Hello Lilly.
An electronic sphincter is a great idea, and it already exists for both urinary and anal problems. However, there have been quite a few problems with these procedures and devices which have necessitated further surgery to remove them.
I had the sacral nerve stimulation operation which not only did not work but made my legs start to go numb. When I went back to the hospital, there was a lady next to me who (after her operation) had gone completely paralysed from the base of the spine downwards. The surgeons suggested that they might have placed my device in slightly the wrong position and that I should try again. Needless to say, I declined on the grounds that if they cannot get it right first time, then they don’t deserve another go.
Some time ago there was a post on here about an implant which sounded like an artificial sphincter for the stoma. I found a registered patent for such a device, but as there don’t seem to be any follow-up studies, I must presume that they may have encountered the same sorts of difficulties as the anal and urinary devices,
Which had a somewhat off-putting caveat, that they had a high probability of complications and a high morbidity rate.
Best wishes
Bill
Artificial sphincter for use at stoma, or for the like purposes
United States Patent 4399809
Abstract:
The invention concerns an artificial sphincter comprised of a strip to be wrapped around the intestine, conduit, tube of the wearer's body, or the like. The strip carries either a single inflatable chamber that extends along its length, or parallel longitudinally extending chambers, or rows of separate chambers, wherein the chambers in adjacent rows are staggered longitudinally along the strip. Passages communicate among the chambers to maintain uniform pressure. A tube communicates into the chambers for selectively delivering fluid to inflate them or to permit them to be deflated. At least one wall of the chamber is flexible and elastic, and that wall faces in around the intestine, or the like, so that upon inflation of the chambers, the intestine, conduit, tube or the like is compressed and occluded. In a variant, the chambers are shaped to have a smaller cross-section toward one longitudinal edge of the strip and a larger cross-section toward the other longitudinal edge thereof.