Patent attributes
An apparatus for treating an anal or urinary incontinent patient includes a constriction device is applied on the patient's large intestine or urethra. The constriction device includes an elongate adjustable constriction member extending in a loop around and consisting the large intestine or urethra. An adjustment device adjusts the longitudinal extension of the constriction member in the loop to close the intestinal or urethral lumen and release the large intestine or urethra to open the intestinal or urethral lumen. A layer of a soft viscoelastic material extends between the constriction device and the patient's large intestine or urethra to protect the large intestine or urethra from being eroded by the constriction device. The soft layer has an inwardly directed radial extension in the loop such that when the adjustment device is operated to decrease the longitudinal extension of the constriction member, the layer is forced to expand radially inwardly in the loop causing a corresponding decrease in the cross-sectional area of the intestinal or urethal lumen.
