Implantable digestive tract organ

摘要

An implantable digestive organ is provided for the transport of materials through the digestive tract and in one particular application to an artificial large bowel for replacing all or part of a colon. The prosthetic organ of one embodiment includes an outer support structure, an expandable member or members located within the support structure, and a flexible inner member forming a conduit for passage of material. The inner member is located within the outer member and the expandable member(s) is located between the inner member and the support structure. The expandable members are expanded and contracted, or inflated and deflated to provide pumping action that pumps material through the organ. The prosthesis may also include valves or sphincters at its entrance and/or exit points where material moves into and out of the prosthesis. An implantable pump may be included for inflating and deflating the expandable members in a desired sequence.

主权项

1. A method for moving material through a digestive tract of a patient, the method comprising:
providing a prosthetic organ having a conduit for the movement of the material therethrough and a plurality of expandable members, wherein the conduit is isolated from the expandable members, the conduit having an orad end, an aborad end, and a length extending therethrough; and inflating the expandable members to move the material through the conduit in an aborad direction.