Floating-Cuff Bionic Sphincter Sling for Lower Tissue Damage

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing medical devices for compressing internal tissues, such as urinary and fecal sphincters, often cause unacceptable damage over time due to repetitive compression, leading to inefficacy and safety issues in treating conditions like urinary and fecal incontinence, GERDs, morbid obesity, and other health disorders.

Innovation Solution

A bionic sphincter/sling device with a flexible inner band and outer strap mechanism, actuated by a motor, that disperses pressure over a larger tissue area, allowing the cuff to float along the vessel and engage at varying contact points, reducing tissue damage while maintaining efficacy.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a compression device is used to treat incontinence by compressing the sphincter, then the continence function is improved, but tissue damage occurs over time due to repetitive compression

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontinence functionVSAvoidtissue damage

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The device employs a dynamic compression mechanism where the compression member can move between compressed and decompressed positions, allowing the sphincter to be compressed only when needed for continence while decompressing during other times. This dynamic operation reduces continuous tissue pressure and prevents damage while maintaining continence function during active compression phases.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The compression device operates in periodic cycles, compressing the sphincter for a duration to achieve continence, then decompressing for a recovery period. This periodic action pattern allows tissue to recover between compression events, preventing cumulative damage while maintaining effective continence control during active compression phases.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

2Reliability

If compression is applied to the sphincter to achieve continence, then the open/close function is improved, but the device causes unacceptable damage to tissue over extended timespans

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveopen/close functionVSAvoidextended timespan

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDuration of action of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The device transitions from a static compression structure to a dynamic one where the compression member can actively move between engaged and disengaged positions. This dynamic capability allows the device to provide sustained continence function through intermittent compression events rather than continuous pressure, enabling long-term use without causing tissue damage that would occur with prolonged stationary compression.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The device maintains continuous continence control through a series of discrete compression events that occur at appropriate intervals. Rather than requiring continuous compression to maintain function, the system uses repeated periodic compression actions that collectively provide continuous continence while allowing tissue recovery between events, enabling extended timespan operation without damage.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #20Continuity of useful action

3Adaptability or versatility

If a compression device is used to treat various conditions including incontinence, GERDs, and morbid obesity, then treatment efficacy is improved, but safety issues arise from repetitive compression

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetreatment efficacyVSAvoidadverse events

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The device's dynamic compression and decompression capability allows it to be safely applied across multiple conditions including incontinence, GERDs, and morbid obesity. By providing intermittent rather than continuous compression, the system achieves effective treatment for different pathologies while minimizing tissue damage and adverse events that would occur with prolonged static compression.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The device can adjust compression parameters such as the degree of compression, duration of compression, and frequency of compression events to optimize treatment efficacy for different conditions. This parameter adjustability allows safe and effective treatment across multiple applications including incontinence, GERDs, and obesity while preventing tissue damage by tailoring compression intensity and duration to specific patient needs and condition severity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentUS20260041539A1Bionic interactive sphincter/sling with floating variable circumference

Publication Date: 2026.02.12 SAYET PETER H

AI summary

An implantable system for compressing internal tissue within a host body includes a compressing member and a stricture member made up of several interactive components for compressing internal tissue that could include a body canal which is a conduit for the flow of internal or external materials including fluids or solids or just a targeted tissue mass within the host body. The compressing aspect, including the stricture member, can also act to alternatively release said compression on the targeted tissue. In creating compression, the compressing aspect moves against the stricture member while reversing the compression is accomplished by reversing the process. An actuator, controlled by internal or remote electronic signals acts to move the compressing member.