Inflatable Member With Core Support for Easier Penile Prosthesis Inflation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing penile prostheses require significant force to inflate and often necessitate multiple squeezes of the pump mechanism for inflation, which can be cumbersome and inefficient.
Innovation Solution
An inflatable implant design featuring a body member and core member, where the core member is softer and more flexible than the body member, allowing for easier inflation with fewer pump activations and maintaining a cylindrical shape in the deflated configuration.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Force
If a traditional inflatable cylinder is used, then the structural integrity is maintained, but a relatively large amount of force is required to inflate and multiple sequential squeezes are needed
Solution Approach 1:
The inflatable member is divided into two distinct cavities: a first cavity housing a core member and a second cavity for fluid reception. This segmentation allows the core member to pre-establish structural form, reducing the force needed to inflate the second cavity and enabling more efficient pump operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The core member is pre-positioned within the first cavity to provide initial structural support and cylindrical shaping before inflation occurs. This preliminary structural preparation reduces the effort required during the inflation process, as the framework is already in place to guide and support the inflation of the second cavity.
2Shape
If a traditional inflatable member is used, then the structure is simple, but the member may flatten or lose desired shape during deflation
Solution Approach 1:
The core member is nested within the body member's first cavity, creating a concentric structure where the softer core member is surrounded by the firmer body member. This nested configuration allows the core member to maintain the cylindrical shape during deflation while adding minimal structural complexity to the overall device.
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the inflatable member have different firmness properties: the core member is softer and more flexible, while the body member is firmer and more rigid. This local differentiation of material properties allows the softer core to maintain shape without requiring the entire structure to be complex or overly rigid.
3Ease of operation
If the core member is made softer and more flexible, then easier inflation is achieved, but the structural support may be reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The core member is designed with softer, more flexible material properties specifically in the regions that contact and support the inflatable portion during inflation. This localized softness facilitates easier pump activation while the overall nested structure with the firmer body member maintains adequate structural support.
Solution Approach 2:
The inflatable member combines two different materials with contrasting properties: a softer, more flexible core member material and a firmer, more rigid body member material. This composite construction allows the softer core to ease inflation while the firmer outer structure provides the necessary structural support and shape maintenance.
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
Facilitates easier and more efficient inflation of the penile prosthesis with reduced effort, requiring fewer pump bulb activations and maintaining a desired shape without flattening.
Implementation Method 1
a pump assembly configured to transfer fluid from the fluid reservoir to the inflatable member
Implementation Method 2
the core member is softer and more flexible than the body member, allowing for easier inflation with fewer pump activations and maintaining a cylindrical shape in the deflated configuration
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3~4
AI summary
According to an aspect, an inflatable implant (200) includes a fluid reservoir (202) configured to hold fluid; an inflatable member (210); and a pump assembly (206) configured to transfer fluid from the fluid reservoir to the inflatable member, the inflatable member including a body member (250) and a core member (252, 254, 256), the body member defining a first cavity (262) and a second cavity (264), the core member being disposed within the first cavity, the second cavity being configured to receive the fluid.