CONTROLLED IMPOTENCE TREATMENT

• US 20110184230A1
• Filed: 04/05/2011
• Published: 07/28/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 02/11/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Obtech Medical AG
• Original Assignee: Obtech Medical AG
• Inventors: Forsell, Peter
• Granted Patent: US 9,655,724 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/41
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/0036 implantable A61F2/0018 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/26 Penis implants
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/0001 Means for transferring electromagnetic energy to implants

Abstract

A male sexual impotence treatment apparatus comprises an operable restriction device (56) implanted in a patient and engaging the penile tissue (58) or the prolongation thereof to form a restrictable blood flow passageway through which blood flow leaves the penis. The restriction device is operable by an implanted operation device (60) to change the restriction of the blood flow passageway. A control device (62 and 64) is provided for controlling a source of energy, which may or may not be implanted, from outside the patient'"'"'s body, to release energy for use in connection with the operation of the restriction device, i.e. to power the operation device. The patient uses the control device to restrict the blood flow leaving the penis to achieve erection.

Claims

1. A male sexual impotence treatment apparatus, comprising an operable restriction device implantable in a patient for engaging the penile tissue or the prolongation thereof to form a restricted blood flow passageway through which blood flow leaves the penis, the restriction device being operable to restrict the blood flow passageway to provide erection, characterised in that a source of energy is provided, and a control device operable from ‘

outside the patient'"'"'s body is provided for controlling the source of energy to release energy for use in connection with the operation of the restriction device, when the restriction device is implanted.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the source of energy is intended to be external to the patient'"'"'s body, and the control device is adapted to control the external source of energy to release wireless energy for use in connection with the operation of the restriction device.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control device controls the restriction device.

4. The apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the control device comprises an internal control unit implantable in the patient for controlling the restriction device.

5. The apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the internal control unit is programmable.

6. The apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the control device comprises an external control unit intended to be outside the patient'"'"'s body, the internal control with being programmable by the external control unit.

7. The apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the internal control unit is programmable for controlling the restriction device over time.

8. The apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the internal control unit controls the restriction device over time in accordance with an activity schedule program.

9. The apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the internal control unit comprises a microprocessor.

10. The apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the external control unit loads the internal control unit with data in accordance with a loading mode only authorized for a doctor.

11. The apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the external control-unit controls the internal control unit in accordance with a doctor mode only authorized for a doctor.

12. The apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the external control unit controls the internal control unit in accordance with a patient mode permitted for the patient.

13. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the source of energy is implantable in the patient.

14. The apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the implantable source of energy comprises at least one accumulator, at least one capacitor or at least one rechargeable battery, or a combination of at least one capacitor and at least one rechargeable battery.

15. The apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the implantable source of energy comprises an electric source of energy.

16. The apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the electric source of energy comprises an accumulator, or a battery having a lifetime of at least 10 years.

17. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control device controls the restriction device.

18. The apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising an energy storage device implantable in the patient for storing the wireless energy released from the external source of energy.

19. The apparatus according to claim 18, wherein the energy storage device comprises an accumulator.

20. The apparatus according to claim 19, wherein the accumulator comprises an electric accumulator.

21-145. -145. (canceled)