Apparatus for temporary male contraception
A male contraception apparatus for obtaining temporary sterility of a male mammalian individual is provided. The apparatus comprising an implantable restriction device adapted to restrict vas deference in the region downstream the ampulla during a controlled period, said device thereby being capable of preventing sperms to reach the urethra, a control device for controlling the operation of the restriction device, and at least one implantable sensor adapted to send a measurement or an indication of the measurement to the control device.
1 . A male contraception apparatus for obtaining temporary sterility of a male mammalian individual comprising:
an implantable restriction device adapted to restrict vas deference in the region downstream the ampulla during a controlled period, said device thereby being capable of preventing sperms from reaching the urethra,
a control device for controlling the operation of the restriction device, wherein the control device comprises an external control unit intended to be outside the patient's body for controlling the restriction device, and
at least one implantable sensor adapted to send a measurement or an indicator of the measurement to the external control unit, wherein the sensor directly or indirectly senses at least one functional parameter of a medical implant related to one of: a current state of the battery, an energy consumption, a voltage, or a temperature.
2 . The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the restriction device comprises a constriction device for constricting at least one portion of a tissue wall of vas deference downstream the ampulla to stop the flow in the vas deference.
3 . The apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein the constriction device is adjustable, and further comprising an operation device for operating the adjustable constriction device to change the constriction of a wall portion of vas deference.
4 . The apparatus according to claim 3 wherein the operation device comprises an electrically powered operation device.
5 . The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the control device further comprises an internal control unit implantable in the patient for controlling the restriction device.
6 . The apparatus according to claim 5 wherein the internal control unit is programmable.
7 . The apparatus according to claim 6 , wherein the internal control unit is programmable by the external control unit.
8 . The apparatus according to claim 7 , wherein the internal control unit is programmable for controlling the restriction device and/or stimulation device over time.
9 . The apparatus according to claim 5 , wherein the internal control unit is configured to control the restriction device over time in accordance with an activity schedule program.
10 . The apparatus according to claim 5 , wherein the internal control unit comprises a microprocessor.
11 . The apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising a pressure sensor for sensing a pressure in the patient's body.
12 . The apparatus according to claim 11 , wherein the control device is configured to control the restriction device to change the constriction of the patient's wall portion in response to the pressure sensor sensing a predetermined value of measured pressure.
13 . A male contraception apparatus for obtaining temporary sterility of a male mammalian individual comprising:
an implantable restriction device adapted to restrict vas deference in the region downstream the ampulla during a controlled period, said device thereby being capable of preventing sperms from reaching the urethra,
a control device for controlling the operation of the restriction device, wherein the control device comprises an external control unit intended to be outside the patient's body for controlling the restriction device, and
a stimulation device for stimulating a wall portion of the tissue wall of vas deference in the region downstream the ampulla to contract said wall portion to influence the flow in vas deference.
14 . The apparatus according to claim 13 , wherein the control device is configured to control the stimulation device to adjust the intensity of the stimulation of the wall portion in response to a sensed functional parameter of the apparatus or a sensed physical parameter of the patient.
15 . The apparatus according to claim 14 , wherein the control device is configured to control the stimulation device in a first mode to stimulate the constricted wall portion to further restrict but not stop the flow in the vas deference and to control the stimulation device in a second mode to cease the stimulation of the wall portion to increase the flow in the vas deference.
16 . The apparatus according to claim 14 , wherein the control device is configured to control the stimulation device to adjust the intensity of the stimulation of the wall portion in response to a sensed physical parameter of the patient.
17 . The apparatus according to claim 14 , wherein the control device is configured to control the stimulation device to adjust the intensity of the stimulation of the wall portion in response to a sensed functional parameter of the apparatus.