Abstract

A prosthetic urethral sphincter valve that is placed totally within a patient's urethra, the valve including a collapsible flexible thin-walled annular bag member secured in a rigid casing with flexible retaining petals at its top end receivable in the patient's bladder. An upstanding annular flexible thin-walled diaphragm is provided over an inturned top flange on the casing, the flange having small flow apertures forming damping ports communicating with the flexible bag member. The bottom end of the bag member is engaged with an annular guide urged upwardly by a coiled spring bearing on an inturned bottom flange of the casing. The working space between the bag member and the diaphragm is filled with viscous grease. The bag member has a central tubular passage which is normally occluded or kinked by the upward biasing force of the coiled spring. When the patient exerts sustained bladder pressure, the flexible bag member is distended downwardly, causing the central tubular passage to elongate and thereby open up, enabling it to pass urine. After urination, the bladder pressure is released, allowing the spring to return the bag member to its collapsed state and restore the occlusion of its central tubular passage, providing positive shut-off of the valve.