Dual Pump Inflatable Penile Prosthesis for Rapid Inflation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing inflatable penile prostheses require a significant amount of time and energy to achieve the desired penis rigidity, with a high disparity from natural human male erections.
Innovation Solution
The inflatable penile prosthesis incorporates a dual pump system with a first pump and a second pump, each operating at different flow rates and pressures, and a controller that switches between parallel and serial configurations to optimize fluid transfer during inflation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a single pump mechanism is used to transfer fluid to the inflatable member, then the device complexity is reduced, but the inflation time and energy consumption increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The pump mechanism is divided into multiple independent pump units (first pump, second pump, third pump) that can operate simultaneously or sequentially. Each pump unit has its own pump chamber and operates at different flow rates, enabling parallel fluid transfer to the inflatable member, thereby reducing overall inflation time while maintaining manageable device complexity through modular design.
Solution Approach 2:
Multiple pump units are combined within a single pump housing structure, sharing common components such as the fluid reservoir connection, control valve system, and housing. This merging approach reduces overall device complexity by consolidating multiple functions into a unified structure while still achieving the time-saving benefits of parallel operation.
2Device complexity
If a single pump mechanism is used to transfer fluid to the inflatable member, then the device structure is simplified, but the energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The pump mechanism is segmented into multiple independent pump units, each capable of operating at optimized flow rates. This segmentation allows the system to distribute the total work required across multiple smaller units, reducing the peak energy demand on any single unit and enabling more efficient energy utilization through parallel operation.
Solution Approach 2:
Each pump unit operates at different flow rates (first flow rate, second flow rate, third flow rate) optimized for specific phases of the inflation process. By varying the operational parameters of each pump unit, the system achieves more efficient energy consumption patterns compared to a single pump operating at a fixed flow rate throughout the entire inflation process.
3Productivity
If multiple pumps operate at different flow rates, then the inflation efficiency is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The pump assembly is segmented into multiple independent pump units, each with its own pump chamber and control mechanism. This segmentation enables each unit to operate at optimized flow rates simultaneously, achieving high inflation efficiency while maintaining modular complexity that is easier to manufacture and maintain compared to a single complex pump.
Solution Approach 2:
The pump housing and control valve system serve multiple functions by supporting and controlling multiple pump units. The control valve assembly can direct fluid flow to different pump units and regulate their operation, providing universal control functionality that manages the complexity of multiple pumps operating at different flow rates.
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
This dual pump system significantly reduces the time and energy required to achieve full inflation, providing a more efficient and natural-like erection experience.
Implementation Method 1
a first pump configured to transfer the fluid from the fluid reservoir to the inflatable member during a first phase of an inflation cycle, and a second pump configured to transfer the fluid from the fluid reservoir to the inflatable member during a second phase of the inflation cycle
Data Source
AI summary
According to an aspect, an inflatable penile prosthesis includes a fluid reservoir configured to hold fluid, an inflatable member, and a pump assembly configured to transfer the fluid from the fluid reservoir to the inflatable member during an inflation cycle. The pump assembly includes a first pump configured to inject the fluid into the inflatable member according to a first flow rate, and a second pump configured to inject fluid into the inflatable member according to a second flow rate, where the second flow rate is less than the first flow rate.