the remaining portion of the fallopian tube wall portion to move the egg in the lumen of the fallopian tube; and characterized in that when the compression device compresses the remaining portion of the fallopian tube wall portion, the control device is operable to control the stimulation device to stimulate the fallopian tube wall portion.

[0582] Preferably, the compression device is configured to compress the fallopian tube wall portion to restrict but not stop movement of the egg in the lumen of the fallopian tube, the control device is operable to control the stimulation device to stimulate the fallopian tube wall portion compressed by the compression device at the upstream end or the downstream end of the fallopian tube wall portion to close the lumen of the fallopian tube, and simultaneously control the compression device to increase the compression on the fallopian tube wall portion to move the egg through the lumen in the lumen of the fallopian tube.

[0583] Preferably, the compression device includes a plurality of discrete compression elements adapted to respectively compress any fallopian tube wall portion in a series of fallopian tube wall portions of the fallopian tube, and the control device is operable to control the compression device to activate the compression elements randomly or according to a predetermined order.

[0584] Preferably, the stimulating device includes a stimulating element located on the compression element; and it is characterized in that the control device is operable to control the stimulating device to activate the stimulating element to stimulate any of the series of fallopian tube wall portions compressed by the compression element.

[0585] Preferably, the control device is operable to control the compression device to activate the compression element

[0586] - to compress the fallopian tube wall portion in the series of fallopian tube wall portions without completely closing the fallopian tube lumen, and control the stimulating device to sequentially activate the stimulating element to stimulate the compressed fallopian tube wall portion, so that the fallopian tube wall portions in the series of fallopian tube wall portions contract continuously along the organ to move the egg in the fallopian tube lumen, or

[0587] - to compress all of the fallopian tube wall portions in the series of fallopian tube wall portions, and control the stimulating device to activate the stimulating element to randomly or according to a predetermined order stimulate any of the compressed fallopian tube wall portions to close the fallopian tube lumen.

[0588] Pregnancy control - Sperm movement

[0589] The present invention provides a pregnancy control device, comprising: a flow influencing device configured to influence sperm present in the fallopian tube lumen of a female patient, and a control device operable to control the flow influencing device to influence the flow of sperm in the fallopian tube.

[0590] Preferably, the flow influencing device includes an implantable compression device configured to compress at least a portion of the fallopian tube wall, and the control device is operable to control the compression device to compress the fallopian tube wall portion to influence the flow of sperm in the fallopian tube.

[0591] Preferably, the compression device is configured to compress the fallopian tube to restrict the flow of sperm in the fallopian tube, and the control device is operable to control the compression device to compress the fallopian tube to stop the flow of sperm in the fallopian tube, and control the compression device to release the fallopian tube to allow sperm present in the fallopian tube to flow in the fallopian tube.

[0592] Preferably, the flow influencing device includes a stimulating device configured to stimulate the fallopian tube wall portion, and the control device is operable to control the stimulating device to stimulate the fallopian tube wall portion when the compression device compresses the fallopian tube wall portion, such that the fallopian tube wall portion contracts to further influence the flow of sperm in the fallopian tube.

[0593] Preferably, the compression device is configured to gently compress the fallopian tube wall portion to restrict the flow of sperm in the fallopian tube; the control device is operable to control the stimulation device to stimulate the fallopian tube wall portion when the compression device compresses the fallopian tube wall portion, so that the contraction of the fallopian tube wall portion further restricts the flow of sperm in the fallopian tube.

[0594] Preferably, the compression device is configured to compress the fallopian tube wall portion to a compressed state in which blood circulation in the compressed fallopian tube wall portion is substantially unrestricted and at least the flow of sperm in the lumen of the fallopian tube is restricted, and the control device is operable to control the stimulation device to cause the fallopian tube wall portion to contract, such that when the fallopian tube wall portion is held in the compressed state by the compression device, at least the flow of sperm in the lumen of the fallopian tube is further restricted.

[0595] Preferably, the control device is operable to control the compression device to adjust the compression of the fallopian tube wall portion of the patient, and the control device is operable to control the compression device and the stimulation device independently of each other.

