Apparatus for controlling flow in a bodily organ

Abstract

An apparatus for controlling a flow of urine in a urethra of a patient is disclosed, comprising an implantable constriction device for constricting the urethra to influence the flow in the urinary tract. The constriction device comprises a plurality of constriction elements configured to be arranged at different locations along the flow direction of the urethra, wherein each constriction element is configured to at least partly encircle the urethra and to be operable so as to change a constriction of the urethra. The apparatus further comprises an operation device configured to operate the constriction elements.

1 - 302 . (canceled) 
     
     
         303 . An apparatus for controlling a flow of urine in a urethra of a patient, comprising:
 an implantable constriction device for constricting the urethra to influence the flow in the urinary tract, the constriction device comprising a plurality of constriction elements configured to be arranged at different locations along the flow direction of the urethra;   wherein each constriction element is configured to at least partly encircle the urethra and to be operable so as to change a constriction of the urethra; and   wherein the apparatus further comprises an operation device configured to operate the constriction elements.   
     
     
         304 . The apparatus according to  claim 303 , wherein the constriction elements are configured to be operated independently from each other. 
     
     
         305 . The apparatus according to  claim 303  or  304 , wherein each constriction element comprises an elongated core configured to at least partly encircle the urethra. 
     
     
         306 . The apparatus according to  claim 305 , wherein the operation device is configured to move the end portions of the elongated core towards and away from each other so as to vary the constriction of the urethra. 
     
     
         307 . The apparatus according to  claim 306 , further comprising an implantable motor configured to operate the operation device. 
     
     
         308 . The apparatus according to  claim 307 , further comprising a gear box configured to transfer a force generated by the motor into a force operating on the operation device. 
     
     
         309 . The apparatus according to  claim 303  or  304 , further comprising:
 a control device for controlling the operation device, wherein the control device is configured to: control the operation device to constrict the urethra, and control the operation device to release the urethra; and 
 an energy source for supplying energy to the operation device; 
 wherein the control device is configured to determine the current state of the energy source, and wherein the control unit is connected to an internal signal transmitter configured to transmit information related to the current state of the energy source. 
 
     
     
         310 . The apparatus according to  claim 309 , wherein the energy source comprises a battery. 
     
     
         311 . The apparatus according to  claim 310 , wherein the battery is at least one of a rechargeable battery and a capacitor. 
     
     
         312 . The apparatus according to  claim 309  or  310 , wherein the control device is configured to measure a parameter related to a voltage of the energy source to determine the current state of the energy source. 
     
     
         313 . The apparatus according to  claim 309  or  310 , wherein the control device is configured to measure a parameter related to the energy consumption to determine the current state of the energy source. 
     
     
         314 . The apparatus according to  claim 309  or  310 , wherein the control device is configured to measure a parameter related to the temperature of the energy source to determine the current state of the energy source. 
     
     
         315 . The apparatus according to  claim 309  or  310 , wherein the control device is arranged to store measurements related to a current state of the energy source. 
     
     
         316 . The apparatus according to  claim 315 , wherein the control device is arranged to transmit a control signal reflecting at least a portion of the stored measurements. 
     
     
         317 . The apparatus according to  claim 309  or  310 , wherein the control device is arranged to measure a current state of the energy source on a regular basis. 
     
     
         318 . The apparatus according to  claim 303  or  304 , further comprising:
 a control device for controlling the constriction device, wherein the control device is configured to control the constriction device to constrict the urethra or to release a constriction of the urethra; and 
 an operation device for operating the constriction device to change the constriction of the urethra; and 
 an energy source for supplying energy for the operation device; wherein the control device comprises a temperature sensor configured to sense a temperature of the apparatus or a temperature of the patient. 
 
     
     
         319 . The apparatus according to  claim 318 , wherein the control device further comprises an internal signal transmitter arranged to transmit a signal based on the temperature measurements. 
     
     
         320 . The apparatus according to  claim 319 , wherein the internal signal transmitter is arranged to transmit the signal to an external signal receiver. 
     
     
         321 . The apparatus according to any of  claim 318  or  319 , wherein the temperature sensor is configured to measure the temperature on a regular basis, and wherein the control device is configured to store the measured values. 
     
     
         322 . The apparatus according to  claim 318  or  319 , wherein the control device further comprises an implantable sensor configured to sense a physical parameter, and wherein the control device is adapted to produce an indication in response to the sensor sensing the physical parameter.