Prosthesis Adapter for Securing Rear Tip Extender
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Solution Overview
Problem
The hydrophilic coating on penile prosthesis cylinders reduces the friction fit engagement of rear tip extenders (RTEs), leading to potential separation during or after implantation.
Innovation Solution
Adapters with protrusions or engagement lips are designed to fit over the outer surface of the rear tip or RTE, exerting force to secure the RTE in place, either by compression or mechanical interference, thereby increasing the force required to separate the components.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If a hydrophilic coating is applied to the penile prosthesis cylinder to aid implantation and provide antibiotic properties, then the coating becomes hydrated and provides lubricious surface, but the friction fit engagement of the rear tip extender to the cylinder is reduced, leading to potential separation
Solution Approach 1:
An adapter is introduced as an intermediary component between the hydrophilic-coated cylinder and the rear tip extender. The adapter fits over the coated cylinder surface and provides a non-lubricious engagement surface for the extender, thereby mediating the interaction between the lubricious coating and the extender to maintain reliable engagement despite the coating's lubricity
Solution Approach 2:
The problematic lubricious surface (the hydrophilic coating on the cylinder) is effectively extracted from the engagement interface by placing the adapter over it. The adapter creates a new engagement interface that is independent of the coating's lubricious properties, separating the coating's implantation benefits from the engagement function
2Ease of operation
If the rear tip extender is secured to the cylinder via friction fit and mechanical interference, then the components can be assembled, but the vacuum separation force is insufficient to prevent RTE separation during or after implantation
Solution Approach 1:
The engagement interface is segmented into multiple functional zones: the adapter provides a compressed engagement surface for mechanical interference, while the rear tip extender maintains its friction fit function. This segmentation allows different mechanisms to work together, with the adapter's compression adding to the overall retention force
Solution Approach 2:
The adapter is pre-installed on the cylinder before the rear tip extender is attached. This preliminary action creates a prepared engagement surface that enhances the subsequent friction fit and mechanical interference between the extender and cylinder, effectively pre-strengthening the connection before final assembly
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 adapters enhance the connection force between the RTE and the penile prosthesis cylinder or another RTE, reducing the likelihood of separation during and after implantation, ensuring a stable fit.
Implementation Method 1
the friction fit engagement of a RTE to the rear tip of the cylinder (or to another RTE) can be reduced
Implementation Method 2
the engagement lips can exert force against and cause compression of an outer surface of the rear tip
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2A~2B
Figure 3
AI summary
An adapter (200) for holding a rear tip extender (60) onto the cylinder of a penile prosthesis or onto another rear tip extender is described herein.