Artificial Sphincter Pump With Bulb Valve for Pressure-Stable Occlusion
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing inflatable artificial sphincters fail to effectively occlude excretory body passages during sudden pressure increases in the abdomen, leading to unintended leaks, and are prone to contamination and component clogging, which reduces their service life and increases surgical complexity.
Innovation Solution
The artificial sphincter design incorporates a pressure-sensitive check valve and a compressible bulb within the pump mechanism, allowing for automatic inflation and deflation of the occlusion means, ensuring effective occlusion even with sudden pressure changes, and reducing the risk of contamination through a simplified fluid transfer system.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a traditional pump with multiple components (check valves, flow retarders) is used for fluid transfer, then the occlusion function can be achieved, but the risk of component clogging increases and service life decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts and eliminates the complex internal components (check valves, flow retarders) from the pump system by using a simple compressible bulb pump. The bulb's elastic deformation naturally provides the pumping action without requiring these additional components, thereby reducing clogging risks and extending service life.
Solution Approach 2:
The compressible bulb pump utilizes the patient's own manual compression to drive fluid transfer. The bulb's elastic recovery provides automatic refilling without requiring complex valve mechanisms. This self-service mechanism reduces the number of components that could clog and fail.
2Productivity
If extra elements like conduit tubes are added to connect pump components, then fluid transfer capability is improved, but surgical complexity and infection risk increase
Solution Approach 1:
The invention merges the pump reservoir and bulb into a single integrated unit, eliminating the need for separate conduit tubes to connect them. The bulb is directly attached to the reservoir, simplifying the surgical procedure and reducing the number of potential infection pathways while maintaining full fluid transfer capability.
3Ease of operation
If the pump is placed in accessible locations (scrotum, lower belly, labia, or leg), then ease of patient operation is improved, but the risk of contamination during implantation and use increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention employs a simplified pump design with fewer components that are less susceptible to contamination. The compressible bulb and integrated reservoir create a more sealed system that is easier to sterilize and maintain, reducing long-term contamination risks even in accessible body locations.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution ensures reliable and prolonged functionality by maintaining effective occlusion during sudden pressure increases and minimizing contamination risks, thereby enhancing patient continence and reducing the need for frequent surgical interventions.
Implementation Method 1
a pressure compensation balloon which, in use, is to be implanted in the abdomen of a patient and which is in fluid communication with the lumen of said balloon holder and the occlusion means so that a sudden pressure increase which occurs in the abdomen of a patient is instantly compensated
Implementation Method 2
The artificial sphincter according to the present invention has a check valve located in the lumen of said balloon holder which, in use, is to be implanted in the abdomen of a patient
Implementation Method 3
The pump means has a compressible bulb for activation by the patient implanted with the artificial sphincter for transferring the pressurizing fluid contained in the bulb to the stretchable fluid reservoir when the bulb is compressed by the patient
Data Source
AI summary
An artificial sphincter comprising an inflatable occlusion means for occluding a body passage, a stretchable fluid reservoir, a pump means and an occlusion means. A pressurizing fluid is selectively transferred from the occlusion means to the reservoir for deflating the occlusion means so that a blocked body passage may be opened. The artificial sphincter also comprises a semipermeable check valve which always allows fluid flow towards the stretchable fluid reservoir. The pump means comprises a check valve located in between the second port of the pump and the bulb. The check valve comprises a ball, a blockage seat and one or more resilient lips located circumferentially above the ball. The check valve blocks fluid flow towards the occlusion means and allows fluid flow towards the fluid reservoir when, in use, the bulb is squeezed.