Artificial Urinary Sphincter Iris Diaphragm Merging
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current treatments for urinary incontinence, such as artificial sphincter systems, often require multiple components and are complex, leading to involuntary urine leakage and patient discomfort due to susceptibility to bodily movements.
Innovation Solution
An artificial urinary sphincter system with a casing implanted between the bulbous spongiosis muscle and perineal skin, featuring a coaptation valve with an iris diaphragm and a movable element that can be adjusted through the perineal skin to control urine flow, reducing the number of implanted parts and allowing patient-controlled urinary voiding.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional artificial sphincter systems are used, then urinary continence can be achieved, but the system complexity increases and susceptibility to bodily movements causes involuntary leakage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the coaptation valve and iris diaphragm into a single integrated assembly that is implanted as one unit. The valve body and diaphragm are constructed together with the urethra positioned between them, eliminating the need for separate reservoirs, pumps, and multiple connection components found in traditional systems. This merging reduces the number of implanted parts while maintaining continence control functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The iris diaphragm serves multiple functions: it acts as both the coaptation surface for sealing against the urethra and the adjustable control mechanism for urine flow. The single assembly performs both valve closure and flow regulation functions, replacing the need for separate control mechanisms in traditional multi-component systems.
2Reliability
If traditional artificial sphincter systems with multiple components are used, then continence can be maintained, but involuntary urine leakage occurs due to susceptibility to bodily movements
Solution Approach 1:
By integrating the valve and diaphragm into a single implanted assembly, the patent eliminates multiple connection points and interfaces that are susceptible to disconnection or malfunction during bodily movements. The unified structure moves as one unit with the urethra, reducing the risk of involuntary leakage caused by relative motion between components.
3Ease of operation
If adjustable iris diaphragm is implemented, then patient-controlled voiding is enabled, but the number of implanted parts increases
Solution Approach 1:
The adjustable iris diaphragm is merged with the valve body into a single integrated assembly. The diaphragm includes radial segments that can move relative to each other to adjust the opening diameter, and this entire mechanism is constructed as one implanted unit rather than separate components. This reduces the number of implanted parts while maintaining patient-controlled voiding capability.
4Device complexity
If fewer parts are used in the implanted system, then device complexity is reduced, but achieving effective continence control becomes more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The iris diaphragm is segmented into radial segments that can move independently to adjust the opening diameter. This segmentation allows the diaphragm to effectively control urine flow with a simpler overall structure, achieving continence control with fewer parts by using the segmented motion mechanism rather than requiring multiple separate valve components.
Data Source
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AI summary
Disclosed is an artificial urinary sphincter and a kit of parts for providing urinary continence. The artificial urinary sphincter includes a casing, a coaptation valve including an iris diaphragm and a movable element. The iris diaphragm has an adjustable diameter and is movable to coapt a patient's urethra by moving the movable element. The movable element is associated with the casing and sized to be palpated through the perineal skin in order to adjust the diameter of the iris diaphragm. Also disclosed is a method of providing urinary voiding control in a patient.