Inflatable Penile Prosthesis Cylinder with Segmented Elongate Members
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing penile prostheses require significant force to inflate and often assume an unnatural shape when deflated, making them less effective and user-unfriendly.
Innovation Solution
An inflatable penile prosthesis with a cylinder featuring elongate members within a lumen, a pump assembly, and a reservoir, allowing for easier inflation and maintaining a natural tubular shape in the deflated configuration, facilitated by a lubricious coating and a valve system for efficient fluid transfer.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If existing inflatable cylinders are used, then the prosthesis can be inflated and deflated, but a relatively large amount of force is required to inflate and many sequential squeezes are needed
Solution Approach 1:
The inflatable cylinder is segmented into multiple chambers separated by partition walls. This segmentation allows fluid to be distributed across multiple compartments, reducing the pressure and force required in each individual chamber during inflation, thereby making the device easier to operate with less manual squeezing effort
Solution Approach 2:
The invention introduces a longitudinal dimension to the inflation process by creating multiple chambers along the length of the cylinder. Instead of inflating a single large chamber, the fluid distributes across multiple smaller chambers in sequence, transforming the inflation process from a single-point pressure application to a distributed multi-chamber system that requires less force
2Shape
If existing inflatable cylinders are used, then the prosthesis can be inflated and deflated, but the cylinder assumes a flat, unnatural shape when deflated
Solution Approach 1:
The cylinder is divided into multiple chambers by partition walls that extend along its length. When deflated, these partition walls maintain the cylindrical structure by preventing the walls from collapsing completely, thereby preserving a natural anatomical shape rather than a flat collapsed appearance
Solution Approach 2:
The partition walls are designed as flexible yet structurally supportive elements that can bend and flex during inflation and deflation cycles while maintaining the overall cylindrical geometry. These thin film structures provide just enough rigidity to prevent complete collapse while remaining flexible enough to allow natural movement and shape changes
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 solution reduces the force required for inflation, maintains a natural anatomically correct shape in the deflated state, and improves the overall usability and reliability of the penile prosthesis.
Implementation Method 1
the elongate member includes a coating. In some embodiments, the elongate member includes a coating, the coating configured to increase the lubricity of a surface of the elongate member
Implementation Method 2
a pump assembly configured to facilitate a transfer of a fluid from the reservoir to the inflatable member
Data Source
AI summary
According to an aspect, an implant includes an inflatable member and a pump assembly configured to facilitate a transfer of a fluid from the reservoir to the inflatable member. The inflatable member has a sidewall that defines a lumen and an elongate member disposed within the lumen.