Method of preventing inadvertent inflation of an inflatable prosthesis

• US 20050250981A1
• Filed: 07/21/2005
• Published: 11/10/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 12/27/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Boston Scientific Scimed (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Charles C. Kuyava, David W. Clark, John W. Westrum Jr
• Inventors: Kuyava, Charles C., Westrum, John W. Jr., Clark, David W.
• Granted Patent: US 7,350,538 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/40
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/26 Penis implants
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 15/066 with a plurality of valve members
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 2200/204 in series
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 2200/3053 Helicoidal springs of variable pitch, diameter or spring rate
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/1842 Ambient condition change responsive
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/7777 Both valves spring biased
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/7838 Plural
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/7842 Diverse types
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/785 With retarder or dashpot

Abstract

A pump assembly for a penile implant is provided having a mechanism which prevents spontaneous inflation of the cylinders implanted within the user. The preventative mechanism uses overpressure generated by the reservoir during unintentional compression to effectively seal the pump assembly 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.

Claims

1-21. -21. (canceled)

22. A method of preventing inflation of an implantable prosthetic comprising the steps of:

biasing a valve assembly such that an outlet is substantially closed; and

using pressure increases from the inlet to supplement the biasing of the valve assembly.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein the step of using pressure includes:

preventing fluid flow through the outlet by selectively varying fluid pressure within a bypass passageway having a first end which is in fluid communication with an inlet and a second end which is in fluid communication with a chamber.

24. The method of claim 23, further comprising the steps of:

displacing a flexible abutting wall disposed between the chamber and the valve assembly so that the abutting wall is caused to contact the valve assembly and urge the valve assembly into a closed position when the fluid pressure within the chamber exceeds a predetermined amount.

25. The method of claim 23, further comprising the steps of:

deflecting a diaphragm located within the chamber, the chamber being in fluid communication with the inlet and the outlet so that when the diaphragm is in a first position, fluid is able to flow from the inlet and through the outlet, and when the diaphragm is in a second position, no fluid is allowed to flow through the outlet.

26-50. -50. (canceled)

51. A method of preventing inadvertent inflation of an implantable prosthetic comprising the steps of:

biasing a first valve assembly in a fluid passageway between an inlet and an outlet such that the outlet is substantially closed;

biasing a second valve assembly in the fluid passageway such that the fluid passageway is substantially closed to the inlet, wherein the first valve assembly and the second valve assembly define an intermediate chamber therebetween; and

using pressure increases from an inlet to supplement the biasing of the valve assembly by preventing fluid flow through the outlet by selectively varying fluid pressure within an expansion chamber which is in fluid communication with the inlet.

52. The method of claim 51, wherein using pressure further comprises the steps of:

displacing a flexible abutting wall disposed between the expansion chamber and the valve assembly so that the abutting wall is caused to contact the valve assembly and urge the valve assembly into a closed position when the fluid pressure within the chamber exceeds a predetermined amount.

53. The method of claim 52, further comprising:

preventing fluid flow out of the expansion chamber once the inadvertent pressure increase has been reduced until a pressure of the fluid within the intermediate chamber is lower than a pressure of the fluid within the expansion chamber.

54. The method of claim 52 where preventing fluid flow is accomplished using at least one check valve.

55. The method of claim 52 where preventing fluid flow is accomplished using at least one fluid resistor.

56. The method of claim 52 where preventing fluid flow is accomplished using at least one check valve and at least one fluid resistor.

57-61. -61. (canceled)