Remote controllable penile prosthetic system

• US 5,437,605 A
• Filed: 05/27/1993
• Issued: 08/01/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 05/27/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Ali M. Helmy
• Original Assignee: Ali M. Helmy
• Inventors: Helmy, Ali M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Cohen, Lee S.
• Assistant Examiner(s): LACYK, JOHN P
• Application Number:
  US08/067,950
• Time in Patent Office: 796 Days
• Field of Search: 600/40-41
• US Class Current: 600/40
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/26 Penis implants

Abstract

An implantable penile prosthesis system which includes a fully implantable and elongatable prosthesis that is operated by remote control.

Claims

1. A remote controllable penile prosthetic system, comprising:

an implantable penile prosthesis including,

first fluid chamber means located adjacent a distal end of said prosthesis, and being inflatable with pressurizing fluid,

second fluid chamber means for selectively storing fluid and located adjacent a proximal end of said prosthesis opposite said first fluid chamber means,

fluid transfer means coupled to and cooperating with said first and second chamber means and selectively transferring fluid between said first and second chamber means in response to remote control operation thereof, so as to cause an erect condition of the penis in one mode and to permit withdrawal of the fluid therefrom to effect a flaccid condition of the penis in a second mode, said transfer means including,

a displaceable plunger,

energizable electromagnetic means for selectively displacing said plunger within said fluid transfer means in response to energization of said electromagnetic means,

valve means associated with said fluid transfer means for allowing fluid flow between said first and second chamber means; and

,

energizing means for energizing said energizable means from a remote location.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein said fluid transfer means includes a housing coupled to and between said first and second chamber means and defining an elongated housing chamber for fluidly coupling said first and second chamber means;

said energizable means being positioned within said housing chamber and said plunger being movable within said housing chamber in at least one direction in response to selective energization of said energizable means for allowing fluid to flow from said second chamber means through said valve means to said first chamber means.

3. The system of claim 2 wherein said valve means includes a pair of double-acting valves, each of said double-acting valves being located adjacent an end of said housing and being coupled to respective ones of said first and second chamber means, and said plunger including a double-acting valve for allowing fluid flow therethrough in opposite directions.

4. The system of claim 2 wherein said first fluid chamber means is compressible manually to allow fluid to be forced therefrom.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein said energizing means includes a portable wand containing an electromagnetic field generator which generates selective ones of electromagnetic fields of opposite polarity so as to induce currents of opposite polarity in said energizable means.

6. The system of claim 3 wherein each of said double-acting valves includes at least one passage having a one-way flap valve therein, said passage being opened and closed by said flap valve, and a second passage having a ball type check valve therein, said second passage being opened and closed by said ball type check valve.

7. The system of claim 4 wherein said first fluid chamber means is elongatable.

8. The system of claim 7 wherein said first fluid chamber means includes a bladder that receives pressurizing fluid therein for elongated expansion.

9. The system of claim 2 wherein said energizable means includes a fluid passage therethrough for allowing passage of fluid between said first and second fluid chamber means.

10. The system of claim 2 wherein said second fluid chamber means includes a bladder and a cage assembly connected to said housing for allowing unimpeded expansion and contraction when said prosthesis is implanted and said cage adapted to facilitate securement of said prosthesis to a base of a penis.

11. The system of claim 2 wherein said plunger includes at least one passage having a one-way flap valve therein, said passage being opened and closed by said flap valve, and a second passage defined by a central member, said second passage being opened and closed by a one-way valve, said central member having fluid passage openings therein which are arranged to enhance flow of fluid through said central member between said one and second passage.

12. A unitary penile prosthetic apparatus which is remote controllable, said apparatus comprising:

a fully implantable, self contained, penile prosthesis including,

first fluid chamber means located adjacent a distal end of said prosthesis, and being alternately inflatable with pressurizing fluid so as to cause an erect condition of the penis, or deflatable by withdrawal of the fluid therefrom to effect a flaccid condition in the penis,

second fluid chamber means located adjacent a proximal end of said prosthesis and for selectively storing fluid,

fluid transfer means coupled to and cooperating with said first and second chamber means for selectively transferring fluid between said first and second chamber means in response to remote control operation thereof; and

,

said transfer means including a displaceable plunger, stationary energizable electromagnetic means for displacing said plunger within said fluid transfer means in response to actuation of said electromagnetic means, and valve means for allowing fluid flow between said first and second chamber means.

13. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein said fluid transfer means includes a housing coupled to and between said first and second chamber means and defining an elongated housing chambers said energizable electromagnetic means being positioned within said housing chamber and said plunger being movable within said housing chamber in at least one direction in response to selective energization of said energizable means for allowing fluid to flow from said second chamber means through said valve to said first chamber means.

14. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein said valve means includes a pair of double acting valves, each located in said housing chamber adjacent, respectively, to said first and second chamber means, and said plunger includes a double acting valve for allowing fluid flow therethrough in opposite directions.

15. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein said first fluid chamber means is compressible manually to allow fluid to be forced therefrom.

16. The apparatus of claim 12 further comprising energizing means including a portable wand containing an electromagnetic field generator which generates selective ones of electromagnetic fields of opposite polarity so as to induce currents of opposite polarity in said energizable electromagnetic means.

17. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein said double-acting valve in said plunger includes a passage having one-way flap valve therein and a passage having a ball type check valve therein.

18. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein said first fluid chamber means is elongatable.

19. The apparatus of claim 18 wherein said first fluid chamber means includes a bladder that receives pressurizing fluid therein for elongated expansion.

20. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein said energizable electromagnetic means includes a fluid passage therethrough for allowing passage of fluid between said first and second fluid chamber means.

21. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein said second fluid chamber means includes a bladder and a cage assembly connected to said housing for allowing unsuspected expansion and contraction when said prosthesis is implanted and said cage adapted to facilitate securement of said prosthesis to a base of a penis.

22. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein said plunger includes at least one passage having a one-way flap valve therein, said passage being opened and closed by said flap valve, and a second passage defined by a central member, said second passage having a one-way valve therein, said central member having fluid passage openings therein which are arranged to enhance flow of fluid through said central member between said one and second passages.