Artificial Bladder Pump Layout for Natural Urination Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current surgical techniques for bladder removal, such as neobladder construction, are associated with high morbidity, complications, and non-negligible mortality rates, and existing artificial bladders fail to adequately mimic the natural bladder's functions, including urine accumulation, expulsion, and notification of the need to urinate, leading to unsatisfactory quality of life and significant economic costs.

Innovation Solution

An implantable medical device comprising a collection container, a pump, and unidirectional valves, allowing urine collection and controlled expulsion through the urethra, with a subcutaneous pump operated by patient pressure and an internal cleaning mechanism to prevent infection and stone formation, using biocompatible materials like medical grade silicone.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If neobladder construction is performed using intestine segments, then urine storage function is restored, but morbidity and complications increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveurine storage functionVSAvoidmorbidity and complications

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The invention extracts the harmful element (intestine segment) from the system and replaces it with a synthetic collection container. This eliminates the metabolic complications, infections, and other harmful effects associated with using living tissue, while maintaining the essential urine storage function.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention creates a synthetic copy of the bladder using biocompatible materials that mimics the natural bladder's storage function without the complications of intestinal neobladder construction. The collection container is designed to replicate the essential geometry and function of a natural bladder.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

2Reliability

If external urine collection bags are used after ureterocutaneostomy, then urine collection is achieved, but natural urination function is lost

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveurine collectionVSAvoidnatural urination function

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The invention segments the urination function into two independent parts: a passive collection container for urine accumulation and an active pump mechanism for controlled expulsion. This allows the collection function to be restored while maintaining patient control over timing, mimicking natural urination behavior.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The pump is designed to be manually operated by the patient through simple compression, allowing self-controlled urination without requiring surgical reconstruction of the urethra or bladder neck. The patient maintains autonomy over the urination process.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Reliability

If intestine is used to create neobladder, then bladder replacement is achieved, but long-term complications occur

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebladder replacement functionVSAvoidlong-term stability

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDuration of action of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The invention removes the living intestinal tissue from the urinary tract and replaces it with an inert synthetic collection container. This eliminates the source of long-term complications such as metabolic disturbances, vitamin deficiencies, and cancer risk associated with intestinal neobladders.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The collection container is constructed from biocompatible composite materials that are resistant to urinary fluids, infections, and stone formation. These materials provide long-term stability and durability without the biological degradation or complication risks of intestinal tissue.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

4Reliability

If complex surgical procedures are performed to restore bladder function, then urinary function is restored, but device complexity and surgical difficulty increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveurinary function restorationVSAvoidsurgical procedure complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The invention divides the implant into modular components: a collection container, a pump, and connecting tubing with valves. This segmentation simplifies the surgical implantation process compared to complex neobladder construction, while restoring complete urinary function through coordinated operation of the parts.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentUS20250359981A1Artificial bladder

Publication Date: 2025.11.27 ANDRADE ERNESTO

AI summary

An implantable medical device for use as an artificial urinary bladder can include a collection container configured to be placed in a patient's abdominal cavity and a pump configured to be subcutaneously placed outside the abdominal cavity to allow the patient to perceive the need for urination and controls timing of the urination. Flexible tubing can connect the patient's ureters to the collection container, connect the collection container to the pump, and connect the pump to the patient's urethra, with unidirectional valves where needed, to allow for urination through the patient's natural urethra. The implantable medical device can optionally include a cleaning port and tubing connecting the cleaning port to the collection container for introducing a liquid cleaning agent into internal urination circuit of the device for cleaning, disinfection, and prevention of stone formation.