| 摘要 |
An incontinence system includes an anchoring mechanism and a channel (914) with a blocking mechanism positioned in the channel, the blocking mechanism in a first state prevents urine flow through the channel and in a second state allows urine to flow through the channel. The anchoring mechanism may be a fixation balloon (902) that is contoured to the geometry of the bladder near the opening to the urethra, and the blocking mechanism may be a valve balloon (924) positioned in the channel. When urine flows through the channel it flows around one or more lumens that provide access to the fixation balloon and/or the valve balloon. The fixation balloon may be attached to a shortened Foley-type catheter (908), with the catheter providing the channel through the balloon. The catheter may contain the lumens (918, 920) that provide access to the blocking mechanism and the fixation balloon. The fixation balloon is inserted in a deflated state and inflated to hold the system in place. The fixation balloon remains inflated with the blocking mechanism providing continence and allowing voiding. The blocking mechanism may instead be a valve that is activated remotely or controlled via a string that provides access from outside the body. Alternatively, the blocking mechanism may be a string that expands when relaxed and narrows when stretched, or any other mechanism that has an open, or narrowed, state and a closed, or enlarged, state.
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