Artificial sphincter for urinal incontinence - has ring around urethra to be inflated and deflated by two press bulbs operating single valve

摘要

The artificial sphincter combats urinal incontinence and forms an implant around the urethra. It comprises a split ring, the ends being tied. It has a rigid outer casing and a flexible lining, the space between them being filled with a liquid. A tube leads to the top chamber of a three-chambered valve, this having a spring loaded conical valve seating in the rigid dividing partition. A bulb leading into the second chamber is pumped to raise the valve and inflate the ring. Another bulb in the third compartment deflates the ring, a flexible membrane raising the valve to release the pressure.