Organ prostheses

Claim 2

An organ prosthesis, having an internal surface adapted to be in contact with body fluids, formed of a flexible material having an internal surface state devoid of roughness, whereby formation of concretions and deposits, fibrinous coagulum and calculi or lithiasis, during use of the organ prosthesis, due to the roughness, is avoided, and obtained by molding, said organ prosthesis being formed by forming, on a preformed support in the shape of the prosthesis, a coating of a sol selected from the group consisting of gelose and gelatin giving, on cooling, a gel having a surface state approximately the same as the liquid-air interface of gelose or gelatin in solution at its surface not adjacent the support, said coating being formed by dipping, spraying, coating, varnishing or lacquering the sol on the support, forming said gel from said sol, then forming a hardenable flexible material coating of silicon elastomer compatible with the body liquids and tissues on the gel, the flexible material coating being formed by dipping, flowing or spraying, the flexible material coating taking the shape of the preformed support in the shape of the prosthesis, then hardening the hardenable flexible material, the hardened flexible material having a surface state adjacent said gel that is devoid of roughness, and separating the hardened flexible material and the preformed support, the hardened flexible material being the organ prosthesis, wherein the preformed support is in the shape of a ureter prosthesis, a urethra prosthesis, a vascular prosthesis, a valvular prosthesis, a cardiac prosthesis, or a bladder prosthesis, whereby the organ prosthesis of the hardened flexible material is, respectively, a ureter prosethesis, a urethra prosthesis, a vascular prosthesis, a valvular prosthesis, a cardiac prosthesis or a bladder prosthesis.

Claim 3

An organ prosthesis according to claim 1, wherein the preformed support is made of a non-eliminable material which has a surface without any rough or uneven areas, and wherein the hardened flexible material is separated from the preformed support by heating the coated support and washing out said gel coating, and then sliding the hardened flexible material, whose internal dimensions are larger than the external dimensions of the preformed support due to elimination of the gel coating, off the preformed support.

Claim 4

An organ prosthesis according to claim 1, wherein the preformed support is obtained by molding a core of completely eliminable material in a removable mold whose molding surfaces are devoid of any unevenness, thereby forming a preformed support in the shape of the prosthesis after removal of the mold, said preformed support having a surface without any unevenness, and wherein the hardened flexible material and the preformed support are separated by melting the support and washing the support away with a hot liquid.

Claim 5

An organ prosthesis according to claim 2, wherein the prosthesis is a complete ureter prosthesis provided with a non-return valve of duckbill type forming an integral part of the ureter.

Claim 6

Ureter prosthesis according to claim 4, characterised in that, in order to ensure its fluid-tightness, each ureteral tube is provided with a fixing collar of reinhabitable tissue close to its non-return valve, and with a sealing collar of reinhabitable tissue for its anastomosis with the natural ureter.

Claim 7

An organ prosthesis according to claim 2, wherein the prosthesis is a straight artificial urethra.

Claim 8

An organ prosthesis according to claim 2, wherein the prosthesis is a shaped artificial urethra.

Claim 9

Urethra according to claim 6, associated by insertion and cementing with a sphincter.

Claim 10

Urethra according to claim 7, associated by insertion and cementing with a sphincter.

Claim 11

An organ prosthesis according to claim 2, wherein the prosthesis is a vascular prosthesis without any branches.

Claim 12

An organ prosthesis according to claim 2, wherein the prosthesis is a complex vascular prosthesis with branches and/or bifurcations.

Claim 13

An organ prosthesis according to claim 3, wherein the prosthesis is a complex vascular prosthesis with branches and/or bifurcations.

Claim 14

An organ prosthesis according to claim 1, wherein the prosthesis is a valvular prosthesis.

Claim 15

An organ prosthesis according to claim 2, wherein the prosthesis is a valvular prosthesis.

Claim 16

An organ prosthesis according to claim 1, wherein the prosthesis is a cardiac prosthesis.

Claim 17

An organ prosthesis is according to claim 2, wherein the prosthesis is a cardiac prosthesis.

