Flow sensors for penile tumescence
First Claim
1. A method comprising:
- detecting an arterial blood flow to an erectile tissue with a first sensor;
detecting a venous blood flow away from the erectile tissue with a second sensor;
generating tumescence information that reflects the degree of tumescence of the erectile tissue based on the detected arterial and venous blood flows; and
delivering a therapy to a patient to treat sexual dysfunction based on the tumescence information,wherein generating tumescence information comprises comparing the arterial and venous flows.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The disclosure describes blood flow sensors for detecting penile tumescence. A system according to the invention may include at least one sensor for sensing blood flow into the penis, and one sensor for sensing blood flow away from the penis. Detecting penile tumescence may be accomplished by comparing the flow of blood into the penis to the blood flow out of the penis. A greater inflow of blood indicates an increasing tumescence whereas a greater outflow of blood indicates a decreasing tumescence. The sensors may be used for short- or long-term monitoring of penile tumescence, or as closed-loop feedback in a therapeutic penile tumescence control system, which may deliver electrical or chemical stimulation therapy to control a tumescence or erectile state, thus treating sexual dysfunction or, more specifically, erectile dysfunction.
33 Citations
58 Claims
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1. A method comprising:
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detecting an arterial blood flow to an erectile tissue with a first sensor; detecting a venous blood flow away from the erectile tissue with a second sensor; generating tumescence information that reflects the degree of tumescence of the erectile tissue based on the detected arterial and venous blood flows; and delivering a therapy to a patient to treat sexual dysfunction based on the tumescence information, wherein generating tumescence information comprises comparing the arterial and venous flows. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 39, 40)
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14. A system comprising:
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a first sensor that detects an arterial blood flow to an erectile tissue; a second sensor that detects a venous blood flow away from the erectile tissue; and a processor that generates tumescence information that reflects the degree of tumescence of the erectile tissue based on the detected arterial and venous blood flows, wherein the processor compares the arterial and venous flows, and generates the tumescence information based on the comparison. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 41, 42)
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34. A system comprising:
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means for detecting an arterial blood flow to an erectile tissue; means for detecting a venous blood flow away from the erectile tissue; and means for generating tumescence information that reflects the degree of tumescence of the erectile tissue based on the detected arterial and venous blood flows, wherein the means for generating tumescence information comprises means for comparing the arterial and venous flows. - View Dependent Claims (35, 36, 37, 38, 43, 44)
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45. A method comprising:
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detecting an arterial blood flow to an erectile tissue with a first sensor; detecting a venous blood flow away from the erectile tissue with a second sensor; generating tumescence information that reflects the degree of tumescence of the erectile tissue based on the detected arterial and venous blood flows; and presenting the tumescence information to a user via a user interface, wherein generating tumescence information comprises comparing the arterial and venous flows. - View Dependent Claims (46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58)
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Specification