IMPLANTABLE FLUID DEVICES

• US 20090253953A1
• Filed: 04/06/2009
• Published: 10/08/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 04/07/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Coloplast A/S
• Original Assignee: Coloplast A/S
• Inventors: Morningstar, Randy L.
• Granted Patent: US 7,867,162 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/40
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/26 Penis implants

Abstract

An implantable fluid device comprises a flexible fluid chamber capable of being in an inflated state and a deflated state. The chamber has a first end, a second end, and a central longitudinal axis from the first end to the second end. The chamber also has, in cross section when deflated, a plurality of alternating protrusions and intermediate portions about the central longitudinal axis. When deflated, the protrusions have a selected height and the intermediate portions have a selected depth. When inflated, the protrusions have the selected height and the intermediate portions have a selected height.

Claims

1. An implantable fluid device, comprising:

a flexible fluid chamber capable of being in an inflated state and a deflated state, said chamber being defined by (i) a first end, (ii) a second end, and (iii) a central longitudinal axis from said first end to said second end;

in cross section, when deflated, a plurality of alternating protrusions and intermediate portions about said central longitudinal axis, with said protrusions having a selected height and said intermediate portions having a selected depth;

in cross section, when inflated, said plurality of alternating protrusions and intermediate portions about said central longitudinal axis, with said protrusions having said selected height and said intermediate portions having a selected height.

2. The implantable fluid device of claim 1, wherein said flexible fluid chamber is selected from the group consisting of a reservoir for an inflatable penile prosthesis and a cylinder for an inflatable penile prosthesis.

3. The implantable fluid device of claim 2, wherein said reservoir is capable of containing up to 135 ml of a selected fluid.

4. The implantable fluid device of claim 1, wherein said flexible fluid chamber is a cylinder for an inflatable penile prosthesis which mutes a “

dog ear”

effect when in deflated states.

5. A method of manufacturing an implantable fluid device, comprising steps of:

making a mandrel in a shape of a flexible fluid chamber of claim 1;

dipping said mandrel into a selected semi-liquid material to coat said mandrel in a form of said flexible fluid chamber;

removing said mandrel so coated from said selected semi-liquid material;

curing said semi-liquid material; and

removing said flexible fluid chamber thereby created from said mandrel.

6. The method of manufacturing an implantable fluid device of claim 5, wherein said semi-liquid material is selected from a group consisting of a “

BIO-FLEX”

resin, a medical grade silicone and an elastic-thermoplastic resin.

7. The method of manufacturing an implantable fluid device of claim 5, wherein said flexible fluid chamber is selected from the group consisting of a reservoir for an inflatable penile prosthesis and a cylinder for an inflatable penile prosthesis.

8. A method of manufacturing an implantable fluid device, comprising steps of:

making a mold in a shape of a flexible fluid chamber of claim 1;

filling said mold with a selected semi-liquid material;

curing said semi-liquid material; and

removing said flexible fluid chamber thereby created from said mold.

9. The method of manufacturing an implantable fluid device of claim 8, wherein said semi-liquid material is selected from a group consisting of a “

BIO-FLEX”

resin, a medical grade silicone and an elastic-thermoplastic resin.

10. The method of manufacturing an implantable fluid device of claim 8, wherein said flexible fluid chamber is selected from the group consisting of a reservoir for an inflatable penile prosthesis and a cylinder for an inflatable penile prosthesis.