Method of treating for impotence and apparatus particularly useful in such method

Abstract

A method and apparatus for treating a male for impotence, i.e., for enabling, or improving the ability of, the male to achieve or maintain a penile erection of adequate rigidity for sexual intercourse, by applying monochromatic light radiation, preferably low-power laser radiation of a wavelength of 440 nm, to the penis of the male, sufficient to induce relaxation of the walls of the blood vessels supplying blood to the corpora cavernosa of the penis.

Description

FIELD AND BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0001] The invention relates to a method of treating a male for impotence, namely a male's inability to achieve or maintain a penile erection of adequate rigidity for sexual intercourse. The invention also relates to apparatus for irradiating an object with monochromatic light, preferably a laser beam, which apparatus is particularly useful in such method.[0002] The penis consists of two longitudinal cylindrical bodies called the corpora cavernosa. These bodies are composed of sponge-like tissue that contains tiny vascular spaces (cavernous sinuses) surrounded by smooth muscle. A third cylinder is the urethra, a tube that carries the urine and the ejaculate. Blood flows to the penis via two very small arteries that come from the aorta. During erection, blood is pumped into the penis under great pressure, and a series of valves trap the blood in the penis to maintain the erection.[0003] The sequence of events that initiate an erection includes rel...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0019] An object of the present invention is to provide a novel method of treating a male for impotence, i.e., for enabling, or improving the ability of, the male to achieve penile erection of adequate rigidity for sexual intercourse, which method has advantages in one or more of the above respects. Another object of the invention is to provide apparatus for irradiating an object with light radiation, preferably laser radiation, which apparatus is particularly useful in the above method but could conceivably be used in other applications.

[0023] It is believed that the foregoing method can be used for treating a male for impotence without the side effects and other drawbacks present in the currently used methods.

[0024] Thus, recent studies have shown that monochromatic light radiation, particularly laser radiation, induces relaxation of vascular smooth muscle in vitro, and in vivo at low powers. At high power, predominantly heat formation, constriction, focal coaguli formation, hemostasis and thermal damage to tissues occur. The shorter is the light wavelengths, the more effective is the relaxation.

Problems solved by technology

The sequence of events that initiate an erection includes relaxation of the sinusoid muscle, which results in a decrease of resistance and an increase in blood flow.

vacuum constrictor devices; however these may be cumbersome to use and may cause pain and / or premature loss of penile tumescence / rigidity.

transdermal administration of vasoactive drugs; however these are usually ineffective.

transurethal administration of vasoactive drugs; however these may cause pain and insufficient erection.

intracavernous injection of vasoactive agents; however these are frequently accompanied by side effects including hematomas, pain, formation of fibrotic nodules within the corpora cavernosa, penile curvature and priapism.

penile prosthesis implantation; however this involves irreversible destruction of corpora cavernosa vessels, and possible complications including infection, erosion of a component of a prosthesis, and mechanical failure of prosthesis components.

sildenafil (e.g., Viagra, the recently introduced drug) which prevents degradation of the cyclic guanosine monophosphate and thus enhances erections; however, this may be accompanied by serious, possibly fatal, side effects.

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