Systems and methods for monitoring and evaluating penile tumescence
First Claim
1. A method of monitoring the tumescent state of the penis of a patient, the method comprising:
- (a) placing sensing elements in proximity to the penis;
(b) sensing impedance values of the penis both when the penis is in an erect state and when the penis is in a flaccid state with the sensing elements;
(c) determining at least one penile variable using the impedance values, the at least one penile variable being selected from the group consisting of length, volume, volume-change, and volume-filling rate variables; and
(d) using the at least one penile variable to generate a display output.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus for monitoring the tumescent state of the penis of a patient includes a plurality of sensing elements to be placed in proximity to the penis for sensing penile impedance values. A processing device is operably coupled to the plurality of sensing elements, the processing device determining at least one penile variable using the impedance values. The at least one penile variable is selected from the group consisting of length, volume, volume-change, cross-sectional area and volume-filling rate variables. An output device operably coupled with the processing device to generate a display using the at least one determined penile variable. The output device displays e.g. a plot of penile length, penile volume values and/or penile cross-sectional area values for comparison by a user of the apparatus, readily allowing the user to distinguish artifactual effects from erectile events. According to one embodiment, cardiac-signature data is determined using the penile impedance values, and the apparatus indicates periods of erectile activity using the cardiac-signature data. Corresponding methods also are discussed.
81 Citations
49 Claims
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1. A method of monitoring the tumescent state of the penis of a patient, the method comprising:
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(a) placing sensing elements in proximity to the penis; (b) sensing impedance values of the penis both when the penis is in an erect state and when the penis is in a flaccid state with the sensing elements; (c) determining at least one penile variable using the impedance values, the at least one penile variable being selected from the group consisting of length, volume, volume-change, and volume-filling rate variables; and (d) using the at least one penile variable to generate a display output. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. An apparatus for monitoring the tumescent state of the penis of a patient, the apparatus comprising:
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a plurality of sensing elements to be placed in proximity to the penis for sensing impedance values of the penis both when the penis is in an erect state and when the penis is in a flaccid state; a processing device operably coupled to the plurality of sensing elements, the processing device determining at least one penile variable using the impedance values, the at least one penile variable being selected from the group consisting of length, volume, volume-change, and volume-filling rate variables; and an output device operably coupled with the processing device to generate a display using the at least one determined penile variable. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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- 18. An apparatus for monitoring the tumescent state of the penis of a patient, the apparatus comprising a plurality of sensing elements to be placed in proximity to the penis for sensing impedance values of the penis both when the penis is in an erect state and when the penis is in a flaccid state, the plurality of sensing elements being operably couplable to a processing device for determining penile variables using the impedance values, the penile variables being suitable for display by an output device.
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29. A method of monitoring the tumescent state of the penis of a patient, the method comprising:
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(a) determining impedance values of the penis; (b) determining cardiac-signature data using the penile impedance values; and (c) using the cardiac-signature data to indicate periods of penile activity. - View Dependent Claims (30, 31, 32, 40, 41)
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33. An apparatus for monitoring the tumescent state of the penis of a patient, the apparatus comprising:
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apparatus for determining impedance values of the penis; apparatus for determining cardiac-signature data using the penile impedance values; and apparatus for indicating periods of penile activity using the cardiac-signature data. - View Dependent Claims (34, 35, 36)
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37. An apparatus for nocturnally monitoring erectile events in a patient, the apparatus comprising:
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sensing apparatus for sensing penile data over time while the patient is asleep; and display apparatus for displaying information determined from the penile data versus time; wherein the displayed information is used to diagnose vasculogenic and/or psychogenic causes of erectile dysfunction; wherein the sensing apparatus is used to determine penile-tissue impedance values and blood impedance values. - View Dependent Claims (38, 39)
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42. An apparatus for nocturnally monitoring erectile events in a patient, the apparatus comprising:
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sensing apparatus for sensing penile data over time while the patient is asleep; and display apparatus for displaying information determined from the penile data versus time; wherein the displayed information is used to diagnose vasculogenic and/or psychogenic causes of erectile dysfunction; further wherein the apparatus approximates change in an offset volume variable according to the equation;
##EQU22## where Δ
Vos is change in offset volume, ρ
b and ρ
t are resistivities of blood and tissue filled penile volumes, respectively, A is cross-sectional area, LP is penile length at the time of measurement, Lref is a reference length reflecting average length of the penis in the flaccid state, and C is an integration constant.
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- 43. An apparatus for monitoring the tumescent state of the penis of a patient, the apparatus comprising means for sensing impedance values of the penis both when the penis is in an erect state and when the penis is in a flaccid state, the means for sensing to be placed in proximity to the penis, the means for sensing being operably couplable to means for processing, the means for processing determining penile variables using the impedance values, the penile variables being suitable for display by an output device.
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46. A method of monitoring the tumescent state of the penis of a patient, the method comprising:
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(a) placing at least five sensing elements in proximity to the penis; (b) sensing penile impedance values with the sensing elements; (c) determining at least one penile variable using the impedance values, the at least one penile variable being selected from the group consisting of length, volume, volume-change, cross-sectional area and volume-filling rate variables; and (d) using the at least one penile variable to generate a display output.
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47. An apparatus for monitoring the tumescent state of the penis of a patient, the apparatus comprising a plurality of sensing elements to be placed in proximity to the penis for sensing penile impedance values, the plurality of sensing elements being operably couplable to a processing device for determining penile variables using the impedance values, the penile variables being suitable for display by an output device, wherein the processing device approximates change in an offset volume variable according to the equation:
- ##EQU23## where Δ
Vos is change in offset volume, ρ
b and ρ
t are resistivities of blood and tissue filled penile volumes, respectively, A is cross-sectional area, LP is penile length at the time of measurement, Lref is a reference length reflecting average length of the penis in the flaccid state, and C is an integration constant.
- ##EQU23## where Δ
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48. An apparatus for nocturnally monitoring erectile events in a patient, the apparatus comprising:
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sensing apparatus for sensing penile data over time while the patient is asleep; and display apparatus for displaying information determined from the penile data versus time; wherein the displayed information is used to diagnose vasculogenic and/or psychogenic causes of erectile dysfunction; further wherein; a diurnal erectile event is medicinally induced in a flaccid penis while the patient is awake; the sensing apparatus senses diurnal penile data during said diurnal erectile event; and the display apparatus facilitates comparison of nocturnal penile data with diurnal penile data to evaluate the quality of nocturnal erectile events. - View Dependent Claims (49)
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Specification