Male urinary incontinence control device

Abstract

A male urinary incontinence control device ( 10 ) including a first element ( 12 ) for applying preferential pressure to the penis shaft ( 14 ) between the lateral superficial veins ( 18 ) and the central dorsal vascular group ( 20 ), and a second element ( 28 ) for applying pressure ventrally to the penis shaft ( 14 ) at the urethra ( 30 ) and the corpus spongiosum ( 32 ) thereby substantially or completely closing the urethra ( 30 ) and preventing or limiting the flow of urine through the urethra ( 30 ). Both longitudinally and transversely oriented lower bolsters are disclosed.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A male urinary incontinence control device, comprising: 
 first means for applying preferential pressure to the penis shaft at areas between the lateral superficial veins and the central dorsal vascular group; and    second means for applying pressure ventrally to the penis shaft at the urethra and the corpus spongiosum.    
     
     
         2 . The device according to  claim 1 , further comprising spring means connecting the first and second pressure-applying means.  
     
     
         3 . The device according to  claim 2 , wherein the spring means is unitarily formed with the first and second pressure-applying means.  
     
     
         4 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein the first pressure-applying means comprises a dorsal arm and a spaced pair of dorsal bolsters on the dorsal arm facing the second pressure-applying means.  
     
     
         5 . The device according to  claim 4 , wherein at least one of the dorsal bolsters includes a slit through which the dorsal arm is received.  
     
     
         6 . The device according to  claim 4 , wherein at least one of the dorsal bolsters is movable along the dorsal arm.  
     
     
         7 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein the second pressure-applying means comprises a ventral arm and a ventral bolster on the ventral arm facing the first pressure-applying means.  
     
     
         8 . The device according to  claim 7 , wherein the ventral bolster comprises an inflatable sac.  
     
     
         9 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein the first pressure-applying means comprises a dorsal arm and a pair of dorsal bolsters on the dorsal arm facing the second pressure-applying means, and wherein the second pressure-applying means comprises a ventral arm and a ventral bolster on the ventral arm facing the first pressure-applying means.  
     
     
         10 . The device according to  claim 9 , wherein at least one of the dorsal bolsters includes a slit through which the dorsal arm is received, and wherein the ventral bolster includes a slit through which the ventral arm is received.  
     
     
         11 . The device according to  claim 9 , wherein the ventral bolster comprises an inflatable sac.  
     
     
         12 . The device according to  claim 9 , wherein the dorsal and ventral arms include edges which are ramped.  
     
     
         13 . The device according to  claim 9 , further comprising spring means connecting the first and second pressure-applying means.  
     
     
         14 . The device according to  claim 13 , further comprising a clip selectively connectable to the dorsal and ventral arms generally opposite the spring means, the clip thereby limiting movement of the dorsal and ventral arms away from one another.  
     
     
         15 . The device according to  claim 13 , wherein the dorsal and ventral arms of the first and second pressure-applying means, and the spring means, are continuously formed as a C-shaped leaf.  
     
     
         16 . The device according to  claim 15 , wherein the C-shaped leaf is composed of stainless steel.  
     
     
         17 . The device according to  claim 15 , wherein the C-shaped leaf is composed of plastic.  
     
     
         18 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein the first pressure-applying means further comprises a relief means located over the central dorsal vascular group.  
     
     
         19 . The device according to  claim 18 , wherein the first pressure-applying means comprises a dorsal arm, and wherein the relief means comprises a short portion of the dorsal arm spaced away from the central dorsal vascular group.  
     
