Treating urinary retention

Abstract

A urethral prosthesis provides relief of urinary retention and has first and second tubular elements with an interposed bridge segment. A valve can be disposed in the second tubular element to control the flow of urine therethrough.

1 - 95 . (canceled) 
   
   
       96 . A urethral prosthesis, comprising:
 a tubular element including a distal portion and a closed distal end, the distal portion defining a drainage hole for receiving urine from a bladder of a patient, the tubular element further including a proximal end and a lumen extending from the drainage hole through the tubular element to the proximal end, the tubular element further including an inflation balloon, the tubular element configured to maintain an open channel for fluid flow through a prostatic urethra of the patient when the prosthesis is positioned within the patient; and   an element coupled to the tubular element, the element including a spring member disposed within a pliable material.   
   
   
       97 . The urethral prosthesis of  claim 96 , wherein the element is coupled directly to the tubular element. 
   
   
       98 . The urethral prosthesis of  claim 96 , wherein the element extends proximally from the tubular element. 
   
   
       99 . The urethral prosthesis of  claim 96 , wherein the inflation balloon is disposed near the drainage hole. 
   
   
       100 . The urethral prosthesis of  claim 96 , wherein the inflation balloon is disposed on the tubular element. 
   
   
       101 . The urethral prosthesis of  claim 96 , wherein the inflation balloon is inflatable over at least a portion of the tubular element. 
   
   
       102 . The urethral prosthesis of  claim 96 , wherein the tubular element comprises a pliable, biocompatible material. 
   
   
       103 . The urethral prosthesis of  claim 96 , wherein the tubular element includes a silicone coating. 
   
   
       104 . The urethral prosthesis of  claim 96 , wherein the tubular element comprises silicone rubber. 
   
   
       105 . The urethral prosthesis of  claim 96 , further comprising at least one removal suture. 
   
   
       106 . The urethral prosthesis of  claim 105 , wherein the at least one removal suture is connected to the tubular element. 
   
   
       107 . The urethral prosthesis of  claim 105 , wherein the at least one removal suture is connected to the element. 
   
   
       108 . A urethral prosthesis, comprising:
 (a) a tubular element including a distal portion and a closed distal end, the distal portion defining a drainage hole for receiving urine from a bladder of a patient, the tubular element further including a proximal end and a lumen extending from the drainage hole through the tubular element to the proximal end, the tubular element further including a length defined between the proximal end and the distal end, the tubular element configured to maintain an open channel for fluid flow through a prostatic urethra of the patient when the prosthesis is positioned within the patient;   (b) an inflation balloon disposed on the tubular element;   (c) at least one suture extending from the proximal end of the tubular element, the at least one suture passing through a urinary sphincter of the patient when the prosthesis is positioned within the patient to allow the patient to control the urinary sphincter; and   (d) a non-inflatable element extending from a proximal end of the at least one suture, the non-inflatable element including a proximal end and a distal end and defining a length between the proximal end and the distal end, the length of the tubular element being greater than the length of the non-inflatable element.   
   
   
       109 . The urethral prosthesis of  claim 108 , wherein the distal end of the non-inflatable element has an outer diameter greater than an outer diameter of the proximal end of the element. 
   
   
       110 . The urethral prosthesis of  claim 108 , wherein the non-inflatable element is configured to be disposed within a penile urethra. 
   
   
       111 . The urethral prosthesis of  claim 108 , wherein the non-inflatable element has a width and is configured to substantially maintain the width during both insertion and while maintained within a urethra. 
   
   
       112 . The urethral prosthesis of  claim 108 , further comprising at least one removal suture coupled to at least one of the non-inflatable element or the tubular element. 
   
   
       113 . The urethral prosthesis of  claim 108 , wherein the inflation balloon is disposed near the drainage hole. 
   
   
       114 . The urethral prosthesis of  claim 108 , wherein the tubular element comprises a pliable, biocompatible material. 
   
   
       115 . The urethral prosthesis of  claim 108 , wherein the tubular element comprises silicone rubber.