Variable sling for urinary incontinence

Abstract

The present invention relates to apparatus for treating urinary incontinence in a patient. In the apparatus, there is at least one adjustable lifting device adapted to lift the urethra or neck of the urine bladder, thereby affecting the patient’s incontinence. The lifting device is provided with first and second fixation devices and an interconnecting part extending uninterruptedly between the first and second fixation devices.

1 - 131 . (canceled) 
     
     
         132 . An apparatus for treating urinary incontinence in a patient, the apparatus comprising:
 at least one adjustable lifting device adapted to lift the urethra or neck of the urine bladder, thereby affecting the patient’s incontinence, the at least one adjustable lifting device comprising first and second fixation devices and an interconnecting part extending uninterruptedly between the first and second fixation devices, wherein the at least one lifting device is adapted to post-operatively and non-invasively adjust the level of lift of the urethra by changing at least one of the width and the length of the interconnecting part,   a battery for powering the at least one adjustable lifting device,   a first implantable sensor or measuring device configured to sense a temperature,   a second implantable sensor or measuring device configured to sense the current state of the battery, and   a feedback device for wirelessly sending feedback related to the sensed temperature and the sensed current state of the battery to a wireless receiver located external to the body of the patient.   
     
     
         133 . The apparatus according to  claim 132 , wherein the feedback device is further configured to wirelessly sending feedback related to the transfer of energy for charging an implanted energy source. 
     
     
         134 . The apparatus according to  claim 132 , wherein the feedback device is further configured to wirelessly sending feedback related to the blood flow. 
     
     
         135 . The apparatus according to  claim 132 , wherein the feedback device is further configured to wirelessly sending feedback related to an electrical parameter. 
     
     
         136 . The apparatus according to  claim 132 , wherein the feedback device is further configured to wirelessly sending feedback related to a pressure. 
     
     
         137 . The apparatus according to  claim 132 , wherein the at least one adjustable lifting device is hydraulic regulated. 
     
     
         138 . The apparatus according to  claim 132 , wherein the at least one adjustable lifting device is mechanically regulated. 
     
     
         139 . The apparatus according to  claim 138 , further comprising an electrical motor for mechanically regulating the at least one adjustable lifting device. 
     
     
         140 . The apparatus according to  claim 132 , wherein the mechanical device is adapted to regulate the distance between the first and second fixation devices. 
     
     
         141 . The apparatus according to  claim 132 , further comprising a wireless energy transmitter, and wherein the adjustable lifting device is adapted to be non-invasively regulated by the energy transmitter. 
     
     
         142 . The apparatus according to  claim 132 , wherein the interconnecting part includes an adjustable part whose length and diameter can be adjusted to thereby adjust the level of lift of the urethra by changing the length and diameter of the adjustable part. 
     
     
         143 . The apparatus according to  claim 142 , wherein the adjustable part is a bellows which is fillable with a fluid from a reservoir so as to expand the bellows and thereby decrease the diameter and increase the length of the bellows in response to a selected amount of fluid being added to the bellows from the reservoir. 
     
     
         144 . The apparatus according to  claim 132 , further comprising implantable electrical components including at least one voltage level guard. 
     
     
         145 . The apparatus according to  claim 132 , further comprising implantable electrical components including at least one constant current guard. 
     
     
         146 . The apparatus according to  claim 132 , further comprising a control device for controlling the transmission of wireless energy from an energy-transmission device, and an implantable internal energy receiver for receiving the transmitted wireless energy, the internal energy receiver being connected to implantable energy consuming components of the apparatus for directly or indirectly supplying received energy thereto, the apparatus further comprising a determination device adapted to determine an energy balance between the energy received by the internal energy receiver and the energy used for the implantable energy consuming components of the apparatus, and wherein the control device controls the transmission of wireless energy from the external energy-transmission device, based on the energy balance determined by the determination device.