Patent ID: 11903806
Assignee: THE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT AS REPRESENTED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS
Field: Medical technology (Instruments)
Classification: CPC A  G | IPC A  G

Claim 0:
1. An artificial urinary sphincter comprising:
a cuff configured to surround a portion of a length of a urethra, the cuff comprising a housing and a band that is retractable into and protractable from the housing;
an actuator in communication with the cuff and configured to selectively apply a force to the cuff to thereby apply a variable amount of pressure to the urethra, wherein the actuator is an electric linear actuator that is configured to retract and protract the band relative to the housing;
a controller in electrical communication with the actuator and configured to adjust the application of the force by the actuator to cause the cuff to apply the variable amount of pressure to the urethra; and
at least one sensor integrated into or coupled to the cuff, wherein the at least one sensor is in communication with the controller, wherein the at least one sensor is configured to detect pressure applied against the cuff by the urethra, wherein the at least one sensor comprises an array of dielectric elastomer transducers, wherein the array of dielectric elastomer transducers comprises a plurality of metal electrodes embedded in an elastic elastomer membrane,
wherein the controller is configured to cause the cuff to apply a first closing pressure to the urethral, and
wherein, in response to a detection of a threshold pressure increase by the sensor, the controller is configured to cause the cuff to apply a second closing pressure that is greater than the first closing pressure and that prevents urine from exiting the urethra.