Tube sensor for penile tumescence

• US 20060247682A1
• Filed: 04/28/2005
• Published: 11/02/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 04/28/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Gerber, Martin T., Miesel, Keith A.
• Granted Patent: US 7,623,923 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/2
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0031 Implanted circuitry
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4393 Sexual arousal or erectile dysfunction evaluation, e.g. tumescence evaluation
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36007 of urogenital or gastrointestinal organs, e.g. for incontinence control

Abstract

The disclosure describes a tube pressure sensor to measure penile tumescence which may be used in a therapeutic penile tumescence control system. The system senses penile pressure and sends the information to a stimulator that is capable of stimulation therapy to control an erectile state, thus treating sexual dysfunction or, more specifically, erectile dysfunction. Measuring penile tumescence pressure is accomplished through the use of a tube placed within the urethra of the penis and attached to a module implanted within the bladder. Pressure on the tube generates an electrical signal that is sent wirelessly to an implanted stimulator connected to a lead positioned near pelvic floor nerves that stimulate erections. An external device may be used to wirelessly send information to the implanted stimulator to start or stop stimulation in order for the patient to conduct normal sexual activity. In addition, pressure information and stimulation information may be recorded and reviewed by a physician for continued therapy monitoring.

Claims

1. An implantable electrical stimulation system comprising:

an implantable pressure sensor including a flexible tube and a sensing element that senses a pressure level within a penis of a patient based on a pressure level within the tube; and

an implantable stimulator that delivers electrical stimulation to the patient based on the sensed pressure level within the penis.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the flexible tube includes a closed end and an open end, and the sensing element is disposed at the open end.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the sensing element includes a strain gauge sensor.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the flexible tube contains a fluid.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the flexible tube has a length of less than approximately 7 cm and an outer diameter of approximately 1 to 3 mm.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the implantable pressure sensor includes a fixation mechanism to position the flexible tube proximate the urethra within the patient.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the implantable pressure sensor includes a housing, the tube extending from the housing, and the fixation mechanism is positioned to attach the housing to an inner wall of a bladder of the patient.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the implantable sensor includes a telemetry circuit that transmits information by wireless telemetry based on the sensed pressure level.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the telemetry circuit transmits the information to the implantable stimulator, the implantable stimulator adjusting one or more parameters of the electrical stimulation based on the transmitted information.

10. The system of claim 8, further comprising an external programmer to adjust stimulation parameters associated with the electrical stimulation delivered by the implantable stimulator, wherein the telemetry circuit transmits the information to the external programmer.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the implantable stimulator includes a lead carrying one or more electrodes to deliver electrical stimulation to a nerve site that stimulates an erection of the penis.

12. A method comprising:

sensing a pressure level within a penis of a patient based on a pressure level within a flexible tube placed within the penis; and

delivering electrical stimulation to the patient via an implanted stimulator based on the sensed pressure level.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the flexible tube is placed within a urethra of the penis.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein the flexible tube is placed within a corpus cavernosum of the penis.

15. The method of claim 12, wherein the flexible tube includes a closed end and an open end, and sensing a pressure level includes sensing the pressure level via a sensing element disposed at the open end of the flexible tube.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the sensing element includes a strain gauge sensor.

17. The method of claim 12, wherein the flexible tube contains a fluid.

18. The method of claim 12, wherein the flexible tube has a length of less than approximately 7 cm and an outer diameter of approximately 1 to 3 mm.

19. The method of claim 12, wherein the flexible tube extends from a sensor housing, the method further comprising fixing the sensor housing within a bladder of the patient, and positioning the flexible tube proximate a urethra within the patient.

20. The method of claim 12, further comprising transmitting information based on the sensed pressure level to the stimulator by wireless telemetry, and adjusting one or more parameters of the electrical stimulation based on the transmitted information.

21. The method of claim 12, further comprising transmitting information based on the sensed pressure level to an external programmer by wireless telemetry, wherein the programmer controls the stimulator to adjust one or more parameters of the electrical stimulation based on the transmitted information.

22. The method of claim 12, wherein the stimulator includes an implanted lead carrying one or more electrodes to deliver electrical stimulation to a nerve site that stimulates an erection of the penis.

23. An implantable penile tumescence sensor comprising:

a flexible tube;

a sensing element that senses a pressure level within the flexible tube;

a fixation mechanism that positions the flexible tube within a penis of a patient; and

circuitry that determines a tumescence level within the penis based on the sensed pressure level.

24. The sensor of claim 23, wherein the flexible tube includes a closed end and an open end, and the sensing element is disposed at the open end.

25. The sensor of claim 23, wherein the sensing element includes a strain gauge sensor.

26. The sensor of claim 23, wherein the flexible tube contains a fluid.

27. The sensor of claim 23, wherein the flexible tube has a length of less than approximately 7 cm and an outer diameter of approximately 1 to 3 mm.

28. The sensor of claim 23, wherein the implantable pressure sensor includes a housing, the tube extending from the housing, and the fixation mechanism is positioned to attach the housing to an inner wall of a bladder of the patient.

29. The sensor of claim 23, wherein the implantable sensor includes a telemetry circuit that transmits information by wireless telemetry based on the sensed pressure level.