US Patent 7223228 Urethral occlusive assembly for preventing urinary incontinence

A urethral occlusive assembly includes an implant component and external component. The implant component includes a flexible bridge member connecting two opposed implant supports. The implant component is implanted about a dorsal surface of an animal urethra. An external component is disposed external to and proximate the animal urethra. The external component operatively communicates with the implant component to transmit a compressive load on the urethra. By communication between the implant and external components, either the implant component or the external component actively compresses the urethra against the flexible bridge member, thereby effecting urinary continence.