Manually actuated, self contained penile implant

• US 4,602,621 A
• Filed: 12/18/1984
• Issued: 07/29/1986
• Est. Priority Date: 12/18/1984
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Northstar Research Institute, Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Northstar Research Institute, Ltd.
• Inventors: Hakky, Said I.
• Primary Examiner(s): Peshock, Robert
• Assistant Examiner(s): Stone, Cary E.
• Application Number:
  US06/683,286
• Time in Patent Office: 588 Days
• Field of Search: 128/79, 3/1
• US Class Current: 600/40
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/26 Penis implants

Abstract

A self-contained 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 a tubular chamber 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. The tip section includes a portion which is arranged to be manually twisted through an acute angle to cause a substantial volume of operating liquid to be transferred by piston means from a reservoir into the inflatable chamber.

Claims

1. An implantable penile prosthesis comprising an elongated cylinder for disposition within the penis and having a longitudinal axis, said cylinder having a front portion for disposition in the distal portion of the penis, a rear portion for disposition inside the proximal portion of the penis and a hollow inflatable section located therebetween, said cylinder including manually operable actuating means comprising displacement means for moving longitudinally a first predetermined distance toward one end of said cylinder, a hydraulic chamber of a first predetermined volume and having a hydraulic fluid therein, first moveable piston means coupled to said displacement means, fluid reservoir means coupled to said inflatable section, said fluid reservoir means being of a second predetermined volume and having an operating fluid therein, said second volume being substantially greater than said first volume, second piston means coupled to said hydraulic chamber, said first piston means moving in response to the movement of said displacement means for forcing said hydraulic fluid to be expelled from said hydraulic chamber, whereupon said second piston means moves for forcing said operating fluid in said fluid reservoir means into said inflatable section to pressurize said inflatable section, whereupon said section moves from a non-erect, flaccid state to an erect, rigid state.

2. The prosthesis of claim 1 wherein said displacement means comprises rotatable means adapted to be rotated through a predetermined angle about said longitudinal axis from a first rotary position to a second rotary position, whereupon said displacement means moves said first predetermined distance.

3. The prosthesis of claim 2 wherein said rotatable means includes locking means to hold said rotatable means in said second rotary position.

4. The prosthesis of claim 2 wherein said rotatable means is also rotatable about said axis to return it to said first rotary position from said second rotary position, whereupon said displacement means moves said first predetermined distance toward the opposite end of said cylinder.

5. The prosthesis of claim 4 wherein said rotatable means includes locking means to hold said rotatable means in either said first or second rotary positions.

6. The prosthesis of claim 5 wherein said first piston means is arranged to move through a first predetermined length of said hydraulic chamber, and wherein said second piston means is arranged to move a second predetermined length through said fluid reservoir means in response to the movement of said first piston means, said second predetermined length being substantially greater than said first predetermined length.

7. The prosthesis of claim 6 wherein said hydraulic chamber is located adjacent said displacement means and wherein said fluid reservoir means is located between said hydraulic chamber and said inflatable section.

8. The prosthesis of claim 7 wherein said fluid reservoir means comprises an elongated cylindrical chamber extending along the longitudinal axis of said cylinder and including a central passageway extending a substantial distance therethrough, said second piston means comprising an elongated piston shaft and a piston head, said piston shaft extending through said passageway, said hydraulic chamber being in fluid communication with said central passageway, said piston head being located within said cylindrical chamber, whereupon the expulsion of said hydraulic fluid from said hydraulic chamber causes said second piston to move down said cylindrical chamber to force said second fluid into said inflatable section.

9. The prosthesis of claim 8 additionally comprising sealing means for preventing the leakage of said hydraulic fluid and said operating fluid.

10. The prosthesis of claim 9 wherein said hydraulic fluid comprises a silicone liquid.

11. The prosthesis of claim 2 wherein said actuating means is located within said front portion of said cylinder and wherein when said rotary means is rotated from said first rotary position to said second rotary position said displacement means moves said first predetermined distance toward the rear portion of said cylinder.

12. The prosthesis of claim 11 wherein said rotatable means is also rotatable about said axis to return it to said first rotary position from said second rotary position, whereupon said displacement means moves said first predetermined distance toward the front portion of said cylinder.

13. The prosthesis of claim 1 wherein said first piston means is arranged to move through a first predetermined length of said hydraulic chamber, and wherein said second piston means is arranged to move a second predetermined length through said fluid reservoir means in response to the movement of said first piston means, said second predetermined length being substantially greater than said first predetermined length.

14. The prosthesis of claim 13 wherein said hydraulic chamber is located adjacent said displacement means and wherein said fluid reservoir means is located between said hydraulic chamber and said inflatable section.

15. The prosthesis of claim 14 wherein said fluid reservoir means comprises an elongated cylindrical chamber extending along the longitudinal axis of said cylinder and including a central passageway extending a substantial distance therethrough, said second piston means comprising an elongated piston shaft and a piston head, said piston shaft extending through said passageway, said hydraulic chamber being in fluid communication with said central passageway, said piston head being located within said cylindrical chamber, whereupon the expulsion of said hydraulic fluid from said hydraulic chamber causes said second piston to move down said cylindrical chamber to force said second fluid into said inflatable section.

16. The prosthesis of claim 15 additionally comprising sealing means for preventing the leakage of said hydraulic fluid and said operating fluid.

17. The prosthesis of claim 16 wherein said hydraulic fluid comprises a silicone liquid.

18. The prosthesis of claim 1 wherein said inflatable section is flexible but non-distendible.

19. The prosthesis of claim 1 wherein said rear portion is rigid.

20. The prosthesis of claim 19 wherein said rear portion includes means for facilitating the sizing thereof to configure said cylinder to the size of the penis in which it is to be implanted.

21. The prosthesis of claim 1 including sealing means between the hydraulic fluid and the operating fluid for always maintaining said fluids separate from each other.