Apparatus for the prevention of urinary incontinence in females
View Patent ↗An apparatus for treating urinary incontinence, comprising a node; a support section adapted for providing urethral support attached to the node; and, an anchoring section adapted for resisting movement of the apparatus attached to the node; wherein the node is no longer than 30% of the entire length of the apparatus comprising the node, support section and the anchoring section together.
1. An apparatus arranged around a central axis for treating urinary incontinence, said apparatus being sized and shaped for human intra-vaginal insertion, comprising:
a support section that continuously provides at least partial urethral support after insertion by stretching the vaginal wall and that also forms a cradle to provide at least partially occluding urethral support during a high stress incontinence event when the urethra descends against the cradle during the event, wherein the support section comprises a plurality of arms which radiate perpendicularly from the central axis;
an anchoring section comprising a second plurality of arms: and
a node connecting the anchoring section to the support section wherein the apparatus is rotationally symmetrical around the central axis, the central axis being along a long axis of the apparatus and the apparatus configured so that the long axis lies along a vagina when inserted therein; and
a separate cover configured to provide urethral support, thereby applying support to the urethra.
2. An apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the support section also provides anchoring.
3. An apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the cover substantially encapsulates the apparatus.
4. An apparatus of claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the support section is flexible.
5. An apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the node is flexible.
6. An apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a device displacer.
7. An apparatus of claim 6 , wherein said device displacer is attached to the cover.
8. An apparatus of claim 6 , wherein said device displacer is attached to the apparatus.
9. An apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising an applicator adapted to insert said apparatus into a vagina.
10. An apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the length of the apparatus corresponding to the central axis is 25 mm or less.
11. An apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the width of the apparatus corresponding to a transverse of the central axis is 25 mm or less.
12. An apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the anchoring section provides stretching of the vaginal wall and wherein the anchoring section has a larger radius than the cradle.
13. An apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the anchoring section has a different radius than the support section.
14. An apparatus of claim 1 , wherein a portion of the cradle causes the urethra to kink as the urethra descends against the cradle during a pelvic floor lowering, high-stress incontinence event.