[0596] Preferably, the control device is operable to control the compression device to adjust the compression of the fallopian tube wall portion of the patient, and the control device is operable to control the stimulation device to stimulate or not stimulate the fallopian tube wall portion, and the control device controls the compression device to adjust the compression of the fallopian tube wall portion; and it is characterized in that the control device is adapted to calibrate the compression device by controlling the stimulation device to stimulate the fallopian tube wall portion and simultaneously controlling the compression device to adjust the compression of the fallopian tube wall portion until the desired restriction of the flow of sperm in the lumen of the fallopian tube is obtained.

[0597] Preferably, the control device is operable to control the compression device to adjust the compression of the fallopian tube wall portion such that the flow of sperm in the lumen of the fallopian tube is restricted but not stopped, and is operable to

[0598] - control the stimulation device to stimulate the compressed fallopian tube wall portion to cause the fallopian tube wall portion to contract, such that the flow of sperm in the lumen of the fallopian tube is further restricted but not stopped, or

[0599] - control the stimulation device to stimulate the compressed fallopian tube wall portion to stop the flow of sperm in the lumen of the fallopian tube in a first mode and control the stimulation device to discontinue the stimulation of the fallopian tube wall portion to allow the flow of sperm in the lumen of the fallopian tube in a second mode.

[0600] Preferably, the control device is operable to control the compression device to adjust the compression of the fallopian tube wall portion such that the flow of sperm in the lumen of the fallopian tube is substantially stopped; and characterized in that the control device is operable to control the stimulation device in a first mode to stimulate the compressed fallopian tube wall portion to completely stop the flow of sperm in the lumen of the fallopian tube, and in a second mode to control the stimulation device to discontinue the stimulation of the fallopian tube wall portion to allow the flow of sperm in the lumen of the fallopian tube, or in the second mode to control the stimulation device to discontinue the stimulation of the fallopian tube wall portion and control the compression device to release the fallopian tube wall portion to resume the flow of sperm in the lumen of the fallopian tube.

[0601] Preferably, the control device includes a manually operable switch for turning on and off the compression device and / or the stimulation device, the switch being adapted to be implanted subcutaneously in the patient for manual operation from outside the patient's body.

[0602] Preferably, the compression device is designed to keep the fallopian tube wall portion of the patient in a compressed state under normal circumstances, wherein the blood circulation in the compressed fallopian tube wall portion is substantially unrestricted and at least the flow of sperm in the lumen of the fallopian tube is restricted; the control device is operable to control the stimulation device to stimulate the compressed fallopian tube wall portion in a first mode to cause the fallopian tube wall portion to contract to further restrict but not stop the flow of sperm in the lumen of the fallopian tube, or to stimulate the compressed fallopian tube wall portion to cause the fallopian tube wall portion to contract such that the flow of sperm in the lumen of the fallopian tube stops; and characterized in that the control device is operable to control the stimulation device to discontinue the stimulation of the fallopian tube wall portion in a second mode to allow the flow of sperm in the lumen of the fallopian tube.

[0603] Preferably, the control device is operable to control the stimulation device to adjust the intensity of the stimulation of the fallopian tube wall portion in response to sensed physiological parameters of the patient or functional parameters of the device.

[0604] Preferably, the control device is operable to control the stimulation device to stimulate the fallopian tube wall portion to cause the fallopian tube wall portion to contract such that the sperm flow stops, the control device is further operable to control the stimulation device to increase the intensity of the stimulation in response to sensed parameters related to an increase in pressure in the lumen of the fallopian tube such that the sperm flow remains stopped; further comprising a sensor configured to sense the physiological parameters of the patient related to the pressure in the lumen of the fallopian tube, the control device controlling the stimulation device in response to a signal from the sensor, the physiological parameter being related to the pressure in the patient's body, the sensor being a pressure-related sensor.

[0605] Preferably, the control device is operable to control the stimulation device to intermittently and independently stimulate different regions of the fallopian tube wall portion such that at least two of the regions are stimulated at different time points; and is characterized in that the control device is operable to control the stimulation device to intermittently stimulate

[0606] - each of the different regions of the fallopian tube wall portion during consecutive time periods, each time period being short enough to maintain satisfactory blood circulation in the region over time until the end of the time period, or

[0607] - a region of the fallopian tube wall portion such that the currently unstimulated region of the fallopian tube wall portion has time to return to substantially normal blood circulation before the stimulation device stimulates that region again.

