EP0193406A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Device for controlling incontinence
Assignee: Medtronic Inc
•
Filing: 1986-02-27
•
Granted: —
•
Expires: 2006-02-27
Abstract
Abstract This invention relates to urinary incontinence devices and to methods of controlling incontinence. More particularly, this invention relates to disposable, generally elongate, plug or bullet-shaped, easily-removed urinary incontinence devices having a novel, body fluid absorbing, swellable means or zone to effectuate urethral blockage, thus minimizing or preventing incontinence. The method of this invention involves providing an elongate incontinence device at least a portion of which is a conformable, body fluid absorbing, urethra-sized, swellable hydrogel, introducing the device into the male or female urethra, permitting the gel to be exposed to body fluids and thereby to expand to provide a fluid restrictive fit with the walls of the urethra thereby preventing involuntary urination. The device may be removed from the urethra when bladder evacuation is desired.
Inventors
- 👤 Kenneth R. Brennen
- 👤 Kenneth E. Cobian
- 👤 Judith M. Shade
- 👤 Patrick T. Cahalan
- 👤 Daniel C. Haeg
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 08:22
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61M; A61M29/00; A61M29/02; A61F; A61F2/00; A61F2/0004; A61F2/0009; A61M25/00; A61M25/10; A61M2025/1043; A61M2025/1093
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
69 words
An incontinence device (10) adapted for insertion into and, when desired, removal from a urethra which includes a portion of hydrophilic, body fluid-swellable hydrogel ( 1 2) of substantially urethral dimensions which, when the device is inserted in use into and exposed to fluids in the urethral tract, is adapted to swell to provide a restrictive fit against the walls of the urethral tract thereby inhibiting or controlling incontinence.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
69 words
An incontinence device (10) adapted for insertion into and, when desired, removal from a urethra which includes a portion of hydrophilic, body fluid-swellable hydrogel ( 1 2) of substantially urethral dimensions which, when the device is inserted in use into and exposed to fluids in the urethral tract, is adapted to swell to provide a restrictive fit against the walls of the urethral tract thereby inhibiting or controlling incontinence.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
19 words
A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the hydrophilic get comprises at least about 40% by weight water.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
20 words
A device as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the entire device comprises body fluid swellable, hydrophilic gel.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
30 words
A device as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the device includes a substantially non-swellable, flexible core - (14) having disposed thereabout a zone of the hydrophilic gel.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
19 words
A device as claimed in claim 4 wherein the hydrogel zone is a belt circumferentially disposed about the core.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
30 words
A device as claimed in any of claims 1 to 5 which further includes stopper means (20) adjacent one end thereof to prevent insertion of the device into the bladder.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
26 words
A device as claimed in claim 6 wherein the stopper means (20) and the swellable gel portion (12) are located adjacent opposite ends of the device.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
65 words
A device as claimed in any of claims 4 to 7 wherein the core includes a tapered end (28) adapted to permit insertion of the device (10) into the urethra, the opposite end thereof including removal means (33) to permit manual removal of the device from the urethra, the hydrogel being circumferentially disposed about the core (14) between the tapered end and the removal means.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
43 words
A device as claimed in any of claims 1 to 8 wherein the hydrophilic gel comprises a) at least about 40% by weight water; b) 20-50 weight percent polyacrylamide; c) 0-20% by weight sodium salt of 2-acrylamido-2-methyl propanesulfonic acid; and d) a crosslinker.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
28 words
A device as claimed in any of claims 1 to 8 wherein the hydrogel comprises an interpenetrating polymer network - (IPN) including polyacrylamide and a polymer swelling agent
Claim 12
Independent Claim
22 words
A device as claimed in any of claims 1 to 8 wherein the hydrophilic gel comprises a thermally processable polyvinyl alcohol-based polymer.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
42 words
A device as claimed in claim 1 1 wherein the polyvinyl alcohol-based polymer comprises a) from 16-20% by weight polyvinyl alcohol; b) from 10-30% by weight polar plasticizer; and c) from 1-6% by weight of the sodium salt of poly-2-acrylamido-2-methyl propanesulfonic acid.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
57 words
A method of controlling urinary incontinence which comprises introducing intro the urethra a urinary incontinence device as defined in any of claims 1 to 12, and permitting the gel to be exposed to body fluids and thereby to expand to provide a substantially fluid restrictive fit with the walls of the urethra thereby restricting or preventing incontinence.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
19 words
A method as claimed in claim 13 wherein the device is introduced to approximately the mid-region of the urethra.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
Maintenance schedule is calculated for granted US utility patents.