Claim 18

An organ prosthesis according to claim 3, wherein the prosthesis is a cardiac prosthesis.

Claim 19

An organ prosthesis according to claim 1, said prosthesis being a vascular prosthesis of very small calibre designed to be used in microsurgery.

Claim 20

An organ prosthesis according to claim 2, said prosthesis being a vascular prosthesis of very small calibre designed to be used in microsurgery.

Claim 21

An organ prosthesis according to claim 3, wherein the prosthesis is an artificial bladder of flexible material and ovoid general shape characterised in that, in the empty state or in the absence of internal pressure, it has transversely the form of two W's lying in opposite directions and joined together symmetrically by their outer legs and in which the inner apices substantially touch and the four legs of each W are in contact substantially everywhere in twos, in that its surfaces in contact with urine are in a surface state devoid of roughness, and in that it is provided with means of suspension at least three points.

Claim 22

Artificial bladder according to claim 20, characterised in that its ovoid general shape is extended at one end by a urethral tube by association with an artificial urethra which urethral tube is provided with a reinhabitable tissue for its anastomosis to the natural urethra.

Claim 23

Artificial bladder according to claim 20, characterised in that it is provided with two ureteral tubes each of which debouch through a urine non-return valve, which valve is seated in the bladder and is of the duckbill type.

Claim 24

Artificial bladder according to claim 20, characterised in that for the purpose of its implantation it is provided with at least one band of reinhabitable tissue which is attached to the periphery of the upper inner legs of the two W's and is adapted to be attached to the peritoneum, and in that it is provided with at least one band of reinhabitable tissue attached to the front third of the periphery of the upper outer legs of the two W's and with at least one band of reinhabitable tissue attached to the front of the upper wall of the bladder which bands are adapted to be attached by traversing the muscular mass beyond the peritoneum.

Claim 25

Artificial bladder according to claim 23, characterised in that its ovoid general shape is extended at one end by a urethral tube by association with an artificial urethra which is provided with a reinhabitable tissue for its anastomosis to the natural urethra.

Claim 26

Artificial bladder according to claim 23, characterised in that it is provided with two artificial ureteral tubes each of which debouch through a urine non-return valve, which valve is seated in the bladder and is of the duckbill type.

Claim 27

Artificial bladder according to claim 20, characterised in that for the purpose of its implantation it is provided, for its suspension, with at least two bands of reinhabitable tissue and, on its vesical neck, with a fixing collar of reinhabitable tissue.

Claim 28

Artificial bladder according to claim 20, characterised in that for the purpose of its use in an external position it comprises a belt enabling it to be attached to a patient, with two artificial ureters associated with the said prosthetic bladder and adapted to be connected to the two natural ureters inosculated at the skin.

Claim 29

A prosthetic urethra according to claim 6, characterised in that the said prosthetic urethra is associated with a surgically formed reservoir to which it is fixed externally.

Claim 30

An organ prothesis according to claim 2, wherein said non-eliminable material is selected from the group consisting of metal, glass and plastics.

Claim 31

An organ prosthesis according to claim 3, wherein said completely eliminable material is selected from the group consisting of wax, ceresin, and a sol giving a gel upon cooling.

Claim 32

An organ prosthesis according to claim 3, wherein the removable mold is made of a material selected from the group consisting of metal and plastics.

Claim 33

Urethra according to claim 6, wherein said sphincter is formed by molding a core of completely eliminable material in the shape of a sphincter, applying a coating of said sol capable of forming a gel upon hardening to said core, and forming said gel, said gel having a surface state approximately the same as the liquid-air interface at its surface not adjacent the core, coating and then hardening said hardenable flexible material on said gel, and then eliminating said core, whereby the hardened flexible material constitutes said sphincter.

Claim 34

Cardiac prosthesis according to claim 16, wherein the prosthesis is an artificial ventricular and/or auricular cavity.

Claim 35

Ureter prosthesis according to claim 5, wherein each ureteral tube is further provided with urine drainage holes.