[0608] Preferably, the control device is operable to control the stimulation device to stimulate different regions of the fallopian tube wall portion at one moment by sequentially stimulating different regions of the fallopian tube wall portion, or by switching the alternating stimulation of the regions over time, or by switching the alternating stimulation of the regions over time such that two regions are temporarily stimulated simultaneously during the stimulation switch.

[0609] Preferably, the control device is operable to control the stimulation device to intermittently and independently electrically stimulate different regions of the fallopian tube wall portion of the patient by means of electrical pulses; and is characterized in that the stimulation device includes at least one electrical element for engaging the fallopian tube wall portion and for stimulating the fallopian tube wall portion by means of electrical pulses.

[0610] Preferably, the pulses form a pulse sequence; and is characterized in that the control device is operable to control the stimulation device to change at least one of the following pulse parameters: the off-time period between the pulses of each pulse sequence, the off-time period between the pulse sequences, the width of each pulse of the pulse sequence, the length of each pulse sequence, the pulse amplitude of the pulses of the pulse sequence, the frequency of the pulses of the pulse sequence, the frequency of the pulse sequence, and the number of pulses of each pulse sequence; and is characterized in that at least a first region and a second region of the regions of the fallopian tube wall portion are repeatedly stimulated by a first pulse sequence and a second pulse sequence of the pulse sequence such that the first and second pulse sequences are switched over time; and is characterized in that the first region is stimulated by the first pulse sequence while the second region is not stimulated by the second pulse sequence and vice versa; or, the first and second pulse sequences are switched such that the first and second pulse sequences at least partially overlap each other.

[0611] Preferably, the fallopian tube wall portion includes muscle fibers, and the stimulating device is configured to stimulate the fallopian tube wall portion including the muscle fibers by an electrical pulse, so that the contraction of the muscle fibers causes the contraction of the fallopian tube wall portion.

[0612] Preferably, the stimulating device includes a plurality of electrical elements and a structure that holds the electrical elements in a fixed orientation relative to each other, and the structure is integrated in the compressing device or is discrete from the compressing device; and it is characterized in that the electrical elements form an electrical element in an elongated pattern, and the element can be applied to the fallopian tube such that the electrical element in the elongated pattern extends along the fallopian tube, and the element abuts a corresponding area of the fallopian tube wall portion.

[0613] Preferably, the stimulating device includes a plurality of electrical elements, and the control device can be operated to control the stimulating device to supply power to the electrical elements, preferably by energizing each element cyclically by an electrical pulse; and it is characterized in that the control device can be operated to control the stimulating device to supply power to the electrical elements to energize one or more groups of the electrical elements simultaneously, or to energize the electrical elements one by one in sequence, or to energize the groups of the electrical elements in sequence randomly or according to a predetermined pattern.

[0614] Preferably, the stimulating device includes a plurality of electrical elements, and the electrical elements form an electrical element in an elongated pattern; and it is characterized in that the element can be applied to the fallopian tube wall such that the electrical element in the elongated pattern extends along the fallopian tube, and the element abuts a corresponding area of the fallopian tube wall portion; and it is characterized in that the control device can be operated to control the stimulating device

[0615] - to continuously energize the electrical elements longitudinally along the electrical element in the elongated pattern, or

[0616] - when the stimulating device is applied to the fallopian tube of the patient, to continuously energize the electrical elements along the electrical element in the elongated pattern in a direction the same as or opposite to the flow direction of the sperm in the lumen of the fallopian tube, or

[0617] - when the stimulating device is applied to the fallopian tube, to continuously energize the electrical elements from a position approximately at the center of the compressed fallopian tube wall portion towards both ends of the electrical element in the elongated pattern.

[0618] Preferably, the stimulation device includes a plurality of electrical elements, and the control device is operable to control the stimulation device to energize the electrical elements such that the currently energized electrical elements form at least one set of adjacent energized electrical elements; characterized in that the elements in the set of energized electrical elements form an energized electrical element path; and characterized in that when the stimulation device is applied to the fallopian tube, the energized electrical element path extends along the fallopian tube, or at least partially or completely surrounds the fallopian tube.

