Urinary continence device and methods for urinary control

Abstract

A design and method of manufacture are disclosed for a female continence augmentor device used to alleviate urinary incontinence. The female continence augmentor includes a mount formed of a resilient material, an intralumenal part carried on the mount and a resilient portion carried on the intralumenal part of device. The mount adheres to the female body about the urethral exit to support the female augmentor into position to prevent inadvertent urine loss. The intralumenal part of the device extends from the mount into the urethral lumen at least to the mid-urethra. In particular, the resilient portion of the intralumenal part extends into the urethra and is adapted to at least urge the dorsal urethral wall in the dorsal direction to stretch and/or reshape the mid-urethral lumen to have a more arcuate shape. Thus, the mid-urethral lumen in cross-section would preferably exhibit a crescent shape of smaller radius. As such, the female continence augmentor enables a patient to void voluntarily with normal muscle control and without requiring conscious action to operate the device. Following voiding, the continence augmentation function of the device resumes automatically thereby increasing urethral resistance to opening and preventing inadvertent urine loss.