GB2407986A

GB2407986A - Male urinary incontinence device

Info

Publication number: GB2407986A
Application number: GB0326705A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Philip Stimpson; Andrew David Hopkins; Peter Ford
Original assignee: Mediwatch UK Ltd
Current assignee: Mediwatch UK Ltd
Priority date: 2003-11-15
Filing date: 2003-11-15
Publication date: 2005-05-18
Also published as: GB0326705D0

Abstract

A male urinary incontinence device 10 comprises an annular housing 4, on the internal circumference of which 12 are provided two inwardly projecting flanges 14,16 formed from an elastomeric material and arranged substantially diametrically opposed to each other, at least one of said flanges 16 being radially moveable between an open position and at least one inwardly displaced position. The radially moveable flange 16 may be held in the displaced position by a ratchet mechanism 28,30,32,34.

Description

Title: Improved Incontinence Device The present invention relates to an

improved incontinence device, in particular to an improved male urinary incontinence device.

Male urinary incontinence is a serious problem which can severely affect the lifestyle of men having this condition. There is currently no completely acceptable and reliable surgical means for correction of male urinary incontinence. Therefore, most males having this condition have to choose between one or more ofthe available solutions, which are the use of incontinence pads or similar absorbent materials or unsatisfactory clamping means.

Incontinence pads are unacceptable for several reasons. First, these devices do not attempt to solve I O the problem in that they do not stop the unwanted urine flow, but merely contain it. Further, these pads must bereplaced very frequentlyin order to be effective. The replacement of such pads on several occasions during a day can be costly and the disposal of large quantities of used pads is both adverse to the environment and may cause embarrassment or inconvenience to the user.

A number of proposals have been made for clamping devices, which devices attempt to stop the flow of urine by pinching the urethra into a closed position within the penis.

None ofthese devices has proved to be entirely satisfactory. In particular, such devices often restrict orcutoffthe flow of blood, causing extreme discomfort andpossible injuryto thewearer.

In order to avoid discomfort and possible injury, the known devices must be removed frequently during the day in order to reduce the pressure and allow normal blood now.

In addition, the known devices do not always provide sufficient pressure to keep the urethra closed.

The penis and, more particularly, the urethra located therein, are very flexible members.

Additionally, the urethra can, to some extent, change its position withinthepenis itself. Prior devices have not adequately addressed the ability ofthe urethra and the penis to move relative to each other, such that the urethra cannot normally be retained in a closed or pinched position at all times.

Further, many ofthese devices are very large and cumbersome, and therefore inconvenient to wear, especially for prolonged periods of time.

It is a further disadvantage ofthe known male urinaryincontinence devices that they require two- handed operation and a degree of manual dexterity in order to be fitted.

It is an object ofthe present invention to provide amaleurinaryincontinence device in which the above disadvantages are overcome or at least substantially obviated.

The present invention therefore provides a male urinary incontinence device, which device comprises an annular housing, on the internal circumference of which are provided two inwardly projecting flanges formed from an elastomeric material and arranged substantiallydiametrically opposed to each other, at least one of said flanges being radially moveable between an open position and at least one inwardly displaced position.

In theopenposition, the inwardlyprojecting surface ofthe at least one radiallymoveable flange is preferably substantially aligned with the internal circumference of the annular housing.

In a first preferred embodiment ofthe male urinary incontinence device according to the invention, the annularhousingcomprises two mating annularhalfshells within which a substantiallyU-shaped elastomeric member is trapped, a rib formed at the base of the U-shaped elastomeric member forming one ofthe two inwardlyprojecting flanges and the second ofthe two inwardlyprojecting flanges being formed byasubstantiallyT-shaped component mace from an elastomeric material retained within a carrier which is held within the annular housing and radially displaceable relative thereto.

The mating annular half shells are preferably identical.

In an alternative preferred embodiment ofthe male urinary incontinence device according to the invention, the device comprises an elastomeric ring member held in an annular housing and deformable by means of at leastoneradiallymoveable inwardlyprojecting flange, between a first position ofthe flange in which the elastomeric ring member is relatively unstressed and at least one inwardly displaced position ofthe flange in which the elastomeric ring member is relatively stressed.

In a preferred embodiment ofthe male urinary incontinence device according to the invention, the at leastoneradiallymoveable flange is moveable between the openposition and each ofa number, for example three, inwardly displaced positions.

In a preferred embodiment ofthe male urinary incontinence device according to the invention, the at least one radially moveable flange is held in the at least one inwardly displaced position by means of a ratchet mechanism.

An embodiment of a male urinary incontinence device will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which; Figure I is a perspective view of a male urinary incontinence device; Figure 2 is a view of the device of Figure I with one portion of the annular housing removed, in a first, open position and Figure 3 is a view corresponding to Figure 2 with the flange in a first inwardlydisplaced position.

