Four-Way Valve Pump for Easier Inflatable Penile Prosthesis Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing inflatable penile prostheses require significant time, energy, and effort for inflation and deflation, and transitioning between erect and flaccid states can be cumbersome.
Innovation Solution
An inflatable penile prosthesis with a pump assembly featuring a 5-port valve body, check valves, and a spool that allows for manual operation to switch between inflation and deflation modes, utilizing a spool to facilitate fluid transfer between a reservoir and inflatable member without manual pumping in certain conditions, and incorporating non-metallic components for MRI compatibility.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a traditional pump assembly is used for inflatable penile prosthesis, then the device can transfer fluid between reservoir and inflatable member, but the patient must exert significant manual effort and time for inflation and deflation
Solution Approach 1:
The pump assembly automatically transfers fluid from the reservoir to the inflatable member or vice versa in response to patient stimulation, eliminating the need for manual pumping operations. The system self-regulates the inflation and deflation processes through its internal valve and pump mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The pump and valve assembly is pre-configured with check valves and fluid channels that automatically direct fluid flow in the correct direction before patient need arises, enabling immediate response to stimulation without requiring the patient to perform preparatory manual operations.
2Reliability
If metal components are used in the pump assembly, then the structural strength and durability are improved, but the device becomes incompatible with MRI scanning due to oxidation and damage risks
Solution Approach 1:
The pump assembly utilizes composite material construction, combining non-metallic materials (such as biocompatible polymers and elastomers) with reinforcement structures to achieve the necessary mechanical strength and durability without using metal components, thereby ensuring MRI compatibility.
Solution Approach 2:
Metal components are completely removed from the pump assembly design. The invention extracts the harmful metallic elements while maintaining structural integrity through alternative non-metallic material selection and design configurations.
3Measurement precision
If a complex valve mechanism is used to control fluid flow directions, then the precision of mode switching is improved, but the device complexity and difficulty of operation increase
Solution Approach 1:
The valve body integrates multiple fluid control functions into a single unified structure. The pump assembly combines the pump chamber, valve mechanisms, and fluid channels into one integrated unit, reducing the number of separate components while maintaining precise mode switching capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The spool valve serves multiple functions simultaneously: it controls inflation, controls deflation, and directs fluid flow between different pathways. This multi-functional design simplifies the overall mechanism while maintaining precise control over fluid direction and mode switching.
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
Simplifies the mechanism for controlling erect and flaccid states, reduces patient effort, and enhances reliability and safety by minimizing the risk of oxidation and damage, while allowing for faster inflation and deflation processes.
Implementation Method 1
a spool configured to move within the valve body to switch between the inflation mode and the deflation mode
Implementation Method 2
a first check valve disposed within the first fluid channel, and a second check valve disposed within the second fluid channel
Implementation Method 3
The reservoir may be pressurized such that activation of the spool to the inflation mode causes at least a portion of the fluid to transfer from the reservoir to the inflatable member through the pump assembly without operating the pump
Implementation Method 4
The pump may include a pump bulb and a valve body connector integrally formed with the pump bulb
Data Source
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AI summary
An inflatable penile prosthesis (100) includes an inflatable member (104), a reservoir (102) configured to hold fluid, and a pump assembly (101) configured to facilitate a transfer of the fluid from the reservoir to the inflatable member when in an inflation mode, and facilitate the transfer of the fluid from the inflatable member to the reservoir when in a deflation mode. The pump assembly includes a pump (106), and a valve body (107) defining at least three ports (151, 152, 153) operatively coupled to the pump such that three separate fluid channels extend to the pump. The valve body defines at least one port (154) operatively coupled to the reservoir, and at least one port (155) operatively coupled to the inflatable member. The pump assembly includes a spool (108) configured to move within the valve body to switch between the inflation mode and the deflation mode.