Implantable Artificial Bladder With Pump-Controlled Urethral Urination

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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 replicate the natural bladder's functions, including urine accumulation, expulsion through the urethra, and notification of the need to urinate, leading to unsatisfactory quality of life and economic burden.

Innovation Solution

An implantable medical device comprising a collection container in the abdominal cavity and a subcutaneously placed pump, connected by flexible tubes and unidirectional valves, allows for urine collection, controlled expulsion through the urethra, and includes a 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 intestinal segments, then urine storage and expulsion functions are restored, but high morbidity, complications, and mortality rates occur

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveurine storage and expulsion functionVSAvoidmorbidity, complications, and mortality

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The device separates the urine collection function (collection container in abdominal cavity) from the expulsion function (subcutaneous pump), allowing each component to be optimized independently and reducing the complexity of the surgical procedure compared to neobladder construction

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces an external pump as an intermediary device to perform the expulsion function, eliminating the need to use intestinal segments for both storage and expulsion, thereby avoiding the complications associated with intestinal neobladder construction

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Adaptability or versatility

If intestinal segments are used to create a neobladder, then a functional bladder is formed, but complications such as infection, urinary leakage, and electrolyte imbalances occur

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefunctional bladder capabilityVSAvoidinfection, urinary leakage, and electrolyte imbalances

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The subcutaneous pump acts as an intermediary that controls urine expulsion through the urethra, preventing urinary leakage and reducing infection risk by maintaining a closed system. The pump's external placement allows for better control and monitoring

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The device uses a removable collection container that can be easily cleaned or replaced, preventing long-term accumulation of bacteria and stones. The cleaning port enables regular maintenance without complex surgical procedures

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

3Quantity of substance

If ureterocutaneostomy is performed with external urine collection bag, then urine can be collected, but natural bladder functions are not restored and quality of life is unsatisfactory

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveurine collection capabilityVSAvoidnatural bladder function restoration

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The device places the collection container inside the abdominal cavity (nested within the body) rather than using an external bag, while still maintaining the ability to collect and store urine. The subcutaneous pump is nested between the collection container and the urethra, creating a hierarchical structure that restores natural function

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of bringing the urine collection outside the body (ureterocutaneostomy), the patent inverts the approach by placing the collection container inside the abdominal cavity and using an external pump to expel urine through the natural urethra pathway

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

4Reliability

If cleaning mechanisms are added to prevent infection and stone formation, then device reliability improves, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinfection and stone preventionVSAvoidcleaning mechanism structure

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The cleaning mechanism allows patients to perform self-maintenance by injecting cleaning solutions through the cleaning port. This self-service approach prevents infection and stone formation without requiring complex automated cleaning systems or frequent surgical interventions

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentUS12383392B2Artificial bladder

Publication Date: 2025.08.12 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.