Electric Pump Inflatable Penile Prosthesis for Limited Dexterity
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing inflatable medical implants, such as artificial sphincters and penile prostheses, require manual dexterity to operate, making them unsuitable for patients who cannot manually compress a pump chamber, thus limiting their applicability in treating conditions like erectile dysfunction and incontinence.
Innovation Solution
An inflatable medical implant system featuring an electric pump and implantable power supply, controlled by an external state controller, allowing for wireless activation and fluid flow management through fluid paths to inflate or deflate the implant, eliminating the need for manual dexterity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a manual pump chamber is used in inflatable medical implants, then the device can be operated without external power sources, but patients lacking manual dexterity cannot operate the device
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the manual mechanical pump chamber system with an electric pump system powered by an implantable power supply. This substitution allows the device to be operated without requiring manual dexterity, as the electric pump can be controlled through alternative interfaces such as external controllers or implanted sensors, thereby resolving the contradiction between ease of operation for disabled patients and device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary control system that mediates between the patient's intent and the pump operation. This could be an external controller that receives signals from the patient through non-manual interfaces (such as muscle sensors or wireless communication) and activates the electric pump accordingly, or an implanted controller that automatically responds to physiological conditions, thus enabling operation without direct manual manipulation.
2Adaptability or versatility
If an electric pump with implantable power supply is used, then patients without manual dexterity can control the implant, but the device complexity and surgical implantation requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent designs the inflatable medical implant system to serve multiple patient populations through its adaptable control mechanisms. The electric pump system can be configured to respond to various input methods (external controllers, implanted sensors, wireless interfaces), making it universally applicable to patients with different types of disabilities, not just those lacking manual dexterity. This multi-functionality approach increases adaptability while managing manufacturing complexity through standardized components.
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
Enables patients to control the implant system without manual dexterity, effectively treating conditions like erectile dysfunction and incontinence by providing a reliable and user-friendly means to inflate or deflate the implant, improving the system's accessibility and usability.
Implementation Method 1
The pump is activated to drive a flow of fluid through the first fluid path and into the cylinder
Implementation Method 2
An implantable power supply, such as a battery, is provided and configured to supply power to the pump
Data Source
AI summary
A medical implant system for implantation in a patient to treat erectile dysfunction includes a first fluid path, an inflatable penile prosthesis cylinder, an electric pump, and implant controller, and an implantable power supply. The inflatable penile prosthesis cylinder is in fluid communication with the first fluid path and is configured for implantation in a corpus cavernosum of a patient. The electric pump is in fluid communication with the first fluid path. The implant controller is electrically coupled to the pump and is configured to activate the pump to drive a flow of fluid through the first fluid path and into the cylinder. The implantable power supply provides electrical power to the pump.