[0619] Preferably, the stimulation device includes a plurality of electrical elements, and when the stimulation device is applied to the fallopian tube, the electrical elements form multiple sets of elements, the sets forming a series of sets extending along the fallopian tube, and the electrical elements in each set of electrical elements form an element path extending along the fallopian tube, or at least partially or completely surrounding the fallopian tube; and characterized in that the control device is operable to control the stimulation device

[0620] - When the stimulation device is applied to the fallopian tube, continuously energize the grouped electrical elements in the series of sets in a direction the same as or opposite to the direction of sperm flow in the lumen of the fallopian tube, or

[0621] - When the stimulation device is applied to the fallopian tube, continuously energize the grouped electrical elements in the series of sets in a direction the same as or opposite to the direction of sperm flow in the lumen of the fallopian tube from a position substantially at the center of the compressed fallopian tube wall portion.

[0622] Preferably, the stimulation device is configured to cause contraction of the compressed fallopian tube wall portion by cooling the compressed fallopian tube wall portion or to thermally stimulate the fallopian tube wall portion by heating the fallopian tube wall portion, so as to cause expansion of the fallopian tube wall portion when the fallopian tube wall portion compresses and contracts; and characterized in that the compression device is configured to compress the fallopian tube wall portion to at least restrict the flow of sperm in the lumen of the fallopian tube, and the control device is operable to control the stimulation device to cool the compressed fallopian tube wall portion to cause the fallopian tube wall portion to contract, so that the flow of sperm in the lumen of the fallopian tube is at least further restricted without stopping, or is further restricted and stopped.

[0623] Preferably, the fallopian tube wall portion extends between an upstream end and a downstream end of the fallopian tube wall portion with respect to the direction of sperm flow in the lumen of the fallopian tube; and characterized in that the control device is operable to control at least one of the contraction and stimulation devices to affect the fallopian tube wall portion such that sperm move effectively in the lumen of the fallopian tube.

[0624] Preferably, the compression device is configured to compress the entire fallopian tube wall portion between the upstream end and the downstream end of the fallopian tube wall portion to restrict the flow of sperm in the lumen of the fallopian tube, and the control device is operable to

[0625] - control the stimulation device to gradually stimulate the compressed fallopian tube wall portion in the downstream or upstream direction along the lumen of the fallopian tube, so that the fallopian tube wall portion gradually contracts, thereby moving the sperm in the lumen of the fallo...

Claims

1. A treatment device for urinary dysfunction, comprising: An implantable compression device configured to gently compress at least a portion of the tissue wall of a patient's urethra, ureter, renal pelvis, or urinary bladder to affect urine flow; A stimulation device configured to stimulate a wall portion of the tissue wall; And A control device capable of operating to control: The stimulation device to stimulate the wall portion, and The compression device to compress the wall portion to cause contraction of the wall portion so as to affect the urine flow.

2. The device according to claim 1, wherein, The compression device is configured to compress the wall portion to a compressed state in which blood circulation in the compressed wall portion is substantially unrestricted and at least the flow in the urine passage is restricted, and the control device is capable of operating to control the stimulation device to cause the wall portion to contract such that when the wall portion is held in the compressed state by the compression device, at least the flow in the urine passage is further restricted.

3. The device according to claim 1, wherein The control device is capable of operating to control the compression device and the stimulation device independently of each other.

4. The device according to claim 1, wherein The control device is capable of operating to control the compression device to adjust the compression of the wall portion of the patient, and - The control device is capable of operating to control the stimulation device to stimulate or not stimulate the wall portion, while the control device controls the compression device to adjust the compression of the wall portion, and - The control device is capable of operating to calibrate the compression device by controlling the stimulation device to stimulate the wall portion and simultaneously controlling the compression device to adjust the compression of the wall portion until the desired restriction of the flow in the urine passage is obtained.

5. The device according to claim 1, wherein, The control device is capable of operating to control the compression device to adjust the compression of the wall portion such that the flow in the urine passage is restricted but not stopped, and is capable of operating - To control the stimulation device to stimulate the compressed wall portion to cause the wall portion to contract such that the flow in the urine passage is further restricted but not stopped, or - To control the stimulation device to stimulate the compressed wall portion to stop the flow in the urine passage in a first mode and to control the stimulation device to discontinue the stimulation of the wall portion to allow the flow in the urine passage in a second mode.

