| 摘要 |
A urethal valve system includes a valve balloon that inflates to provide continence and deflates to allow urine to flow around the balloon and an attached catheter that extends through the urethra, and out of the body through the meatus. The urine cleanses the valve balloon, the catheter and the urethra of bacteria, and thus, minimizes infection. The catheter includes a check valve at the end that is accessible to the user. To inflate the balloon, the user attaches to the check valve a small pump that supplies air or a liquid such as water to inflate the balloon. To deflate the balloon, the user manipulates the check valve to allow the water or air to drain from the balloon. The valve balloon may be positioned in the bladder. To retain the system in the bladder when urine flows around the balloon and the catheter, the balloon deflates to a shape that is wider than the diameter of the neck of the bladder. Alternatively, the system may include an anchoring device, such as rubber fingers that extend from the base of the balloon beyond the neck of the bladder. The valve balloon may also be positioned in the urethra. The system then includes an anchoring device that is positioned in the bladder to hold the valve balloon in its deflated state in the urethra against the flow of urine through the urethra an around the balloon and the attached catheter. The valve system may further include an everting mechanism that provides non-irritating delivery of the valve balloon and/or the anchoring device.
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