Male urethral prosthesis with tensioning member
View Patent ↗The present invention provides a urethral prosthesis including a first and a second arm that join to form a junction, and a stem that is also joined to the junction. The junction is adapted to exert sufficient pressure on a portion of a patient's urethra to prevent unintentional voiding of the patient's bladder. However, upon exerting a tension force on the stem, the pressure exerted by the junction is reduced such that the patient's bladder may be intentionally voided.
1. A method for treating urinary incontinence comprising:
implanting into a patient a urethral prosthesis comprising
a first arm and a second arm that are joined to define a junction that exerts pressure on a portion of a patient's urethra, and a stem joined to the junction;
exerting tension on the stem to decrease the pressure exerted on the portion of the urethra;
voiding the patient's bladder; and
releasing the tension exerted on the stem such that the junction exerts a pressure on the portion of the urethra.
2. The method of claim 1 wherein the junction exerts a pressure of between about 50 and about 300 cm H 2 O on the portion of the patient's urethra.
3. The method of claim 1 wherein the junction exerts a pressure of between about 50 and about 140 cm H 2 O on the portion of the patient's urethra.
4. The method of claim 1 wherein the junction exerts a pressure of between about 50 and about 70 cm H 2 O on the portion of the patient's urethra.
5. The method of claim 1 wherein the first and second arms are oriented anterior to the pubic symphysis.
6. The method of claim 1 wherein the first and second arms are oriented posterior to the pubic symphysis.
7. The method of claim 1 wherein the first and second arms are positioned in a transobturator orientation.
8. The method of claim 1 wherein the stem is implanted in a scrotum.
9. The method of claim 1 wherein the urethral prosthesis is secured to tissue in a patient.
10. The method of claim 9 wherein the urethral prosthesis is secured by tissue in-growth of portions of the first arm, second arm or stem.
11. The method of claim 9 wherein the urethral prosthesis is secured by at least one tissue anchor.
12. The method of claim 9 wherein the urethral prosthesis is secured by at least one soft tissue anchor.
13. The method of claim 9 wherein the urethral prosthesis is secured by at least one bone anchor.
14. The method of claim 9 wherein the urethral prosthesis is secured by tissue in-growth and at least one tissue anchor.
15. The method of claim 9 wherein the first and second arms are secured by at least one suture.