6. The device according to claim 1, wherein The control device is capable of operating to control the compression device to adjust the compression of the wall portion such that the flow in the urine passage is substantially stopped, and to control the stimulation device to stimulate the compressed wall portion to cause the wall portion to contract such that the flow in the urine passage is completely stopped; and wherein the control device is capable of operating to control the stimulation device to stimulate the compressed wall portion to completely stop the flow in the urine passage in a first mode and to control the stimulation device to discontinue the stimulation of the wall portion to allow the flow in the urine passage in a second mode, or to control the stimulation device to discontinue the stimulation of the wall portion and control the compression device to release the wall portion to restore the flow in the urine passage in the second mode.

7. The device according to claim 1, wherein, The control device is operable to control the compression device to compress the compressed wall portion to stop the flow in the urinary tract in a first mode, and to control the compression device to discontinue the compression of the wall portion to resume the flow in the urinary tract in a second mode.

8. The device according to claim 1, wherein, The control device includes a manually operable switch for turning on and off the compression device and / or the stimulation device, the switch being adapted to be subcutaneously implanted in a patient for manual operation from outside the patient's body.

9. The device according to claim 1, wherein, The compression device is designed to hold a wall portion of the patient in a compressed state under normal conditions, wherein blood circulation in the compressed wall portion is substantially unrestricted and at least the flow in the urinary tract is restricted; wherein the control device is operable to control the stimulation device to stimulate the compressed wall portion in a first mode to cause the wall portion to contract to further restrict but not stop the flow in the urinary tract, or to stimulate the compressed wall portion to cause the wall portion to contract such that the flow in the urinary tract stops; and wherein the control device is operable to control the stimulation device to discontinue the stimulation of the wall portion in a second mode to increase the flow in the urinary tract.

10. The device according to claim 1, wherein, The control device is operable to control the stimulation device to adjust the intensity of the stimulation of the wall portion in response to sensed physiological parameters of the patient or functional parameters of the device.

11. The device according to claim 1, wherein, The control device is operable to control the stimulation device to increase the intensity of the stimulation in response to sensed parameters related to an increase in pressure in the urinary tract such that the flow in the urinary tract remains stopped; further comprising a sensor configured to sense the physiological parameters of the patient related to the pressure in the urinary tract, the control device controlling the stimulation device in response to a signal from the sensor, the physiological parameters being related to the pressure in the patient's body, the sensor being a pressure-related sensor.

12. The device according to claim 1, wherein, The control device is operable to control the stimulation device to intermittently and independently stimulate different regions of the wall portion such that at least two of the regions are stimulated at different time points; and wherein the control device is operable to control the stimulation device intermittently - to stimulate each of the different regions of the wall portion in consecutive time periods, each time period being short enough to maintain satisfactory blood circulation in the region over time until the end of the time period, or - to stimulate a region of the wall portion such that the currently unstimulated region of the wall portion has time to return to substantially normal blood circulation before the stimulation device stimulates that region again.

13. The device according to claim 1, wherein The control device is operable to control the stimulation device to stimulate different regions of the wall portion at a moment by sequentially stimulating different regions of the wall portion, or by switching the alternating stimulation of the regions over time, or by switching the alternating stimulation of the regions over time such that two regions are temporarily stimulated simultaneously during the stimulation switch.

14. The device according to claim 1, wherein The control device is operable to control the stimulation device to intermittently and independently electrically stimulate different regions of the wall portion of the patient by means of electrical pulses; and wherein, the stimulation device includes at least one electrical element for engaging the wall portion and for stimulating the wall portion by means of electrical pulses.

15. The device according to claim 14, wherein, The pulses form a pulse sequence; and it is characterized in that the control device is operable to control the stimulation device to change at least one of the following pulse parameters: the cut-off time period between the pulses of each pulse sequence, the cut-off time period between the pulse sequences, the width of each pulse of the pulse sequence, the length of each pulse sequence, the pulse amplitude of the pulses of the pulse sequence, the frequency of the pulses of the pulse sequence, the frequency of the pulse sequence, and the number of pulses of each pulse sequence; wherein, at least a first region and a second region of the region of the wall portion are repeatedly stimulated by a first pulse sequence and a second pulse sequence of the pulse sequence respectively, such that the first pulse sequence and the second pulse sequence are converted with respect to each other over time; and wherein, while the second region is not stimulated by the second pulse sequence, the first region is stimulated by the first pulse sequence, and vice versa; or, the first pulse sequence and the second pulse sequence are converted with respect to each other such that the first pulse sequence and the second pulse sequence at least partially overlap each other.

