Implantable peristaltic pump to treat erectile dysfunction

• US 20080234536A1
• Filed: 03/21/2007
• Published: 09/25/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 03/21/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Rainbow Medical Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Yossi Gross
• Inventors: Gross, Yossi
• Granted Patent: US 8,152,711 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/16
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/26 Penis implants
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 43/12 having peristaltic action

Abstract

A method is provided for controlling blood flow through a blood vessel of a subject. The method includes implanting a pump outside of the blood vessel and placing within the blood vessel an expansion element that is capable of expanding the blood vessel subsequent to compression of the blood vessel by the pump. Other embodiments are also described.

Claims

1-25. -25. (canceled)

26. A method for treating erectile dysfunction of a subject, comprising:

implanting a pump outside of an artery that supplies a penis of the subject; and

activating the pump to increase blood flow to the penis.

30. The method according to claim 26, wherein activating the pump comprises activating the pump in coordination with a cardiac cycle of the subject.

31. The method according to claim 26, wherein activating the pump comprises activating the pump independently of a cardiac cycle of the subject.

32. The method according to claim 26, wherein implanting the pump comprises implanting a peristaltic pump.

33. The method according to claim 26, comprising placing within the artery an expansion element that is capable of expanding the artery subsequent to compression of the artery by the pump.

34. The method according to claim 26, wherein implanting the pump comprises attaching the pump to the outer surface of the artery, and comprising expanding the artery via the attachment of the pump to the outer surface of the artery.

35. The method according to claim 26, wherein activating the pump comprises receiving an input from the subject, and activating the pump in response thereto.

36. The method according to claim 26, wherein activating the pump comprises receiving an input from a sensor and activating the pump in response thereto.

37. The method according to claim 36, wherein receiving the input from the sensor comprises receiving an input from a blood flow detector.

38. The method according to claim 36, wherein receiving the input from the sensor comprises receiving an input from a chemical sensor.

39. The method according to claim 36, wherein receiving the input from the sensor comprises receiving an input from an electrode.

27-29. -29. (canceled)

40-62. -62. (canceled)

63. Apparatus for treating erectile dysfunction of a subject, comprising:

a pump, configured to be implanted in the subject, outside of an artery that supplies a penis of the subject; and

a control unit, configured to drive the pump to force blood toward the penis.

65. The apparatus according to claim 63, wherein the pump is configured to operate in coordination with a cardiac cycle of the subject.

66. The apparatus according to claim 63, wherein the pump is configured to operate independently of a cardiac cycle of the subject.

70. The apparatus according to claim 63, wherein the pump comprises a peristaltic pump.

71. The apparatus according to claim 63, comprising an expansion element that is configured to be disposed within the artery and to expand the artery subsequent to compression of the blood vessel by the pump.

72. The apparatus according to claim 63, comprising an attachment element configured to attach the pump to an outer surface of the artery in such a way that the pump expands the artery subsequent to compression of the artery by the pump.

73. The apparatus according to claim 63, comprising a control unit which is configured to receive an input from the subject and to activate the pump upon receiving the input from the subject.

74. The apparatus according to claim 63, comprising a sensor, and a control unit which is configured to receive an input from the sensor and to activate the pump upon receiving the input from the sensor.

75. The apparatus according to claim 74, wherein the sensor comprises a blood flow detector.

76. The apparatus according to claim 74, wherein the sensor comprises a chemical detector.

77. The apparatus according to claim 74, wherein the sensor comprises an electrode.

64. (canceled)

67-69. -69. (canceled)

78-80. -80. (canceled)

81. A method for treating erectile dysfunction of a subject, comprising:

driving blood toward a penis of the subject by compressing an artery that supplies the penis; and

regulating the compressing to facilitate erection of the penis.