Penile Prosthesis Push Valve for Collapsed Pump Bulb Bypass
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing penile prostheses face issues with complex valve components that can cause the pump bulb to get stuck in a collapsed state, requiring manual deformation to dislodge valves for fluid flow, complicating the inflation and deflation processes.
Innovation Solution
A pump assembly with a push valve featuring a movable valve element that moves between inflation and deflation positions within a bore, allowing fluid to bypass the pump bulb during deflation, facilitated by a biasing member and feedback mechanism for easy switching, reducing the likelihood of bulb entrapment and simplifying operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If complex valve components are used in the pump assembly, then fluid flow control is improved, but the pump bulb may get stuck in a collapsed state requiring manual deformation to dislodge valves
Solution Approach 1:
The valve system is divided into separate components: a push valve with movable valve element for deflation control, and a refill valve for inflation control. This segmentation allows each valve to be optimized independently, preventing the pump bulb from getting stuck while maintaining reliable fluid flow control.
Solution Approach 2:
The push valve is designed to be displaceable from the valve body, allowing it to be easily removed or adjusted. This extraction capability enables the valve to be dislodged from the collapsed state without manual deformation, resolving the operational difficulty while maintaining fluid control reliability.
2Reliability
If manual deformation is required to dislodge valve components, then fluid flow can be restored, but the operation becomes complicated and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The push valve is pre-configured with a displacement mechanism that allows it to be easily moved from the blocked position to the open position. This preliminary design feature eliminates the need for manual deformation during operation, enabling rapid restoration of fluid flow without time loss.
Solution Approach 2:
The valve system is designed to self-regulate fluid flow through the movable valve element that automatically responds to pressure changes. This self-service mechanism prevents the need for manual intervention to restore fluid flow, saving time and simplifying operation.
3Reliability
If the pump bulb is struck in a collapsed state due to valve complexity, then fluid transfer is blocked, but the device structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The valve system is segmented into distinct functional components: a push valve for deflation control and a refill valve for inflation control. This segmentation simplifies each individual component while maintaining overall fluid transfer reliability, avoiding the need for complex integrated valve structures.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of using a complex single valve structure that may collapse, the invention uses a simplified movable valve element that opens fluid pathways through displacement. This inverted approach achieves reliable fluid transfer control with reduced structural complexity.
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 design ensures seamless inflation and deflation cycles with reduced mechanical complexity, minimizing the risk of pump bulb entrapment and providing tactile or auditory feedback for user confirmation, enhancing operational efficiency and ease of use.
Implementation Method 1
The push valve may include a biasing member that biases the movable valve element to the inflation position.
Implementation Method 2
a pump assembly configured to transfer the fluid between the fluid reservoir and the inflatable member
Data Source
Figure 1
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Figure 2B
AI summary
According to an aspect, an inflatable penile prosthesis includes a fluid reservoir, an inflatable member, and a pump assembly. The pump assembly includes a pump bulb, a valve body, a push valve movably coupled to the valve body, a first fluid port, and a second fluid port. The push valve includes a movable valve element configured to move between an inflation position and a deflation position within a bore of the valve body. The movable valve element in the inflation position defines a fluid passageway through the bore to transfer fluid from the pump bulb to the second fluid port. The movable valve element, when moved to the deflation position, is configured to change the fluid passageway through the bore to transfer fluid from the second fluid port to the first fluid port such that the pump bulb is bypassed.