16. The device according to claim 14, wherein, The wall portion includes muscle fibers, and the stimulation device is configured to stimulate the wall portion including the muscle fibers by means of electrical pulses, so that the contraction of the muscle fibers causes the wall portion to contract.

17. The device according to claim 14, wherein, The stimulation device includes a plurality of electrical elements and a structure for maintaining the electrical elements in a fixed orientation relative to each other, the structure being integrated in the compression device or being separate from the compression device; and wherein, the electrical elements form electrical elements in an elongated pattern, and the structure can be applied to the patient's urethra, urinary catheter, renal pelvis or urinary bladder, such that the electrical elements in the elongated pattern extend along the wall portion of the urethra, urinary catheter, renal pelvis or urinary bladder in the flow direction in the urinary tract, and the elements are adjacent to the corresponding regions of the wall portion.

18. The device according to claim 15, wherein, The stimulation device includes a plurality of electrical elements, and the control device is operable to control the stimulation device to supply power to the electrical elements, preferably to cyclically energize each element by means of electrical pulses; and wherein, the control device is operable to control the stimulation device to supply power to the electrical elements to simultaneously energize one or more groups of the electrical elements, or to energize the electrical elements one by one in sequence, or to randomly or in accordance with a predetermined pattern to sequentially energize groups of the electrical elements.

19. The device according to claim 14, wherein The stimulation device includes a plurality of electrical elements, and the electrical elements form electrical elements in an elongated pattern; wherein, the elements can be applied to the wall of the patient, such that the electrical elements in the elongated pattern extend along the wall portion of the urethra, urinary catheter, renal pelvis or urinary bladder in the flow direction in the urinary tract, and the elements are adjacent to the corresponding regions of the wall portion; and wherein, the control device is operable to control the stimulation device - to continuously energize the electrical elements longitudinally along the electrical elements in the elongated pattern, or - When the stimulation device is applied to the urethra, ureter, renal pelvis or urinary bladder of the patient, the electrical element in the elongated pattern is continuously energized along a direction the same as or opposite to the flow direction in the urinary passage, or - When the stimulation device is applied to the urethra, ureter, renal pelvis or urinary bladder of the patient, the electrical element is continuously energized from a position substantially at the center of the compressed wall portion towards both ends of the electrical element in the elongated pattern.

20. The device according to claim 14, wherein The stimulation device includes a plurality of electrical elements, and the control device is operable to control the stimulation device to energize the electrical elements such that the currently energized electrical elements form at least one set of adjacent energized electrical elements; wherein, the elements in the set of energized electrical elements form an energized electrical element path; and wherein, when the stimulation device is applied to the urethra, ureter, renal pelvis or urinary bladder, the energized electrical element path extends along the patient's urethra, ureter, renal pelvis or urinary bladder, or at least partially or completely surrounds the patient's urethra, ureter, renal pelvis or urinary bladder.

21. The device according to claim 14, wherein, The stimulation device includes a plurality of electrical elements. When the stimulation device is applied to the urethra, ureter, renal pelvis or urinary bladder, the electrical elements form multiple sets of elements. The sets form a series of sets extending along the patient's urinary passage in the flow direction of the patient's urinary passage along the patient's urethra, ureter, renal pelvis or urinary bladder. The electrical elements in each set of electrical elements form an element path extending along the patient's urethra, ureter, renal pelvis or urinary bladder, or at least partially or completely surrounding the patient's urethra, ureter, renal pelvis or urinary bladder; and wherein, the control device is operable to control the stimulation device - When the stimulation device is applied to the urethra, ureter, renal pelvis or urinary bladder of the patient, the set of electrical elements in the series of sets is continuously energized along a direction the same as or opposite to the flow direction in the urinary passage, or - When the stimulation device is applied to the urethra, ureter, renal pelvis or urinary bladder of the patient, the set of electrical elements in the series of sets is continuously energized from a position substantially at the center of the compressed wall portion along a direction the same as or opposite to the flow direction in the urinary passage.

