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Valve for bladder control deviceRelated Patent Categories: Surgery, Body Inserted Urinary Or Colonic Incontinent Device Or Treatment (e.g., Artificial Sphincters, Etc.)Valve for bladder control device description/claimsThe Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20060241338, Valve for bladder control device. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] This application is a continuation application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/175,611 as filed on Jul. 6, 2005, which is a continuation application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/666,044 as filed on Sep. 19, 2003, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,926,665, which is a continuation application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/777,060 as filed on Feb. 5, 2001, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,652,448, which is a continuation application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/207,821 as filed on Dec. 9, 1998, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,183,413. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] The present invention relates generally to the field of bladder control devices. More particularly, the invention relates to the field of bladder control devices in which a valve is provided to control flow from the bladder of a patient. [0003] Bladder control devices related to the field of this invention include devices such as those disclosed by Kulisz et al., in U.S. Pat. No. 5,512,032 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,701,916. The former patent discloses a bladder control device including a valve which remains open under the influence of flow through the device in accordance with Bernoulli's Principle. The latter patent discloses proximally and distally disposed retainers for retaining the bladder control device within a patient's urethra. These pioneering devices can be activated in an intuitive way by a patient, simply by the patient increasing bladder pressure. The valve remains open at a lower pressure so long as a certain minimal flow rate through the valve continues. When the flow subsides, the valve closes. [0004] Intraurethral bladder control devices are disposed within the urethra during use. Consequently, patients and their physicians desire that the diameter of the device be limited without compromising the performance of the device. It can be appreciated that larger diameter bladder control devices could cause some discomfort during insertion and use. Scaling down a device, i.e., making a smaller device having the same configuration, will reduce the flow through the device exponentially. Reducing flow through the valve limits the force creatable by the Bernoulli's Principle to hold the valve open. Additionally, if the diameter of a compression spring, as used in the prior devices to bias the valve close, is scaled down, the spring is subject to buckling, which could leave the valve in a permanently open position. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0005] The present invention pertains to a valve for a bladder control device which incorporates features allowing the device to be effective when produced in small diameters, such as 18F, for example. The valve for a bladder control device in accordance with the present invention includes an elongate housing which has a proximal end and a distal end. A lumen extends through the housing. A valve seat is disposed within the housing and a stopper is disposed within the housing. The stopper is moveable between a first position engaging the valve seat and a second position disposed distally of the valve seat. In the first position, the valve is closed, in the second position the valve is at least partially open. [0006] The valve in accordance with the present invention, preferably includes a tension spring connected to a stopper to bias the stopper toward the valve seat. The spring is under greater tension loading when the stopper is in the second position that when the stopper is in the first position. The spring can include an elongate shaft portion having a proximal end and a distal end. The proximal end of the shaft portion is preferably connected to the stopper and the distal end of the shaft portion is preferably connected to a helical portion of the spring. [0007] The stopper can include a proximal portion having a first diameter generally sized to engage the valve seat. The stopper preferably has a distal portion having a diameter greater than the diameter of the proximal portion. [0008] The lumen through the housing can include a portion disposed distally of the valve seat having a diameter approximately equal to the diameter of the distal portion of the stopper. The stopper is preferably slidably disposed within this portion of the lumen for movement between the first and second positions. A second portion of the lumen, disposed distally of the first portion of the lumen, has a diameter greater than the diameter of the first portion of the lumen. The lumen also preferably includes a third portion disposed distally of the second portion of the lumen which has a diameter less than the diameter of the second portion of the lumen. This region of the lumen, in conjunction with the larger diameter distal portion of the stopper, can induce the desired force in accordance with Bernoulli's Principle to retain the stopper in the second position so long as a certain minimum flow rate through the lumen is maintained. [0009] The housing in the valve of the present invention preferably has an outer diameter of between about 16F to 22F, and more preferably, about 18F. It can be appreciated, however, that valves having greater or lesser outside diameters may also be made in accordance with the present invention. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0010] FIG. 1 is a cross sectional view of a valve in accordance with the present invention wherein the stopper is shown in engagement with a valve seat; [0011] FIG. 2 is a cross sectional view of the valve of FIG. 1, wherein the stopper is moved distally away from the valve seat; and [0012] FIG. 3 is a view of the valve of FIG. 2, wherein the stopper is moved yet further distally to open the valve. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [0013] Referring now to the drawings wherein like reference numerals refer to like elements throughout the several views, FIG. 1 is a schematic cross sectional view of a valve 10 for a bladder control device in accordance with the present invention. Housing 12 can be formed from a biocompatible polymer, metal or other material. Housing 12 can be formed from a single piece or from an assembly of several pieces. [0014] Valve 10 includes an elongate housing 12 having a lumen 14 extending therethrough from a proximal end 16 to a distal end 18. Valve 10 can be placed in the urethra of a patient. It can be retained within the urethra by proximal and distal retainers such as those disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,701,916 to Kulisz et al. which is incorporated herein by reference. It should be understood, however, that the use of this valve is not limited to a configuration including the proximal and distal retainers of the referenced U.S. patent. It is contemplated that the valve could be used for bladder control of both male and female incontinence. [0015] A valve seat 20 is disposed within housing 12. Valve seat 20 can be a narrow or constricted diameter region of the lumen 14. The diameter of seat 20 is D.sub.1 (Radius, R.sub.1=D.sub.1/2). Distally of valve seat 20 is a first lumen portion 22 having a diameter D (Radius, R.sub.3=D.sub.3/2). Lumen 14 includes a second lumen portion 24, disposed distally of first lumen portion 22, which has a diameter D.sub.4 (Radius, R.sub.4=D.sub.4/2). Diameter D.sub.4 is greater than diameter D.sub.3. Lumen 14 also includes a third lumen portion 26 disposed distally of second lumen portion 24. Third lumen portion 26 has a diameter D.sub.5 which is less than diameter D.sub.4. Lumen 14 tapers along a slope 28 between second lumen portion 24 and third lumen portion 26. [0016] Disposed within housing 12 is a stopper 30. Stopper 30 preferably has a proximal portion 31 configured for engagement with valve seat 20. Proximal portion 31 has a diameter of D.sub.1. Disposed distally of proximal portion 31 is a portion 32 having a diameter D.sub.2 (Radius, R.sub.2=R.sub.2/2) less than D.sub.3 of first lumen portion 22. Yet more proximally, stopper 30 includes a plunger portion 34 having a diameter approximately equal to, but less than D.sub.3 of first lumen portion 22. Stopper 30 includes a sloping portion 35 sloping from plunger portion 34 to the distal end of stopper 30. Stopper 30 can be from a polymer, metal or other biocompatible material. [0017] Disposed within housing 10 is a spring 36 for biasing stopper 30 toward valve seat 20. Spring 36 is preferably disposed distally of valve seat 28. Spring 36 is preferably a tension spring include an elongate shaft portion 40 having a proximal end connected to stopper 30 and a distal end connected to a helical spring portion 38. The opposite end of spring portion 38, not connected to shaft 40, can be affixed to housing 12 at, for example, a circumferential stop 42. Spring 40 can be made from stainless steel, NiTi alloy or other biocompatible material and suitable for the intended use. [0018] A preferred relationship between R.sub.1, R.sub.2, R.sub.3, and R.sub.4 can be determined solving three equations. Assuming that R.sub.4, the maximum inner diameter of lumen 14, is a given and that .DELTA.R=R.sub.2-R.sub.1, then R.sub.1, R.sub.2 and R.sub.3 can be found using the following formulas: R 1 = - .DELTA. .times. .times. R + 3 R 4 2 - 2 .DELTA. .times. .times. R 2 3 ( 1 ) R 2 = R 1 + .DELTA. .times. .times. R ( 2 ) R 3 = R 1 2 + R 2 2 ( 3 ) [0019] The formulas given are preferred formulas, but can be viewed as exemplary. The length of first lumen portion 22 is preferably long enough that stopper 30 can move somewhat longitudinally therethrough without allowing flow through lumen 14. This could dampen spikes in bladder pressure without opening valve 10. This is an optional feature which is viewed as desirable. Continue reading about Valve for bladder control device... Full patent description for Valve for bladder control device Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Valve for bladder control device patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords. Start now! - Receive info on patent apps like Valve for bladder control device or other areas of interest. ### Previous Patent Application: Uterine tissue monitoring device and method Next Patent Application: Method and apparatus for an adjustable implantable continence device Industry Class: Surgery ### FreshPatents.com Support Thank you for viewing the Valve for bladder control device patent info. 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