Claim 36

Urethra according to claim 7, wherein said sphincter is formed by molding a core of completely eliminable material in the shape of a sphincter, applying a coating of said sol capable of forming a gel upon hardening to said core, and forming said gel, said gel having a surface state approximately the same as the liquid-air interface at its surface not adjacent the core, coating and then hardening said hardenable flexible material on said gel, and then eliminating said core, whereby the hardened flexible material constitutes said sphincter.

Claim 37

Cardiac prosthesis according to claim 17, wherein the prosthesis is an artificial ventricular and/or auricular cavity.

Claim 38

An organ prosthesis according to claim 18, wherein said vascular prosthesis is designed to be used in neurological microsurgery, cardiac microsurgery, or digestive microsurgery.

Claim 39

An organ prosthesis according to claim 19, wherein said vascular prosthesis is designed to be used in neurological microsurgery, cardiac microsurgery, or digestive microsurgery.

Claim 40

Artificial bladder according to claim 21, wherein said artificial urethra is formed by applying a coating of said sol capable of forming a gel upon hardening to a non-eliminable preformed support in the shape of a urethra, forming said gel from said sol, coating and then hardening said hardenable flexible material on said gel, and then removing the hardened flexible material from the preformed support, whereby the hardened flexible material constitutes said artificial urethra.

Claim 41

Artificial bladder according to claim 39, characterised in that it is provided with two ureteral tubes each of which debouch through a urine non-return valve, which valve is seated in the bladder and is of the duckbill type.

Claim 42

Artificial bladder according to claim 40, wherein each of said ureteral tubes has said non-return valve formed as an integral part thereof, and wherein each of said ureteral tubes are formed by applying a coating of said sol capable of forming a gel upon hardening to a non-eliminable preformed support in the shape of a ureter, forming said gel from said sol, coating and then hardening said hardenable flexible material on said gel, and then removing the hardened flexible material from the preformed support, whereby the hardened flexible material constitutes said ureteral tube.

Claim 43

Artificial bladder according to claim 22, wherein each of said ureteral tubes has said non-return valve formed as an integral part thereof, and wherein each of said ureteral tubes are formed by applying a coating of said sol capable of forming a gel upon hardening to a non-eliminable preformed support in the shape of a ureter, forming said gel from said sol, coating and then hardening said hardenable flexible material on said gel, and then removing the hardenable flexible material from the preformed support, whereby the hardened flexible material constitutes said ureteral tube.

Claim 44

An organ prosthesis, having an internal surface adapted to be in contact with body fluids, formed of a flexible material having an internal surface state devoid of roughness, whereby formation of concretions and deposits, fibrinous coagulum and calculi or lithiasis, during use of the organ prosthesis, due to the roughness, is avoided, and obtained by molding, said organ prosthesis being formed by forming, on a preformed support in the shape of the prosthesis, a coating of a sol selected from the group consisting of gelose and gelatin giving, on cooling, a gel having a surface state approximately the same as the liquid-air interface of gelose or gelatin in solution at its surface not adjacent the support, wherein the preformed support is made of a non-eliminable material which has a surface without any rough or uneven areas, said coating being formed by dipping, spraying, coating, varnishing or lacquering the sol on the support, forming said gel from said sol, then forming a hardenable flexible material coating of silicone elastomer compatible with the body liquids and tissues on the gel, the flexible material coating being formed by dipping, flowing or spraying, the flexible material coating taking the shape of the preformed support in the shape of the prosthesis, then hardening the hardenable flexible material, the hardened flexible material having a surface state adjacent said gel that is devoid of roughness, and separating the hardened flexible material and the preformed support, wherein the hardened flexible material is separated from the preformed support by heating the coated support and washing out said gel coating, and then sliding the hardened flexible material, whose internal dimensions are larger than the external dimensions of the preformed support due to elimination of the gel coating, off the preformed support, the hardened flexible material being the organ prosthesis.

