Artificial Urinary Sphincter Clamp Segmentation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing artificial urinary sphincter systems tend to kink at the junction of rectangular balloon cushions, leading to potential leaks over time, which compromises their effectiveness in maintaining continence.
Innovation Solution
An artificial urinary sphincter system featuring a clamp with first and second portions biased together to compress the urethra, and an inflatable device coupled between these portions to separate them and open the urethra for voiding, utilizing a fluid reservoir and pump to manage inflation and deflation, preventing kinking and leaks.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If rectangular balloon cushions are used in artificial urinary sphincter systems, then the device can provide continence control, but the junction of the balloons tends to kink over time leading to leaks
Solution Approach 1:
The clamp is divided into first and second portions that can move independently relative to each other. The inflatable device is positioned between these portions, allowing the system to segment the force application and avoid stress concentration at fixed junctions, thereby preventing kinking while maintaining continence control.
Solution Approach 2:
The clamp portions are designed to be dynamically separable through inflation of the intermediate device. This dynamic configuration allows the clamp to transition from a compressed closed state to an opened voiding state without creating rigid junctions that would kink, thus improving both reliability and structural stability.
2Reliability
If a clamp compresses the urethra to maintain continence, then urinary control is improved, but the device complexity increases with additional inflatable components
Solution Approach 1:
The inflatable device is merged into the space between the clamp portions, serving dual purposes: it acts as a separator to prevent kinking and as an actuator to open the clamp for voiding. This integration reduces the need for separate complex mechanisms while maintaining reliable urinary control.
Solution Approach 2:
The inflatable device positioned between the clamp portions performs multiple functions: it separates the clamp portions to prevent kinking, acts as the actuation mechanism for opening the clamp, and maintains the structural integrity of the system. This multi-functionality reduces overall device complexity while improving reliability.
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 system effectively prevents incontinence by ensuring the urethra remains compressed when deflated and opens for voiding when inflated, reducing the risk of kinking and leaks, thus providing reliable urinary control.
Implementation Method 1
inflating a device, coupled to the first portion and the second portion, to push the first portion away from the second portion and open the urethra for voiding
Implementation Method 2
biasing a first portion and a second portion of a clamp toward each other to compress a urethra
Data Source
AI summary
An artificial urinary sphincter (AUS) system that includes a clamp and an inflatable device. The clamp is configured to be disposed on a urethra and includes a first portion and a second portion biased together to compress the urethra. The inflatable device is coupled between the first portion and the second portion of the clamp and configured to be inflated to separate the first portion from the second portion and unclamp or open the urethra.