22. The device according to claim 1, wherein, The stimulation device is configured to cause contraction of the wall portion by cooling the compressed wall portion or to thermally stimulate the wall portion by heating the wall portion, so as to cause expansion of the wall portion when the wall portion compresses and contracts; and wherein, the compression device is configured to compress the wall portion to at least restrict the flow in the urinary passage, and the control device is operable to control the stimulation device to cool the compressed wall portion to cause the wall portion to contract, so that the flow in the urinary passage is at least further restricted without stopping, or is further restricted and stopped.

23. The device according to claim 1, wherein, The tissue wall portion of the urethra, ureter, renal pelvis or urinary bladder extends between the upstream end and the downstream end of the wall portion with respect to the flow direction in the urinary passage; and wherein, the control device is operable to control at least one of the contraction and stimulation devices to affect the wall portion such that the urine effectively moves in the urinary passage.

24. The device according to claim 1, wherein, The compression device is configured to compress the entire wall portion between the upstream end and the downstream end of the wall portion to restrict the flow in the urinary passage, and the control device is operable to control the stimulation device to gradually stimulate the compressed wall portion in the downstream or upstream direction along the urinary passage, so as to gradually contract the wall portion, thereby causing the urine to move in the urinary passage, or control the stimulation device to stimulate the compressed wall portion to close the urinary passage at the upstream end or the downstream end of the wall portion, and at the same time control the compression device to increase the compression on the entire wall portion to cause the urine to move in the urinary passage.

25. The device according to claim 1, wherein, The control device is operable to control the compression device to change the compression on the wall portion, and at the same time control the stimulation device to gradually stimulate the compressed wall portion in the downstream or upstream direction along the urinary passage, so as to gradually contract the wall portion, thereby causing the urine to move in the urinary passage.

26. The device according to claim 1, wherein The control device is operable to control the compression device to stimulate the wall portion, and at the same time control the compression device to change the compression on different regions of the wall portion, such that the wall portion is gradually compressed in the downstream or upstream direction along the urinary passage; and wherein the control device is operable to control the stimulation device to gradually stimulate the compressed wall portion, so as to gradually contract the wall portion, to coordinate with the gradual compression of the wall portion performed by the compression device, or the control device is operable to control the elongate compression element of the compression device to extend along the wall portion to gradually compress the wall portion in the downstream or upstream direction along the urinary passage; wherein the elongate compression element includes a contact surface, the contact surface being dimensioned to be adapted to contact a length of the wall portion when the compression device compresses the wall portion; the stimulation device includes a plurality of stimulation elements distributed along the contact surface, such that when the control device controls the stimulation device to stimulate the wall portion, the stimulation elements stimulate different regions of the wall portion along the length of the wall portion.

27. The device according to claim 1, wherein, The compression device is configured to compress any one of a series of wall portions of the urethra, ureter, renal pelvis or urinary bladder to at least restrict the flow in the urinary passage, the stimulation device is configured to stimulate the wall portion compressed by the compression device to close the urinary passage, the control device is operable to control the compression device to continuously compress the wall portion in the series of wall portions, so as to cause the urine to move in the urinary passage in a peristaltic manner; and wherein the compression device includes at least one compression element, which is capable of moving along the urethra, ureter, renal pelvis or urinary bladder to continuously compress the wall portion in the series of wall portions; the stimulation device includes at least one stimulation element located on the compression element for stimulating the wall portion compressed by the compression element to close the urinary passage.

28. The device according to claim 27, wherein, The control device is operable to control the compression device to cause the compression element to move cyclically along the wall portion in the series of wall portions.

29. The device according to claim 27, wherein, The compression device includes a plurality of compression elements, each of which is capable of moving along the urethra, ureter, renal pelvis or urinary bladder to continuously compress a wall portion among the series of wall portions; wherein, the stimulation device includes a stimulation element located on the compression element for stimulating the wall portion compressed by the compression element to close the urinary passage; wherein, the control device is operable to control the compression device to cyclically move the compression elements sequentially along the wall portions among the series of wall portions; wherein, the compression device includes a rotor carrying the compression elements, and the control device is operable to control the rotation of the rotor such that each compression element cyclically compresses the wall portions among the series of wall portions; and wherein each compression element includes a roller for rolling on the urethra, ureter, renal pelvis or urinary bladder to compress the urethra, ureter, renal pelvis or urinary bladder.

