Implantable Powered Bladder Compressor for Urinary Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Urinary dysfunction due to spinal cord injuries often results in involuntary urinary retention, leading to infections and renal damage, with existing treatments like catheterization being inconvenient and risky, and electric bladder stimulation causing uncontrolled urine release.
Innovation Solution
An implantable apparatus with a powered member that exerts force on the urinary bladder, assisted by a support structure, to discharge urine, featuring a control device with energy sources, sensors, and mechanisms for hydraulic or mechanical operation, including a pressurizer and restriction devices to manage urine flow.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If catheterization is used to treat urinary retention, then urine discharge is achieved, but patient convenience deteriorates and infection risk increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the catheter from the urinary tract and replaces it with an implantable device that uses a movable wall to compress the bladder. The catheter function is transferred to an externalized mechanical system that operates through the abdominal wall, eliminating the need for continuous internal catheterization and its associated inconveniences and infection risks.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention replaces the mechanical catheter system with a powered mechanical compression system. Instead of using a rigid catheter to drain urine, the device uses a movable wall actuated by a motor to compress the bladder and expel urine through the urethra, substituting the simple mechanical drainage with a controlled mechanical compression mechanism.
2Productivity
If electric stimulation of the bladder is used, then bladder emptying is achieved, but uncontrolled urine release occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The invention replaces electrical stimulation with a controlled mechanical compression system. The movable wall, when actuated by the motor, applies mechanical force to compress the bladder in a controlled manner, providing bladder emptying without the uncontrolled urine release associated with electrical stimulation of the sphincter.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention introduces a dynamic, controllable compression mechanism through the movable wall that can be activated only when needed. This dynamic system allows precise control over when bladder compression occurs, preventing uncontrolled urine release while maintaining efficient emptying capability when the motor is activated.
3Reliability
If continuous catheterization is used, then urinary retention is treated, but infection risk and patient discomfort increase
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the catheter from continuous internal contact with the urinary tract and replaces it with an implantable device that operates externally. The movable wall compression mechanism eliminates the need for continuous catheterization, thereby removing the source of infection risk while maintaining effective treatment of urinary retention.
Solution Approach 2:
The implantable device provides self-contained treatment capability, eliminating the need for external catheterization. The motorized movable wall system automatically compresses the bladder to expel urine, providing self-service urinary drainage without requiring continuous external intervention or catheter presence that would generate infection risk.
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 apparatus effectively manages urinary retention by providing efficient and reliable urine discharge, reducing infection risks and improving patient compliance, while minimizing the risk of uncontrolled urine release.
Implementation Method 1
a powered member adapted to exert a force from the outside on a selected part of the urinary bladder in order to discharge urine from the urinary bladder
Implementation Method 2
the pressurizer comprises a reservoir for hydraulic fluid, and the contacting part comprises an expandable cavity hydraulically connected to the reservoir. The pressurizer comprises a pump for transporting the hydraulic fluid from the reservoir to expand the expandable cavity thereby compressing the urinary bladder
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to an implantable apparatus for obtaining urinary control and emptying of the urinary bladder. The apparatus operates with a powered member (100) operating from the outside of the urinary bladder assisted by a support structure to discharge urine from the urinary bladder. A control device (200) controls the operation of the powered member. The control device further comprises a source of energy for operating the powered member and other energy consuming parts of the apparatus and a control assembly.