Claim 45

An organ prosthesis, having an internal surface adapted to be in contact with body fluids, formed of a flexible material having an internal surface state devoid of roughness, whereby formation of concretions and deposits, fibrinous coagulum and calculi or lithiasis, during use of the organ prosthesis, due to the roughness, is avoided, and obtained by molding, said organ prosthesis being formed by forming, on a preformed support in the shape of the prosthesis, a coating of a sol selected from the group consisting of gelose and gelatin giving, on cooling, a gel having a surface state approximately the same as the liquid-air interface of gelose or gelatin in solution at its surface not adjacent the support, wherein the preformed support is made of a non-eliminable material which has a surface without any rough or uneven areas, said coating being formed by dipping, spraying, coating, varnishing or lacquering the sol on the support, forming said gel from said sol, then forming a hardenable flexible material coating of silicone elastomer compatible with the body liquids and tissues on the gel, the flexible material coating being formed by dipping, flowing or spraying, the flexible material coating taking the shape of the preformed support in the shape of the prosthesis, then hardening the hardenable flexible material, the hardened flexible material having a surface state adjacent said gel that is devoid of roughness, and separating the hardened flexible material and the preformed support, wherein the hardened flexible material is separated from the preformed support by heating the coated support and washing out said gel coating, and then sliding the hardened flexible material, whose internal dimensions are larger than the external dimensions of the preformed support due to elimination of the gel coating, off the preformed support, the hardened flexible material being the organ prosthesis.

Claim 46

An organ prosthesis, having an internal surface adapted to be in contact with body fluids, formed of a flexible material having an internal surface state devoid of roughness, whereby formation of concretions and deposits, fibrinous coagulum and calculi or lithiasis, during use of the organ prosthesis, due to the roughness is avoided, and obtained by molding, said organ prosthesis being formed by forming, on a preformed support in the shape of the prosthesis, a coating of a sol selected from the group consisting of gelose and gelatin giving, on cooling, a gel having a surface state approximately the same as the liquid-air interface of gelose or gelatin in solution at its surface not adjacent said support, wherein the preformed support is obtained by molding a core of completely eliminable material in a removable mold whose molding surfaces are devoid of any unevenness, thereby forming a preformed support in the shape of the prosthesis after removal of the mold, said preformed support having a surface without any unevenness, said coating being formed by dipping, spraying, coating, varnishing, or lacquering the sol on the support, forming said gel from said sol, and forming a hardenable flexible material coating of silicone elastomer compatible with the body liquids and tissues on the gel, the flexible material coating being formed by dipping, flowing or spraying, the flexible material coating taking the shape of the preformed support in the shape of the prosthesis, then hardening the hardenable flexible material, the hardened flexible material having a surface state adjacent said gel that is devoid of roughness, and separating the hardened flexible material and the preformed support, the hardened flexible material and preformed support being separated by melting the support and washing the support away with a hot liquid, the hardened flexible material being the organ prosthesis.

Claim 47

An organ prosthesis, having an internal surface adapted to be in contact with body fluids, formed of a flexible material having an internal surface state devoid of roughness, whereby formation of concretions and deposits, fibrinous coagulum and calculi or lithiasis, during use of the organ prosthesis, due to the roughness is avoided, and obtained by molding, said organ prosthesis being formed by forming, on a preformed support in the shape of the prosthesis, a coating of a sol selected from the group consisting of gelose and gelatin giving, on cooling, a gel having a surface state approximately the same as the liquid-air interface of gelose or gelatin in solution at its surface not adjacent said support, wherein the preformed support is obtained by molding a core of completely eliminable material in a removable mold whose molding surfaces are devoid of any unevenness, thereby forming a preformed support in the shape of the prosthesis after removal of the mold, said preformed support having a surface without any unevenness, said coating being formed by dipping, spraying, coating, varnishing, or lacquering the sol on the support, forming said gel from said sol, and forming a hardenable flexible material coating of silicone elastomer compatible with the body liquids and tissues on the gel, the flexible material coating being formed by dipping, flowing or spraying, the flexible material coating taking the shape of the preformed support in the shape of the prosthesis, then hardening the hardenable flexible material, the hardened flexible material having a surface state adjacent said gel that is devoid of roughness, and separating the hardened flexible material and the preformed support, the hardened flexible material and preformed support being separated by melting the support and washing the support away with a hot liquid, the hardened flexible material being the organ prosthesis.