     
         20 . A male incontinence control device for use on the penis shaft of a user, the penis shaft having a dorsal and ventral side and having lateral superficial veins, a central dorsal vascular group, a urethra, and a corpus spongiosum therein, said control device comprising: 
 first means for applying preferential pressure to the penis shaft at areas between the lateral superficial veins and the central dorsal vascular group;    second means for applying pressure ventrally to the penis shaft at the urethra and the corpus spongiosum;    spring means connecting the first and second pressure-applying means, and being unitarily formed with the first and second pressure-applying means;    wherein the first pressure-applying means comprises a dorsal arm and a pair of dorsal bolsters on the dorsal arm facing the second pressure-applying means, the dorsal bolsters being movable along the dorsal arm, and wherein the second pressure-applying means comprises a ventral arm and a ventral bolster on the ventral arm facing the first pressure-applying means, each of the dorsal and ventral arms including edges which are ramped;    wherein the dorsal and ventral arms of the first and second pressure-applying means, and the spring means, are continuously formed as a C-shaped leaf;    wherein the first pressure-applying means further comprises relief means located over the central dorsal vascular group, the relief means comprising a short portion of the dorsal arm of the first pressure-applying means spaced away from the central dorsal vascular group;    wherein the dorsal bolsters each include a slit through which the dorsal arm is received;    wherein the ventral bolster includes an inflatable sac; and    wherein the device further comprises a clip connectable to the first and second arms opposite the ring means, limiting movement of the first and second arms away from one another.    
     
     
         21 . In a strap, band, cuff, clamp, or cradle type urinary incontinence control device attachable to the penis shaft and applying pressure ventrally to at least the urethra and corpus spongiosum, the improvement comprising means on the device for applying preferential pressure to the penis shaft at areas between the lateral superficial veins and the central dorsal vascular group, whereby adequate pressure to substantially reduce leakage of urine through the urethra can be applied without unduly interfering with the flow of blood in the penis shaft.  
     
     
         22 . A male urinary incontinence control device comprising: 
 first means for applying preferential pressure to the penis shaft at areas between the lateral superficial veins and the central dorsal vascular group, the first pressure-applying means including a dorsal arm; and    second means for applying pressure ventrally to the penis shaft at the urethra and the corpus spongiosum, the second pressure-applying means including a ventral arm and ventral bolster located on the ventral arm and facing the first pressure-applying means, the ventral bolster being oriented along the length of the ventral arm and transverse to the penis shaft.    
     
     
         23 . The device according to  claim 22  further comprising spring means connecting the first and second pressure-applying means.  
     
     
         24 . The device according to  claim 23  wherein the spring means is unitarily formed with the first and second pressure-applying means.  
     
     
         25 . The device according to  claim 22  wherein the first pressure-applying means further includes a spaced pair of dorsal bolsters on the dorsal arm facing the second pressure-applying means which avoid applying pressure to the central vascular group.  
     
     
         26 . The device according to  claim 4  wherein the dorsal bolsters are foam.  
     
     
         27 . The device according to  claim 4  wherein a pair of spaced dorsal projections are formed on the dorsal arms and projecting toward the second pressure-applying means.  
     
     
         28 . The device according to  claim 15  wherein the dorsal bolsters are located over the dorsal projections.  
     
     
         29 . The device according to  claim 22  wherein the ventral arm has a ventral projection formed thereon and projecting in a direction toward the first pressure-applying means.  
     
     
         30 . The device according to  claim 29  wherein the projection is covered by the ventral bolster.  
     
     
         31 . The device according to  claim 29  wherein the projection is generally an inverted V-shaped in cross-section having its apex toward the first pressure-applying means.  
     
     
         32 . The device according to  claim 22  wherein the ventral bolster includes a slit through which the ventral arm is received.  
     
     
         33 . The device according to  claim 32  wherein the ventral bolster comprises an inflatable sac.  
     
     
         34 . The device according to  claim 22  wherein the ventral bolster includes chamfered lateral edges.  
     
     
         35 . The device according to  claim 22  further comprising retainer means connecting the first and second pressure-applying means and retaining them in a predetermined spaced apart relation.  
     
     
         36 . The device according to  claim 35  wherein the retainer means is a clip selectively connectable to the dorsal and ventral arms generally opposite the spring means, the clip thereby limiting movement of the dorsal and ventral arms away from one another.  
     
     
         37 . The device according to  claim 22  wherein the first pressure-applying means includes a relief located over the central dorsal vascular group.  
     
     
         38 . The device according to  claim 37  wherein the relief comprises a portion of the dorsal arm projecting away from the central dorsal vascular group and located between a pair of dorsal bolsters.  
     
     
         39 . The device according to  claim 22  wherein the ventral arm exhibits a curvature defining a depression, the depression being concave when viewed downwardly from the first pressure-applying means.  
     
     
         40 . The device according to  claim 22  wherein the ventral bolster is foam.