Patent ID: 8348826

Claim:
A surgical implant comprising: an inflatable element ( 2 ) that is inflatable in response to fluid pressure; a tank ( 9 ) for fluid under pressure in communication with the inflatable element to regulate the pressure of said element; a manually controlled pump ( 11 ) in communication firstly with the inflatable element via a first one-way check valve ( 49 ), and secondly with the tank via a second one-way check valve ( 47 ); and a control unit ( 7 ) incorporating the tank ( 9 ) and the manual pump ( 11 ), the control unit presenting a through opening ( 12 ) for the fluid, the opening being in communication firstly on the inside of the control unit ( 7 ) with the tank ( 9 ) and the manual pump ( 11 ), and secondly on the outside of the control unit solely with the inflatable element ( 2 ) via a catheter ( 6 ) mounted between the inflatable element ( 2 ) and the control unit ( 7 ); wherein the tank ( 9 ) defines a leak tight chamber ( 15 ) of fluid under pressure, the chamber comprising a movable piston ( 16 ) biased by a spring ( 17 ); wherein the leak tight chamber ( 15 ) of fluid under pressure is defined inside a rigid cylinder ( 18 ) between a closure end wall ( 32 ) of the cylinder and the movable piston ( 16 ); and wherein the spring ( 17 ) is mounted inside the cylinder ( 18 ) bearing against a mounting support ( 19 ).