Self actuated penile implant
First Claim
1. An implantable penile prosthesis comprising an elongated cylinder for disposition within the penis, said cylinder including a first portion adapted to move from a non-erect, flaccid state to an erect, rigid state, said prosthesis comprising actuating means including expandable means with a first fluid therein and energy applying means, said first fluid being in a first state occupying a first volume when said expandable means is unexpanded, said first fluid being changed to a second state capable of occupying a second volume greater than said first volume upon the application of energy thereto by said energy applying means for expanding said expandable means and causing said first portion of said cylinder to move to said rigid state, said fluid returning to its first state upon dissipation of said energy for causing said expandable means to return to its unexpanded condition and thereby cause said first portion of said cylinder to return to said non-erect, flaccid state, said energy applying means being operative for applying energy to said first fluid when an erection of said penis is desired and for ceasing to apply energy to said first fluid when it is desired to permit the penis to assume a non-erect, flaccid state.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A self-activatable penile prosthesis comprising at least one cylinder for implantation in the penis and including a front tip section, an intermediate section, and a rear tail section. The intermediate section includes at least one tubular member which is inflatable, and arranged to assume an elongated rigid and hard state from a flexible, flaccid state upon the application of an operating liquid under pressure thereto. An expandable bellows having an actuating fluid therein is located in the tip section. The actuating fluid expands from a first state to a second higher volume state upon the application of energy (e.g., heat) thereto. The expansion action causes an operating liquid located in at least one reservoir in the tip section to be provided under pressure to the inflatable tubular member in the intermediate section to cause it to become erect. Upon the dissipation of said energy from the actuating fluid the bellows contracts, whereupon the intermediate section of the cylinder becomes flaccid again.
39 Citations
35 Claims
- 1. An implantable penile prosthesis comprising an elongated cylinder for disposition within the penis, said cylinder including a first portion adapted to move from a non-erect, flaccid state to an erect, rigid state, said prosthesis comprising actuating means including expandable means with a first fluid therein and energy applying means, said first fluid being in a first state occupying a first volume when said expandable means is unexpanded, said first fluid being changed to a second state capable of occupying a second volume greater than said first volume upon the application of energy thereto by said energy applying means for expanding said expandable means and causing said first portion of said cylinder to move to said rigid state, said fluid returning to its first state upon dissipation of said energy for causing said expandable means to return to its unexpanded condition and thereby cause said first portion of said cylinder to return to said non-erect, flaccid state, said energy applying means being operative for applying energy to said first fluid when an erection of said penis is desired and for ceasing to apply energy to said first fluid when it is desired to permit the penis to assume a non-erect, flaccid state.
-
35. An implantable penile prosthesis comprising an elongated cylinder for disposition within the penis, said cylinder including a first portion adapted to move from a non-erect, flaccid state to an erect, rigid state upon being pressurized with a fluid, said prosthesis including actuating means comprising energy applying means and a first fluid, said first fluid being changeable from a first state occupying a first volume to a second state capable of occupying a second volume greater than said first volume upon the application of energy thereto by said energy applying means, said cylinder including a reservoir communicating with said first portion of said cylinder and a second fluid in said reservoir, means for preventing said first fluid from mixing with said second fluid and force transmitting means for forcing said second fluid into said first portion of the cylinder to move said first portion to an erect rigid state upon said first fluid changing from its first state to its second state, and said pressure in said first portion being relieved upon said first fluid changing from said second state to said first state to move said first portion to a non-erect, flaccid state, said energy applying means being operative for applying energy to said first fluid when an erection of said penis is desired and for ceasing to apply energy to said first fluid when it is desired to permit the penis to assume a non-erect, flaccid state.
Specification