Malleable Prosthesis Wire Bundle Segmentation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Malleable penile implants face challenges in concealability due to high springback, which requires users to repeatedly bend the device to maintain a concealed position, and existing designs often have large diameters that complicate positioning.
Innovation Solution
A malleable penile prosthetic device with multiple angularly displaced wire bundles surrounded by a sleeve, positioned radially from the central axis, reduces springback by minimizing elastomer use and enhancing malleability, allowing for improved concealability and resistance to bending forces.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If a malleable rod with large diameter is used, then structural strength is improved, but concealability deteriorates due to high springback requiring repeated bending
Solution Approach 1:
The rod is segmented into multiple wire bundles (typically 3-7 bundles) arranged radially around the central axis. Each bundle contains multiple wires (typically 3-9 wires per bundle) that are angularly displaced from neighboring bundles. This segmentation allows the rod to bend more easily while maintaining structural integrity, reducing springback, and improving concealability without sacrificing strength.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple angularly displaced wire bundles are used, then malleability and concealability are improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple wire bundles are merged into a single cylindrical rod structure with radial symmetry. The bundles are positioned at angular intervals around the central axis and embedded in a cohesive matrix material that integrates them into a unified structure. This merging approach achieves malleability through the bundled configuration while maintaining manufacturing simplicity through the regular angular spacing and cylindrical geometry.
Solution Approach 2:
The rod combines different materials: metal wires (stainless steel or nitinol) within each bundle, a matrix material (elastomer, silicone, or polymer) surrounding the bundles, and optionally a biocompatible coating. This composite structure provides both malleability from the wire bundles and structural integration from the matrix, achieving versatility without excessive complexity.
3Strength
If wire bundles are positioned radially from the central axis, then resistance to bending forces is improved, but manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
While the overall structure is symmetric, each wire bundle is asymmetrically positioned at specific angular intervals around the central axis rather than being concentrated in one location. This asymmetric radial distribution optimizes resistance to bending forces from multiple directions while maintaining manufacturability through standardized angular spacing patterns that can be implemented using jigs or molds.
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
The device achieves enhanced concealability and rigidity, maintaining its bent position with reduced springback and improved resistance to bending forces during use, addressing the limitations of existing malleable implants.
Implementation Method 1
One of the problems involved in malleable penile implants is the difficulty in concealing the device by positioning the rods in a bent configuration and remaining in that concealed position. This difficulty is often due to the large diameter of the rod and high springback.
Implementation Method 2
The multiple malleable cores are spaced apart from one another, spaced apart from a central axis, and positioned adjacent an outer diameter of the columnar body. Each malleable core includes a bundle of wires surrounded by a sleeve.
Data Source
AI summary
A malleable penile prosthetic device for implantation within a penis of a user includes a columnar body and a plurality of malleable cores within the columnar body. The columnar body has a proximal end, a distal end, and a central axis extending from the proximal end to the distal end. Each of the plurality of malleable cores extends along the central axis, is angularly displaced about the central axis from neighboring malleable cores, and includes a bundle of wires surrounded by a sleeve.