Dynamic Urethral Compression for Urinary Leakage Prevention
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing artificial urinary sphincters exert constant pressure on the urethra, leading to potential urethral atrophy and discomfort, and are not suitable for patients with minor incontinence due to their complexity and reliability issues.
Innovation Solution
A device with electronic control means that measures patient activity using sensors to anticipate and prevent urinary leakage by dynamically adjusting urethral compression based on predictive models, reducing mean compression on the urethra and allowing variable pressure from no compression to full occlusion.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If constant pressure is exerted on the urethra by the artificial urinary sphincter, then urinary leakage is prevented, but urethral atrophy occurs and patient comfort deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by transitioning from constant pressure to variable pressure control. The artificial urinary sphincter dynamically adjusts the compression force on the urethra based on real-time detection of urinary leakage risk, applying pressure only when necessary rather than maintaining constant compression, thereby preventing urethral atrophy while ensuring continence.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements feedback control through sensors that detect urinary leakage risk and feed this information back to the control system. The system continuously monitors physiological parameters and adjusts the compression pressure accordingly, increasing pressure when leakage is detected and reducing it when not needed, creating a closed-loop control system that prevents both leakage and tissue damage.
2Reliability
If high compression pressure is applied to prevent leaks, then continence is maintained, but urethral damage occurs over the long term
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically modulates compression pressure based on actual physiological needs rather than applying fixed high pressure. The control unit adjusts the force applied to the urethra in real-time, using high pressure only when leakage is detected and low or zero pressure when continence is maintained, preventing cumulative tissue damage.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the pressure parameter from constant to variable. The compression force is continuously adjusted based on detected urinary leakage risk, transforming the pressure regime from static high pressure to dynamic pressure that adapts to physiological conditions, thereby maintaining continence while minimizing tissue damage.
3Ease of operation
If the pump is frequently actuated to control urethral compression, then voiding is achieved, but patient comfort and ease of operation deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs self-service by automatically detecting urinary leakage risk and adjusting compression pressure without requiring patient intervention. The sensor-controlled system autonomously manages the artificial sphincter, eliminating the need for frequent manual pump actuation and reducing patient burden while maintaining effective voiding control.
Solution Approach 2:
The feedback mechanism automatically detects when voiding is needed based on physiological parameters and triggers appropriate pressure reduction. This eliminates the need for patients to manually activate the pump, as the system responds autonomously to physiological signals, improving ease of operation and patient comfort.
4Device complexity
If the regulating pressure is fixed at implantation, then the prosthesis structure is simple, but adaptability to changing patient needs deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The feedback control system enables the prosthesis to adapt to changing patient needs without increasing structural complexity. Sensors detect physiological parameters and the control unit automatically adjusts compression pressure, providing adaptability to varying urinary leakage risk while maintaining a relatively simple implant structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The system provides self-adjustment capability, automatically adapting compression pressure to patient needs without requiring external intervention or complex reconfigurable structures. The sensor-controlled mechanism autonomously modifies pressure levels to match changing physiological conditions, achieving adaptability with minimal structural complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
A device to prevent urinary leakage intended to be implanted in a patient includes a compressor to compress the patient's urethra, an electronic controller to actuate the compressor, and a measurer to measure the patient's activity. The measurer is coupled with the controller and the controller functions according to a predictive model of urinary leakage based on patient activity, so as to anticipate a possible urinary leak in relation to the measured activity of the patient.