Nocturnal penile tumescence and rigidity monitor and method

• US 4,606,353 A
• Filed: 03/19/1985
• Issued: 08/19/1986
• Est. Priority Date: 06/13/1983
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Endocare Inc. (Siemens AG)
• Original Assignee: Dacomed Corp. (Imagyn Medical Technologies, Inc.)
• Inventors: Timm, Gerald W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Howell, Kyle L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Hanley, John C.
• Application Number:
  US06/713,452
• Time in Patent Office: 518 Days
• Field of Search: 128/694, 128/774, 128/782, 33/174 D
• US Class Current: 600/587
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/103 Detecting, measuring or recording devices for testing the shape, pattern, colour, size or movement of the body or parts thereof, for diagnostic purposes A61B5/08 takes precedence; measuring aids for tailors A41H1/00; measuring instruments specially adapted for dentistry A61C19/04
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4393 Sexual arousal or erectile dysfunction evaluation, e.g. tumescence evaluation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6813 Specially adapted to be attached to a specific body part A61B5/6802 takes precedence

Abstract

A penile rigidity and tumescence monitor apparatus is disclosed. The monitor apparatus includes a transducer apparatus (20) for providing output signals indicative of penile rigidity and tumescence throughout a penile tumescence event. A control apparatus (22) is operatively interconnected to the transducer apparatus (20) for providing control thereover. The control apparatus (22) also provides for acquisition and storage of penile rigidity and tumescence data represented by the output signals received from the transducer apparatus (20).

Claims

1. A penile rigidity and tumescence monitor and apparatus, comprising:

(a) first transducer means for providing output signals indicative of penile rigidity and tumescence throughout a penile tumescence event;

(b) second transducer means for providing output signals indicative of penile rigidity and tumescence throughout a penile tumescence event; and

(c) control means operatively interconnected to said transducer means for providing control of said transducer means, said control means further providing for acquisition of said output signals.

2. A penile rigidity and tumescence monitor apparatus, comprising:

(a) transducer means for providing output signals indicative of penile rigidity and tumescence throughout a penile tumescence event;

(b) control means operatively interconnected to said transducer means for providing control of said transducer means, said control means further providing for acquisition of said output signals; and

(c) means for removably mounting said control means and said transducer means on a patient, said control means and said transducer means being portable such that the monitor apparatus is ambulatory in nature thereby enabling a patient to use the monitor apparatus while moving around.

3. A penile rigidity and tumescence monitor apparatus, comprising:

(a) transducer means for providing output signals indicative of penile rigidity and tumescence throughout a penile tumescence event;

(b) control means operatively interconnected to said transducer means for providing control of said transducer means, said control means further providing for acquisition of said output signals, said control means further including means for recording of penile rigidity and tumescence data throughout the penile tumescence event; and

(c) interface means operatively interconnected to the control means for interfacing with programmable means providing for analysis of penile rigidity and tumescence data, said means for interfacing including modem means for communication over telephone lines with the programmable means.

4. A penile rigidity and tumescence monitor apparatus, comprising:

(a) transducer means for providing output signals indicative of penile rigidity and tumescence throughout a penile tumescence event;

(b) control means operatively interconnected to said transducer means for providing control of said transducer means, said control means further providing for acquisition of said output signals, said control means further including means for recording of penile rigidity and tumescence data throughout the penile tumescence event; and

(c) interface means operatively interconnected to the control means for interfacing with programmable means providing for analysis of penile rigidity and tumescence data, said means for interfacing including means for directly interconnecting the monitor apparatus to the programmable means by an electrical cable member whereby penile rigidity and tumescence data can be transfered.

5. A penile rigidity and tumescence monitor apparatus, comprising:

(a) transducer means for providing output signals indicative of penile rigidity and tumescence throughout a penile tumescence event;

(b) control means operatively interconnected to said transducer means for providing control of said transducer means, said control means further providing for acquisition of said output signals, said control means further including means for recording of penile rigidity and tumescence data throughout the penile tumescence event; and

(c) interface means operatively interconnected to the control means for interfacing with programmable means providing for analysis of penile rigidity and tumescence data wherein said means for interfacing includes transportable memory means for transporting between the monitor apparatus and the programmable means.

6. A penile tumescence monitor apparatus, comprising:

(a) first transducer means providing output signals indicative of penile tumescence, said first transducer means including an elongated member slideably enclosed within a non-compressible sheath along a portion thereof, said elongated member being adapted for forming a loop portion for releasable attachment about the circumference of a penis, said elongated member being slideably displaced within said sheath due to changes in penile circumference, said first transducer means including means for placing said elongated member in a tensioned condition, said first transducer means also including means operatively interconnected to said elongated member for monitoring the displacement of said elongated member due to changes in penile circumference;

(b) second transducer means providing output signals indicative of penile tumescence, said second transducer means including an elongated member slideably enclosed within a non-compressible sheath along a portion thereof, said elongated member being adapted for forming a loop portion for releasable attachment about the circumference of a penis, said elongated member being slideably displaced within said sheath due to changes in penile circumference, said second transducer means including means for placing said elongated member in a tensioned condition, said second transducer means also including means operatively interconnected to said elongated member for monitoring the displacement of said elongated member due to changes in penile circumference; and

(c) control means operatively interconnected to said first and second transducer means for providing control of said first and second transducer means.

7. A monitor apparatus in accordance with claim 6, wherein said penile tumescence monitor apparatus is portable and includes means for removeably mounting said control means and said first and second transducer means on the body of a patient such that the monitor apparatus is ambulatory in nature, thereby enabling a patient to use the monitor apparatus while moving around.

8. A method of monitoring penile tumescence and rigidity, comprising the steps of:

(a) placing an expandable loop around the circumference of a penis in such a way that penile tumescence is reflected in changes in the circumference of the loop;

(b) measuring the circumference of the loop at predetermined intervals;

(c) storing the circumference measurements if the current measurement is different than the measurement at the previous interval by a first predetermined amount, whereby a record of tumescence is stored;

(d) reducing the circumference of the loop under a predetermined force if the current measurement is different than the measurement at the previous interval by a second predetermined amount;

(e) measuring the change in circumference of said loop due to the application of said predetermined force;

(f) storing the change in circumference measurement; and

(g) transferring the circumference and change in circumference measurements to programmed microprocessor means for analysis.