The University of Akron

Biomedical Research Associates, Inc.

3d Urologic LLC

Stanley E Rittgers

Gary L Bowlin

Steven P Schmidt

Sam W Drager

Stephanie T Lopina

Kirby J Harder, Jr

Matthew T Oberdier

Dennis Joseph Dannemiller

John Bernard Devine, Ii

M Michelle Evancho-Chapman

Device and method for correcting urinary incontinence and urinary retention, by implanting a urinary flow control device for elective user control of urinary function in male and female patients. The device is a mechanical valve for a natural or artificial bladder, and includes a longitudinally extended housing, preferably attached to the abdominal wall. Preferably a bladder anti-prolapse skirt is attached between the bladder and control valve, and the skirt may repair or replace the bladder. The device provides a urine flow channel that passes through the valve from one side to the other of a valve seat where an actuator with a mating stopper is controlled to open and close the valve at the election of the user with an external controller. The valve is an occlusion type, or a pinch type. Preferably the flow channel is an artificial urethra passing through a pinch valve between stopper and valve seat.

Urinary flow control device and method

A prosthetic venous valve includes a frame and leaflets. The frame includes: (i) a generally hollow base disposed at a blood inflow end; (ii) a plurality of struts connected with the base and extending generally parallel to a direction of forward flow of blood from the generally hollow base to a blood outflow end; and (iii) inwardly oriented flanges disposed at the blood outflow ends of the struts. The leaflets are disposed in gaps between the struts and are supported by the frame. The leaflets are arranged to close into the vein lumen to substantially seal against backflow of blood from the blood outflow end to the blood inflow end. The inwardly oriented flanges of the struts enhance the sealing.

Prosthetic venous valves

An apparatus and method are provided for in vitro seeding endothelial cells and transfecting DNA on the luminal wall of a vascular prosthesis. The apparatus has an internal conductor and an external conductor, and a support means which maintains a suspension containing at least one of endothelial cells and DNA plasmids in contact with the luminal wall and which maintains the luminal wall between the internal and external conductors while alteration of an electrical charge transfers at least one of endothelial cells and DNA plasmids from the suspension to the luminal wall. The internal conductor is an insulated wire and the external conductor has a bore through which the internal conductor passes. A vascular prosthesis containing a suspension of endothelial cells and/or DNA plasmids sealed within its lumen fits within the bore of the external conductor and the internal conductor wire passes through the lumen. While the prosthesis is rotated, an electrical potential is applied between the internal and external conductors altering the surface charge of the luminal wall of the prosthesis to facilitate adhesion of the endothelial cells and/or DNA plasmids to the lumen wall. When both endothelial cells and DNA plasmids are in the suspension, the altering of electric charge causes DNA plasmids within the suspension to transfect the cells. A voltage of up to 20 volts causes endothelial cells to adhere to the luminal wall and a voltage of up to 2000 volts causes DNA plasmids to transfect the endothelial cells.

Apparatus and method for electrostatic endothelial cell seeding and DNA

An apparatus and method are provided for in vitro seeding of endothelial cells onto a surface such as a luminal wall of a vascular prosthesis. The apparatus contains an internal conductor and an external conductor, and a support means which maintains a suspension of endothelial cells in contact with the surface and which maintains the surface between the internal and external conductors while altering the charge on the surface. The internal conductor is an insulated wire and the external conductor has a bore through which the internal conductor passes. A vascular prosthesis containing a suspension of endothelial cells sealed within its lumen fits within the bore of the external conductor and the internal conductor wire passes through the lumen. While the prosthesis is rotated, an electrical potential is applied between the internal and external conductors altering the surface charge of the luminal wall of the prosthesis to facilitate adhesion of endothelial cells to the luminal wall.

Apparatus and method for electrostatic endothelial cell seeding in a

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Stow, OH, United States of America

Stanley E Rittgers