Sphincteric control system

Abstract

A sphincteric control system for controlling the function of a bodily organ, such as the bladder. The system includes a first implanted sphincter disposed about a portion of the bodily organ, a second implanted sphincter disposed about a portion of the bodily organ, and a stimulator unit that is adapted to apply electrical stimulation to each of the first and second implanted sphincters. One of the first or second implanted sphincters is made from a smooth muscle and the other of the first or second implanted sphincters is made from a striated muscle.

1 . A sphincteric control system comprising:
 an implantable smooth muscle sphincter and an implantable striated muscle sphincter each configured to be disposed about a portion of a bodily organ of a patient; and   a stimulator unit configured to apply electrical stimulation to each of the smooth muscle sphincter and the striated muscle sphincter to independently control contraction of each of the sphincters.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a pressure sensor configured to detect an increase in intra-abdominal pressure of the patient, and to provide an indication of the intra-abdominal pressure to the simulator unit.   
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the stimulator unit is configured to apply substantially continuous electrical stimulation to the smooth muscle sphincter to contract the smooth muscle sphincter, and wherein the stimulator unit is configured to temporarily cease application of the electrical stimulation to the smooth muscle sphincter to cause the sphincter to at least partially relax. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein the bodily organ is the bladder, and wherein the system further comprises:
 a sensor configured to detect the amount of urine present in the bladder, and wherein the stimulator unit is configured to temporarily cease application of the electrical stimulation to the smooth muscle sphincter when the sensor detects that a predetermined amount of urine is present in the bladder.   
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 3 , further comprising:
 an external controller configured to communicate with the stimulator unit, and wherein the stimulator unit is configured to temporarily cease application of the electrical stimulation to the smooth muscle sphincter upon receipt of a command from the external controller to evacuate the bladder.   
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a first electrode positioned on or in the smooth muscle sphincter configured to apply electrical stimulation to the smooth muscle sphincter; and   a second electrode positioned on or in the striated muscle sphincter configured to apply electrical stimulation to the striated muscle sphincter.   
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the stimulator unit is implantable in the patient. 
     
     
         8 . A sphincteric control system for controlling the function of a bodily organ comprising:
 an implantable smooth muscle sphincter and an implantable striated muscle sphincter each configured to be disposed about a portion of a bodily organ of a patient;   a stimulator unit configured to apply electrical stimulation to each of the smooth muscle sphincter and the striated muscle sphincter to independently control contraction of each of the sphincters; and   an external controller configured to communicate with the stimulator unit, wherein the stimulator unit is configured to temporarily cease application of the electrical stimulation to the smooth muscle sphincter upon receipt of a command from the external controller.   
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the external controller is configured to be manually operable to control the operation of the system. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 8 , further comprising:
 a pressure sensor configured to detect an increase in intra-abdominal pressure of the patient, and to provide an indication of the intra-abdominal pressure to the simulator unit.   
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the bodily organ is the bladder, and wherein the system further comprises:
 a sensor configured to detect the amount of urine present in the bladder, and wherein the stimulator unit is configured to temporarily cease application of the electrical stimulation to the smooth muscle sphincter when the sensor detects that a predetermined amount of urine is present in the bladder.   
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the stimulator unit is implantable in the patient. 
     
     
         13 . A method of controlling the function of a bodily organ comprising:
 implanting a smooth muscle sphincter about a portion of the bodily organ;   implanting a striated muscle sphincter about a portion of the bodily organ; and   applying electrical stimulation to each of the smooth muscle sphincter and the striated muscle sphincter to independently control contraction of each of the sphincters.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising:
 applying substantially continuous electrical stimulation to the smooth muscle sphincter; and   temporarily ceasing application of the electrical stimulation to the smooth muscle sphincter upon satisfaction of a condition.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the bodily organ is a bladder, and wherein the method further comprises:
 detecting when a predetermined amount of urine is present in the bladder.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein temporarily ceasing application of the electrical stimulation to the smooth muscle sphincter upon satisfaction of a condition comprises:
 ceasing application of the electrical stimulation to the smooth muscle sphincter when the sensors detects that predetermined amount of urine is present in the bladder.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein temporarily ceasing application of the electrical stimulation to the smooth muscle sphincter upon satisfaction of a condition comprises:
 receiving a command from an external controller to evacuate the bladder.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein applying electrical stimulation to the striated muscle sphincter comprises:
 applying high frequency electrical stimulation at a frequency greater than 2.5 Hz.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising:
 detecting an increase in intra-abdominal pressure of the patient using a pressure sensor; and   providing an indication to the simulation unit in of the increase in intra-abdominal pressure.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising:
 forming the smooth muscle sphincter from a bladder muscle.   
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising:
 forming the smooth muscle sphincter from at least one of a venous smooth, anoccoccygeus smooth, taenia coli and bowel muscle.