Artificial urinary sphincter

DETAILED DESCRIPTION The present invention provides a device for treatment of urinary incontinence in males and females which is a single component, mechanically uncomplicated, and hence less prone to failure.
Malfunctions are easily fixed.
Since it will be preassembled, it is easy to install through a single incision in one site.
The device incorporates an outer cuff having an inner cuff of interconnecting flexible fluid-containing portions.
The outer cuff is installed.
The device acts much as that of a retractable ball point pen, pushing on the overlapped portion to compress the fluid-containing portions so as to compress and shut the urethra when the button is first pushed, and then alternately relaxing pressure on the overlapped portion so as to release pressure on the urethra upon pushing the button the second time.
The fluid-containing portions are so designed that they will expand concentrically toward the urethra.
Wires are wrapped around pulleys mounted on an inner portion of the push button base and one end of each wire anchored to the outer cuff in the vicinity of its overlapping outer portion, so as to move inward when the push button of the push button assembly is pushed.
The wires wrap around the inner cuff of the artificial sphincter and are mounted at their other end to the outer cuff near its fixation opening so as to alternately contract and relax circumferential pressure on the inner cuff.
This contracting action is coordinated with the inward pressure and relaxation of the overlapped outer cuff portion.
Accordingly, it is a principal object of the invention to provide an artificial urinary sphincter which is simple in design, easily used, and requires only one incision to implant.
It is another object of the invention to provide an artificial urinary sphincter as above providing uniform pressure around the urethra in a closed position.
It is a further object of the invention to provide an artificial urinary sphincter as above having an outer cuff surrounding an inner cuff, the inner cuff having interconnecting fluid filled compartments for providing uniform pressure around the urethra