Urological device

Abstract

A urological device comprises a urological valve for location in the bladder of a patient and a valve support stem for location in the urethra of a patient. The valve has a normally closed configuration to prevent flow from the bladder and an open configuration for fluid flow through the valve. The valve is automatically movable from the closed configuration to the open configuration in response to a pre-set hydrodynamic pressure applied for a pre-set time. In one case the valve has a plurality of valve leaflets with a region of co-aption between the valve leaflets. In the normally closed configuration the valve leaflets are engaged at the region of co-aption and in the open configuration the leaflets are separated at the co-aption region for fluid flow through the valve.

1 . A urological device comprising:
 a urological valve for location in the bladder of a patient; and   a valve support stem for location in the urethra of a patient,   the urological valve having a normally closed configuration to prevent flow from the bladder and an open configuration for fluid flow through the valve, the valve being automatically movable from the closed configuration to the open configuration in response to a pre-set hydrodynamic pressure applied for a pre-set time.   
     
     
         2 . The urological device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the valve support stem includes a generally tubular support for extending at least partially through the urethra, the urological valve being located at one end of the support. 
     
     
         3 . The urological device as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising a bladder retainer for locating the urological valve in the bladder. 
     
     
         4 . The urological device as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein the bladder retainer includes a flare extending radially outwardly of the support stem. 
     
     
         5 . The urological device as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein the bladder retainer is of a same material as that of the valve support stem. 
     
     
         6 . The urological device as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein the bladder retainer, the valve support stem and the urological valve are integrally moulded. 
     
     
         7 . The urological device as claimed in  claim 3 , further comprising a stiffener for the bladder retainer. 
     
     
         8 . The urological device as claimed in  claim 7 , wherein the stiffener is a shape memory material. 
     
     
         9 . The urological device as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising a urethral retainer to prevent migration of the device. 
     
     
         10 . The urological device as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein the urethral retainer includes a meatal tab. 
     
     
         11 . The urological device as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein the urethral retainer includes a bulbous region of compressive material. 
     
     
         12 . The urological device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the urological valve is of a viscoelastic polymeric foam material. 
     
     
         13 . The urological device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the urological valve includes a plurality of valve leaflets, the urological valve has a region of co-aption between the valve leaflets, the valve leaflets are engaged at the region of co-aption in the normally closed configuration and the leaflets are separated at the region of co-aption region in the open configuration for fluid flow through the urological valve. 
     
     
         14 . The urological device as claimed in  claim 13 , wherein the valve leaflets evert on movement between the closed and the open configuration in response to hydrodynamic pressure. 
     
     
         15 . The urological device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the urological valve is adapted to open in response to a hydrodynamic pressure of at least 750 mm H 2 O applied for at least 5 seconds. 
     
     
         16 . The urological device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the urological valve is adapted to remain closed in response to a spike pressure applied for a short time as would be generated by a user coughing. 
     
     
         17 . The urological device as claimed in  claim 16 , wherein the spike pressure is 900 mm H 2 O applied for a period of less than 0.5 seconds. 
     
     
         18 . The urological device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the urological valve remains open as fluid flows therethrough without a requirement for a user to apply urological pressure. 
     
     
         19 . The urological device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the urological valve returns to the closed configuration when flow through the urological valve has substantially stopped. 
     
     
         20 . The urological device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the urological valve everts on movement from the closed to the open configuration. 
     
     
         21 . The urological device as claimed in  claim 20 , wherein the urological valve reverts on return from the open to the closed configuration. 
     
     
         22 . The urological device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the urological valve includes at least three valve leaflets. 
     
     
         23 . The urological device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the urological valve includes a main body having a region which defines a hinge about which portion of the main body is movable between the closed and open configurations. 
     
     
         24 . The urological device as claimed in  claim 23 , wherein the urological valve includes a stiffener. 
     
     
         25 . The urological device as claimed in  claim 24 , wherein the hinge region is at least partially defined adjacent to the stiffener. 
     
     
         26 . The urological device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the device includes an antimicrobial coating.