Penile Prosthetic Deflation Assembly Palpable Activation Surface
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing penile prosthetic devices face challenges in user accessibility and identification of the deflation mechanism, particularly for patients with limited dexterity or those with obese or fatty tissue, as the deflation assembly is often incorporated with the pump or reservoir, making it difficult to locate and operate.
Innovation Solution
A penile prosthetic design featuring a separate deflation assembly with a prominent and easily identifiable activation surface, including an outer peripheral rim surrounding a recessed activation area, allowing for easy palpation through skin and tissue layers, and implanted between the transversalis fascia and the pelvis exterior surface, decoupling the pump and reservoir functions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If the deflation assembly is incorporated with the pump or reservoir, then the device complexity is reduced, but the ease of operation deteriorates due to difficulty in locating and operating the deflation mechanism
Solution Approach 1:
The deflation assembly is separated from the pump and reservoir into an independent component. This segmentation allows the deflation mechanism to be positioned in an anatomically accessible location with a palpable activation surface, improving ease of operation while maintaining overall system functionality through modular design
Solution Approach 2:
The deflation assembly is extracted from the integrated pump-reservoir structure and positioned separately in the scrotum. This extraction enables the deflation mechanism to be accessed independently through skin and tissue, resolving the contradiction by prioritizing user accessibility over structural integration
2Ease of operation
If the activation surface is made prominent and easily identifiable, then the ease of operation improves, but the device complexity increases due to additional structural components
Solution Approach 1:
The activation surface is designed with differentiated local qualities: a prominent outer peripheral rim for easy location and a recessed pad for activation. This localized structural variation improves operability by providing tactile cues without requiring complex additional mechanisms throughout the entire device
3Ease of operation
If the deflation assembly is implanted between transversalis fascia and pelvis exterior surface, then the ease of operation improves through better accessibility, but the ease of manufacture deteriorates due to complex implantation positioning
Solution Approach 1:
The surgical implantation process is segmented into distinct steps: first implanting the pump and reservoir, then separately implanting the deflation assembly in the scrotum. This segmentation of the manufacturing/implantation process allows for optimized positioning and connectivity without requiring complex integrated implantation procedures
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The design enhances user accessibility and ease of operation by providing a palpable activation surface, allowing patients to locate and activate the deflation mechanism effectively, even through thick skin and fatty tissue, and allows for customization based on patient anatomy.
Implementation Method 1
a pad that is movable to displace the valve to allow the fluid to flow from the cylinder to the reservoir
Data Source
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AI summary
A penile prosthetic (20) includes a penile implant (22), a reservoir (24), a pump (26), and a deflation assembly (28). The penile implant is implantable in a corpora cavernosum. The pump is connectable between the cylinder and the reservoir and is operable to move fluid from the reservoir to inflate the penile implant. The deflation assembly is connectable between the pump and the reservoir and includes a valve that selectively restricts movement of the fluid from the penile implant to the reservoir, a base and an activation surface opposite the base, where the activation surface includes a central activation area that is recessed in a concave configuration relative to an outer peripheral rim, wherein the activation surface is movable to displace the valve to allow the fluid to flow from the penile implant to the reservoir. The central activation area is recessed relative to the outer peripheral rim such that it is entirely located between the the outer peripheral rim and the base.