Pressure based spontaneous inflation inhibitor with penile pump improvements
First Claim
1. A pump assembly for an implantable prosthesis, comprising:
- a housing having a fluid passageway, the fluid passageway having an inlet and an outlet;
a first flow valve located within the fluid passageway between the inlet and the outlet, and a supplemental biasing mechanism responsive to inadvertent pressure increases from the inlet to supplement a sealing capability of the first flow valve.
6 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A pump assembly for a penile implant is provided having a mechanism which prevents spontaneous inflation of the cylinders implanted within the patient. The pump assembly has an actuating bar with ribs to enhance the spring force applied to a flow valve, a support structure to support and appropriately position the actuating bar, and a check valve made of metal with a segment covered with a plastic material. The preventative mechanism uses overpressure generated by the reservoir during unintentional compression to effectively seal the cylinders from unintended fluid flow. The prevention mechanism itself creates all necessary forces to prevent the undesired fluid flow to the cylinders. This is accomplished by incorporating appropriate mechanisms within the pump itself.
-
Citations
74 Claims
-
1. A pump assembly for an implantable prosthesis, comprising:
-
a housing having a fluid passageway, the fluid passageway having an inlet and an outlet;
a first flow valve located within the fluid passageway between the inlet and the outlet, and a supplemental biasing mechanism responsive to inadvertent pressure increases from the inlet to supplement a sealing capability of the first flow valve. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
-
-
19. (Canceled).
-
20. (Canceled).
-
21. (Canceled).
-
22. (Canceled).
-
23. A method of preventing inadvertent inflation of an implantable prosthetic comprising the steps of:
-
biasing a valve assembly such that an outlet is substantially closed; and
using inadvertent pressure increases from the inlet to supplement the biasing of the valve assembly. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26)
-
-
27. A method of preventing inadvertent inflation of an implantable prosthetic comprising the steps of:
-
biasing a valve assembly such that an outlet is substantially closed, wherein a biasing mechanism is sufficiently strong to oppose increased pressure levels generated during an overpressurization situation;
providing a sufficient surface area on the valve assembly so that vacuum forces generated after a compression of a pump bulb are sufficient to open the valve assembly.
-
-
28. A pressure lock out arrangement for an inflatable prosthesis comprising:
-
a housing having an inlet and an outlet;
a valve disposed between the inlet and the outlet, the valve being biased toward substantially sealing the outlet; and
a supplemental biasing mechanism responsive to inadvertent pressure increases from the inlet to increase the biasing of the valve toward at least substantially sealing the outlet. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36)
-
-
37. (Canceled).
-
38. (Canceled).
-
39. (Canceled).
-
40. (Canceled).
-
41. (Canceled).
-
42. (Canceled).
-
43. A method of preventing a vacuum lock from occurring in a penile prosthesis having a valve movable through an annulus so that when on a first side of the annulus operation of the prosthesis is permitted and when on a second side, spontaneous inflation is prevented, comprising:
-
positioning the valve on the first side of the annulus; and
providing a fluid path around the valve through the annulus when a rear face of the valve is proximate the annulus. - View Dependent Claims (44, 45)
-
-
46. A pump assembly for an implantable prosthesis, comprising:
-
a housing having a fluid passageway, the fluid passageway having an inlet and an outlet;
a first flow valve located within the fluid passageway between the inlet and the outlet;
a supplemental biasing mechanism responsive to inadvertent pressure increases from the inlet to supplement the sealing capabilities of the first flow valve; and
a pump bulb in fluid communication with the fluid passageway. - View Dependent Claims (47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59)
-
-
60. (Canceled).
-
61. (Canceled).
-
62. (Canceled).
-
63. (Canceled).
-
64. A method of preventing inadvertent inflation of an implantable prosthetic comprising:
-
biasing a valve assembly such that an outlet is substantially closed, wherein a biasing mechanism is sufficiently strong to oppose increased pressure levels generated during an overpressurization situation;
providing a support mechanism mechanically linked to the valve assembly to prevent sideward movement of a valve when moving between an open and a closed position; and
providing a sufficient surface area on the valve assembly so that vacuum forces generated after a compression of a pump bulb are sufficient to open the valve assembly.
-
-
65. A pressure lock out arrangement for an inflatable prosthesis comprising:
-
a housing having an inlet and an outlet;
a valve disposed between the inlet and the outlet, the valve being biased toward substantially sealing the outlet, the valve made of metallic material with a plastic member disposed over a portion of the valve; and
a supplemental biasing mechanism responsive to inadvertent pressure increases from the inlet to increase the biasing of the valve toward substantially sealing the outlet. - View Dependent Claims (66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72)
-
-
73. (Canceled).
-
74. (Canceled).
Specification