Implantable Urinary Pump with Hydraulic Constriction

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Solution Overview

Problem

Urinary dysfunction due to spinal cord injuries leads to involuntary urinary retention, associated with infections and renal damage, where existing treatments like catheterization are inconvenient and prone to infections.

Innovation Solution

An implantable pumping device with constriction devices and a controller to constrict and evacuate urine from the urinary bladder, utilizing hydraulic elements and a support structure for assisted operation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If catheterization is used to treat urinary retention, then urinary evacuation is achieved, but the risk of infections increases and patient convenience deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveurinary evacuation reliabilityVSAvoidinfection risk

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The catheter is extracted from the system and replaced with an implantable pump device that evacuates urine through a different mechanism, eliminating the external catheter pathway that causes infections. The pump device is implanted within the body and uses internal constriction elements to evacuate urine without requiring external catheter insertion.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The implantable pump device acts as an intermediary between the urinary bladder and the external environment, providing a controlled evacuation pathway that avoids the infection-prone catheter route. The device uses hydraulic constriction elements to mediate the evacuation process internally, reducing exposure to external contaminants.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If catheterization is used for urinary retention, then urine evacuation is achieved, but patient convenience and comfort deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveurine evacuation capabilityVSAvoidpatient convenience

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The implantable pump device provides self-service urinary evacuation, allowing patients to empty their bladders without external assistance or catheter manipulation. The device is controlled internally or through simple external interfaces, enabling patients to manage their condition independently and improving overall convenience.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The pump device merges multiple functions into a single implantable unit: urine storage, controlled evacuation, and infection barrier. By combining these functions internally, the system eliminates the need for separate catheter management and improves patient convenience while maintaining reliable evacuation capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Reliability

If continuous catheterization is used, then urinary retention is managed, but device complexity and infection risk increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveurinary retention managementVSAvoidsystem complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The pump device is segmented into distinct functional components: constriction elements for bladder control, a pump mechanism for evacuation, and a control system. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently while working together as an integrated system, managing complexity through modular design.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The mechanical catheter system is replaced with an implantable pump device that uses controlled hydraulic or mechanical constriction elements. The system substitutes the simple but infection-prone catheter mechanism with a more complex but internally contained pump system that provides better infection protection and management capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

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

Effectively manages urinary retention by facilitating controlled urine evacuation, reducing the risk of infections compared to traditional catheterization methods, and providing a more convenient solution for patients.

Implementation Method 1

a first operably hydraulic constriction element configured to be inflated to constrict the urinary bladder for restricting the flow of fluid therethrough

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectHydraulic pressure: Hydraulic Press

Implementation Method 2

the interconnecting fluid conduit is configured to conduct fluid from the first operable hydraulic constriction element to the second operable hydraulic constriction element when the pressure increases in the first operable hydraulic constriction element

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPressure-driven fluid flow: Pressure Gradient

Data Source

PatentUS20250143856A1Apparatus and method for obtaining urinary control

Publication Date: 2025.05.08 FORSELL PETER

AI summary

The present disclosure relates to techniques for restricting a urinary bladder and for evacuating urine from a urinary ladder. More specifically, an implantable pumping device is provided, having one or several constriction devices configured to constrict the urinary bladder in order to evacuate urine.