Implantable Infusion Needle for Penile Erection Stimulation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for administering drugs to stimulate penis erection, such as injection into the corpora cavernosa or via the urethra, are inconvenient and prone to improper dosing and administration, leading to unreliable results.
Innovation Solution
An implantable infusion needle system with a long, flexible needle implanted in the body, allowing for controlled and precise delivery of medication directly to the corpora cavernosa, reducing the need for manual injection and minimizing fibrosis growth, with a drive unit for advancing and retracting the needle to ensure accurate placement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If manual injection into corpora cavernosa is used, then drug delivery is possible, but patient convenience deteriorates and dosing precision worsens
Solution Approach 1:
The infusion needle is pre-implanted in the patient's body at the correct location before treatment is needed. This preliminary action eliminates the need for repeated manual injections and ensures consistent, precise drug delivery to the corpora cavernosa, resolving both the convenience and dosing precision issues.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary system consisting of an implantable needle, connector, and reservoir that mediates between the drug source and the target tissue. This intermediary infrastructure enables precise, controlled drug delivery without requiring repeated manual intervention, thereby improving both patient convenience and dosing accuracy.
2Productivity
If infusion needle tip is exposed outside housing, then drug injection is possible, but fibrosis growth into the needle worsens
Solution Approach 1:
The infusion needle is nested within the housing structure, with only the necessary portion exposed for drug delivery. The needle can be retracted into the housing when not in use, protecting it from fibrosis growth while maintaining the capability for drug injection when needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The infusion needle is designed to be dynamically movable between an exposed position for drug delivery and a retracted position within the housing for protection. This dynamic positioning allows the system to alternate between productivity (drug delivery) and harm prevention (fibrosis reduction).
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple penetration areas are used, then drug distribution improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a universal connector design that can interface with multiple penetration areas of the housing. This single multi-functional connector enables drug delivery to multiple locations without requiring separate complex mechanisms for each area, thus improving drug distribution while controlling device complexity.
4Object-affected harmful factors
If self-sealing penetration area is used, then housing protection improves, but needle insertion difficulty increases
Solution Approach 1:
The self-sealing penetration area is pre-prepared in the housing during manufacturing. This preliminary action creates a controlled opening that is easy for the needle to penetrate while ensuring automatic sealing when the needle is withdrawn, thus protecting the housing without significantly increasing insertion difficulty.
Data Source
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AI summary
An at least partly implantable system for injecting a substance into a patient's body, in particular a penis erection stimulation system, comprises one or more long, flexibly bendable infusion needles, the tip ends of which are disposed within and implanted along with at least one first housing, in particular adjacent the patient's left and right corpora cavernosa. The respective other end or ends of the infusion needles are disposed and implanted along with at least one second housing remote from the first housing. A reservoir and a pump are also implanted inside the patient's body to supply the infusion needle with infusion liquid. A drive unit also adapted for implantation inside the patient's body is arranged for advancing and retracting the infusion needle such that its tip end penetrates the at least one first housing's outer wall in at least one penetration area, more specifically at least in two different penetration areas either simultaneously or in immediate time succession, thereby injecting the substance into the patient's body.