An implantable incontinence device

The shortcomings of previous electronic and surgical prosthetic devices in restoration of urinary incontinence have led to the development of an alternative treatment technique. A device is herein described that is comprised of an inflatable cuff to occlude an encircled urethra and a totally implanted yet externally controllable hydraulic system that can maintain at a pressure and periodically remove a volume of fluid from the cuff. By pressurizing the cuff to 50 cm H₂O no urethral leakage occurs for bladder pressures up to 50 cm H₂O. The system was designed so that less than 6 × 10⁵ dyns of force on the hydraulic system is required to deflate the cuff. Urethral tissue viability in dogs was not impaired due to insertion of this apparatus after two month implants.