[54] PARAURETHRAL MAGNETIC VALVE
[75] Inventor: Phillip J. Davis, New York, N.Y.
[73] Assignee: Phillip Davis Inventions, Inc., New York, N.Y.
[21] Appl. No.: 09/114,354 [22] Filed: Jul. 13, 1998
[51] Int. C I. A61F 2/00
[52] U.S. CI 600/29; 12s 1)1(1. 25
[58] Field of Search 600/29-30; 128/DIG. 25;
604/8, 9, 246, 247; 251/65, 337
An intraurethral magnetic valve for insertion in the human urethra ol a person suffering from incontinence. The intraurethral magnetic valve includes a nonlerromagnetic cylindrical housing, a valve seat assembly attached to one end ol the housing, a spherical magnetic valve element disposed for universal movement in the housing, and a ring for retaining the valve element which is attached at the other end ol the housing. The valve seat assembly has a nonlerromagnetic valve seat sealing surface and lerromagnetic ring, each having concentric apertures for passage ol fluid. The valve element is maintained in closed check position against the valve seat by attraction to the lerromagnetic ring, restricting the flow ol fluid through the valve. An external magnet is used to impart magnetic torque and attraction to the valve element displacing it from the valve seat and opening the valve for fluid flow. On removal ol the external magnet, the valve element returns to its closed check position on the valve seat. The intraurethral magnetic valve may lurther include a mechanism for relieving excessive fluid pressure at the end ol the housing having the valve seat assembly, in which the valve seat assembly is axially slidable within the housing, rather than being attached to the housing. The mechanism has a spring disposed in the housing on the side ol the valve seat assembly opposite the valve element, between another retaining ring and the valve seat assembly. The spring pushes the valve seat assembly against an annular flange attached to the housing. Under normal conditions, the valve seat assembly engages the annular flange. During excessive hydrostatic pressure, the pressure against the valve element and valve seat assembly compresses the spring to disengage the seat assembly from the annular flange and permit slow release of fluid through a passageway around the valve seat assembly until the excessive pressure is reduced.
33 Claims, 4 Drawing Sheets
