Flow sensors for penile tumescence
First Claim
1. A method comprising:
- detecting an arterial blood flow to an erectile tissue with a first sensor;
detecting a venous blood flow away from the erectile tissue with a second sensor; and
generating tumescence information that reflects the degree of tumescence of the erectile tissue based on the detected arterial and venous blood flows.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The disclosure describes blood flow sensors for detecting penile tumescence. A system according to the invention may include at least one sensor for sensing blood flow into the penis, and one sensor for sensing blood flow away from the penis. Detecting penile tumescence may be accomplished by comparing the flow of blood into the penis to the blood flow out of the penis. A greater inflow of blood indicates an increasing tumescence whereas a greater outflow of blood indicates a decreasing tumescence. The sensors may be used for short- or long-term monitoring of penile tumescence, or as closed-loop feedback in a therapeutic penile tumescence control system, which may deliver electrical or chemical stimulation therapy to control a tumescence or erectile state, thus treating sexual dysfunction or, more specifically, erectile dysfunction.
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Citations
41 Claims
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1. A method comprising:
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detecting an arterial blood flow to an erectile tissue with a first sensor;
detecting a venous blood flow away from the erectile tissue with a second sensor; and
generating tumescence information that reflects the degree of tumescence of the erectile tissue based on the detected arterial and venous blood flows. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A system comprising:
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a first sensor that detects an arterial blood flow to an erectile tissue;
a second sensor that detects a venous blood flow away from the erectile tissue; and
a processor that generates tumescence information that reflects the degree of tumescence of the erectile tissue based on the detected arterial and venous blood flows. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36)
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37. A system comprising:
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means for detecting an arterial blood flow to an erectile tissue;
means for detecting a venous blood flow away from the erectile tissue; and
means for generating tumescence information that reflects the degree of tumescence of the erectile tissue based on the detected arterial and venous blood flows. - View Dependent Claims (38, 39, 40, 41)
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Specification