As can be seen from Figure 1, the male urinary incontinence device shown generally at 10 comprises an annular housing 4, comprising half shells 6 and 8. An elastomeric member 12 is captured within the two housingparts 6 and 8 and includes arib 14 atthebaseoftheU-shape of the elastomeric member 12, which forms an inwardly projecting flange. A second inwardly displaceable flange 16 is positioned diametrically opposite to the rib 14 and comprises a T-shaped component 18 held within a carrier 20, which carrier is made of a relatively rigid material. The T- shaped component 18 includes an outer control surface 22 and the carrier 20 includes ratchet lugs 24 and 26, the purpose of which will be explained in more detail herein below.

As canbe seen more clearlyin Figure2, in which thehalfshell 8 ofthe annularhousing4 has been removed, the T-shaped component 18 is held within the carrier 20. Teeth 28,30 formed on the carrier20 engagerespectivelywith each oftwo series of sew teeth 32,34 formed on aninwardly facing wall ofthe halfshell 6 ofthe annular housing 4, when the ratchet lugs 24 and 26 are in their natural' conformation.

As can also be seen in Figure 2, the elastomeric member 12 is retained within the halfshell 6 by means of an arrangement ofpegs 36 formedin the halfshell 6, which engage with through holes40 provided in the elastomeric member 12.

The annular housing 4 is assembled by securing together the half shells 6 and 8 by any suitable means, for example ultrasonic welding.

The male urinary incontinence device 10 is shown in Figure 3 with the Tshaped component 18 displaced inwardly in the radial direction.

In use, the device is placed around the penis and pressure is applied to the control surface 22 in order to displace the T-shaped component 18 inwardly. The teeth 28,30 formed on the carrier 20 engage respectivelywith each oftwo series of saw teeth 32,34 and hold the T- shaped component 18 In its inwardly displaced position.

When the wearer wishes to release the device, pressure is applied to the ratchet lugs 24 and 26 and the T-shaped component 18 is displaced radially outwards and the device can be removed.

The device can be fitted with differently sized elastomeric members as required. A set of interchangeable elastomeric members would offer a range of internal diameters. For example, a range of internal diameters of from 20 to 40 mm could be provided by a set oftwo elastomeric members, the first of which wouldbe adjustable from an internal diameter of 31 mm to 20mm and the second of whichwouldbe adjustable from aninternal diameterof40mm to 29 mm. Eachof these elastomeric members would be adjustable in regular incremental steps and both sizes of elastomeric member would be accommodated within the same size annular housing.

Claims

Claims I. A male urinary incontinence device, which device comprises an

annular housing, on the Internal circumference of which are provided two inwardly projecting flanges formed from an elastomeric material and arranged substantially diametrically opposed to each other, at least one of said flanges being radiallymoveable between an openposition and at least one inwardly displaced position.
2. A male urinary incontinence device according to claim 1, in which device, in the open position, the inwardlyprojecting surface ofthe at least one radiallymoveable flange is substantially aligned with the internal circumference of the annular housing.
3. Amaleurinaryincontinencedeviceaccordingtoclaim I orclaim2,in which the annular housing comprises two mating annular halfshells within which a substantially U-shaped elastomeric member is trapped, a rib formed at the base ofthe U-shaped elastomeric November forming one ofthe two inwardlyprojecting flanges and the second ofthe two i nwardly proj ecting flanges being formed by a substantially T-shaped component made 1 5 from an elastomeric material retained within a carrier which is held within the annular housing and radially displaceable relative thereto.
4. A male urinary incontinence device according to claim 3 in which the mating annular half shells are Identical.
5. A male urinary incontinence device according to claim 1 which device comprises an 2() elastomeric ringmemberheld in en annularhousing and deformable bymeans of at least oneradiallymoveable inwardlyprojecting flange, betweena first position ofthe flange in which the elastomeric ring member is relatively unstressed and at least one inwardly displaced position ofthe flange in which the elastomeric ringmemberisrelativelystressed.
6. A male urinary incontinence device according to any of claims I to 5 in which the at least one radiallymovcable flange is moveable between the open position and each of a number, inwardly displaced positions.
7. A male urinary incontinence device according to claim 6 in which the at least one radially moveable flange is moveable between the open position and three inwardly displaced positions.
8. A male urinaryincontinence device according to claim 6 orclaim 7 in which the at least one radiallymoveablc flange is held inthe at leastoneinwardlydisplacedpositionbymeans of a ratchet mechanism.
9. A male urinaryincontinence device substantially as herein described and with reference to the accompanying drawings.