Systems and methods for assisting patients in emptying their bladder efficiently

Abstract

The present disclosure relates generally to systems, components, devices and methods for assisting a patient to empty his or her weakened or paralyzed bladder or a neobladder efficiently. The system and method includes a pressure sensor for sensing the pressure in the urinary bladder of a patient and an alert mechanism which alerts the patient of the bladder fullness and the need to void. An actuating device is operably coupled to the system to selectively activate a compression assembly. When activated, the compression assembly compresses the bladder to permit emptying of the bladder.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for assisting a patient to empty his or her bladder, comprising:
 a. implanting a bladder pressure sensor to sense the pressure in a patient's bladder;   b. implanting a compression assembly, wherein the compression assembly includes a pair of plates arranged adjacent opposing walls of the patient's bladder wherein the plates are biased apart and are selectively movable toward each other to compress the bladder;   c. providing an alert mechanism;   d. comparing the pressure reading with a predetermined threshold and activating the alert mechanism to alert the patient when the bladder pressure reading exceeds the predetermined threshold; and,   e. actuating the compression assembly to compress the bladder when the patient triggers an actuator.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , comprising implanting a controller in the patient, the controller having a processor and a memory unit with data indicating the predetermined bladder pressure threshold stored in the memory unit. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the predetermined threshold at which the alert is activated is communicated to the memory unit using a programmer device external to the patient's body. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the alert mechanism provides a plurality of alert levels to the patient correlating to the bladder pressure reading successively exceeding a corresponding plurality of predetermined thresholds. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , comprising implanting the alert mechanism. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the alert mechanism is a vibrator. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the alert mechanism is external to the patient's skin. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the alert mechanism is configured to be worn adjacent to the patient's skin as a watch or piece of jewelry. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , comprising arranging at least one occluder around the patient's ureter or the urethra, wherein the occluder is operable between an open position and a closed position, and wherein the occluder seals the ureter or urethra in the closed position. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9  wherein the occluder comprises a movable plate within a housing wherein when the occluder is operated the movable plate compresses the ureter or urethra. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the movable plate is biased to return the occluder to the open position. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the occluder is configured to close when the bladder pressure reading exceeds a predetermined threshold 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the occluder is configured to open when the bladder pressure reading exceeds an alarm alert level. 
     
     
         14 . A method for assisting a patient to empty his or her bladder, comprising:
 a. implanting a bladder pressure sensor to sense the pressure in a patient's bladder;   b. implanting a compression assembly, the compression assembly including a pair of plates arranged adjacent opposing walls of the patient's bladder wherein the plates are biased apart and are selectively movable toward each other to compress the bladder;   c. comparing the pressure reading with a predetermined threshold and alerting the patient when the bladder pressure reading exceeds the predetermined threshold; and,   d. actuating the compression assembly to compress the bladder when the patient triggers an actuator.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , comprising implanting a controller in the patient, the controller having a processor and a memory unit with data indicating the predetermined bladder pressure threshold stored in the memory unit. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14 , comprising providing a plurality of alert levels to the patient correlating to the bladder pressure reading successively exceeding a corresponding plurality of predetermined thresholds. 
     
     
         17 . A method for assisting a patient to empty his or her bladder, comprising:
 a. implanting a compression assembly around the patient's bladder, the compression assembly including a pair of plates arranged adjacent opposing walls of the patient's bladder wherein the plates are biased apart and are selectively movable toward each other to compress the bladder; and,   b. actuating the compression assembly to compress the bladder when the patient selectively triggers an actuator.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the compression assembly includes at least one pair of electromagnets associated with the pair of plates, wherein when the electromagnets are energized an attractive force is generated between them, pulling the plates together and compressing the bladder. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the compression assembly includes at least one spring driven compression driver, wherein the spring driven compression driver is spring biased to separate the plates when the electromagnets are deactivated. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the compression assembly includes at least one compression driver, wherein the compression driver includes a pair of plungers extending from opposing ends of a housing with an inner end of each plunger including an electromagnet, wherein when the electromagnets are energized the plungers move towards each other pulling the plates together and compressing the bladder.