30. The device according to claim 1, wherein The compression device includes a first compression element for compressing the wall portion of the urethra, ureter, renal pelvis or urinary bladder at the upstream end of the wall portion, a second compression element for compressing the wall portion at the downstream end of the wall portion, and a third compression element for compressing the wall portion between the upstream end and the downstream end of the wall portion, and the control device is operable to control the first compression element, the second compression element and the third compression element to compress and release the wall portion independently of each other; and wherein, The control device is operable to control the first compression element or the second compression element to compress the wall portion at the upstream end or the downstream end of the wall portion to close the urinary passage, and control the third compression element to compress the wall portion between the upstream end and the downstream end of the wall portion, whereby the urine contained in the wall portion between the upstream end and the downstream end of the wall portion moves downstream or upstream in the urinary passage, and when the third compression element compresses the wall portion, the control device controls the stimulation device to stimulate the wall portion between the upstream end and the downstream end of the wall portion, or The control device is operable to control the first compression element to compress the wall portion at the upstream end of the wall portion to restrict the flow in the urinary passage, and control the stimulation device to stimulate the compressed wall portion at the upstream end to close the urinary passage; and wherein, the control device is operable to control the third compression element to compress the wall portion between the upstream end and the downstream end of the wall portion, whereby the urine contained in the wall portion between the upstream end and the downstream end of the wall portion moves downstream in the urinary passage, or The control device is operable to control the second compression element to compress the wall portion at the downstream end of the wall portion to restrict flow in the urinary passageway, and control the stimulation device to stimulate the compressed wall portion at the downstream end to close the urinary passageway, and the control device is operable to control the third compression element to compress the wall portion between the upstream end and the downstream end of the wall portion, whereby the urine contained in the wall portion between the upstream end and the downstream end of the wall portion moves upstream in the urinary passageway.

31. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein, The compression device is adjustable and further includes an operating device for operating the adjustable compression device to change the compression of the wall portion of the patient's urethra, urinary catheter, renal pelvis or urinary bladder; wherein the operating device operates the compression device mechanically or hydraulically.

32. The device according to claim 31, wherein, The operating device operates the compression device mechanically, and the compression device includes at least two elongated clamping elements that extend along the urinary passageway of the patient along the flow direction in different sides of the urethra, urinary catheter, renal pelvis or urinary bladder, and the operating device operates the clamping elements to clamp the wall portion between the clamping elements to compress the wall portion.

33. The device according to claim 1, wherein, The control device is operable to control the compression device to close the urinary passageway at the upstream end or the downstream end of the wall portion, and control the compression device to compress the remaining portion of the wall portion to move the urine in the urinary passageway; and wherein when the compression device compresses the remaining portion of the wall portion, the control device is operable to control the stimulation device to stimulate the wall portion.

34. The device according to claim 1, wherein, The compression device is configured to compress the wall portion to restrict but not stop the flow in the urinary passageway, the control device is operable to control the stimulation device to stimulate the wall portion compressed by the compression device at the upstream end or the downstream end of the wall portion to close the urinary passageway, and simultaneously control the compression device to increase the compression of the wall portion to move the urine in the urinary passageway.

35. The device according to claim 1, wherein The compression device includes a plurality of discrete compression elements adapted to respectively compress any wall portion of a series of wall portions of the urethra, urinary catheter, renal pelvis or urinary bladder, and the control device is operable to control the compression device to activate the compression elements randomly or according to a predetermined order.

36. The apparatus according to claim 35, wherein, The stimulation device includes a stimulation element located on the compression element; and wherein the control device is operable to control the stimulation device to activate the stimulation element to stimulate any wall portion of the series of wall portions compressed by the compression element.

37. The apparatus according to claim 36, wherein, The control device is operable to control the compression device to activate the compression element to compress the wall portion in the series of wall portions without completely closing the urinary passageway, and control the stimulation device to sequentially activate the stimulation element to stimulate the compressed wall portion, such that the wall portions in the series of wall portions contract continuously along the urethra, urinary catheter, renal pelvis or urinary bladder to move the urine in the urinary passageway, or To compress all of the wall portions in the series of wall portions and control the stimulation device to activate the stimulation element to stimulate any compressed wall portion randomly or according to a predetermined order to close the urinary passage.

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