Soft Extension Member for Vacuum Erection Devices
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current vacuum erection devices (VEDs) are rigid, causing discomfort and potential injury due to the need for a rigid cylinder that presses into the skin, leading to vacuum leaks and tissue entrapment, and are ineffective in treating venous occlusive disorders like erectile dysfunction.
Innovation Solution
A soft extension member adapted for use with a rigid therapeutic vacuum cylinder that applies negative pressure to disrupt intracellular actin and microtubule formations, increasing cell expansion and viscoelasticity, and stimulates stem cells, reducing cell stiffness and enhancing tissue elasticity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a rigid vacuum cylinder is used to create vacuum seal, then vacuum seal is achieved, but discomfort and potential injury occur due to pressing into the skin
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the rigid vacuum cylinder with a flexible soft cylinder made of elastomeric material. This flexible shell can conform to the contours of the body part while maintaining the vacuum seal, thereby eliminating the pressing discomfort and potential injury caused by rigid structures while preserving the therapeutic vacuum effect.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the physical parameter of the vacuum cylinder from rigid to soft/flexible. This parameter change allows the device to maintain vacuum seal reliability while reducing the harmful pressing effect on the skin and underlying tissues.
2Reliability
If a rigid cylinder is pressed into the skin to achieve vacuum, then vacuum is created, but vacuum leaks occur due to pubic hair or tissue entrapment
Solution Approach 1:
The flexible soft cylinder can adapt to the irregular surface of the body, including pubic hair and tissue contours, creating a more reliable vacuum seal without trapping tissues. The flexibility allows the seal to conform dynamically, preventing vacuum leaks that occur with rigid structures.
3Reliability
If surrounding tissue is pulled into the rigid cylinder, then vacuum is applied, but significant pain and potential injury occur
Solution Approach 1:
The flexible soft cylinder prevents surrounding tissue from being pulled into the vacuum chamber because the soft material can deform to accommodate tissue contours without creating sharp edges or rigid surfaces that would trap and injure tissues. This maintains vacuum application reliability while eliminating pain and injury risks.
4Productivity
If conventional VED is used, then blood is drawn into the penis, but it is ineffective in treating venous occlusive disorders due to cell stiffness
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the conventional mechanical vacuum application with a soft, compliant vacuum system that can apply distributed pressure more effectively. This mechanical substitution allows for better transmission of vacuum force to the tissue, enhancing blood engorgement and simultaneously providing the cellular stretching needed to reduce cell stiffness and treat venous occlusive disorders.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the pressure distribution parameter from concentrated (rigid) to distributed (soft), which enhances both blood engorgement efficiency and cellular mechanical stimulation. This parameter change allows the system to achieve therapeutic effectiveness for venous occlusive disorders while maintaining productivity in blood engorgement.
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 soft extension member provides a comfortable and effective treatment for venous occlusive disorders by creating a vacuum seal without constriction, increasing penile and cavernosal tumescence, and stimulating stem cells for enhanced therapeutic outcomes.
Implementation Method 1
pumping air out of the vacuum chamber from the distal end to create a negative pressure within the vacuum chamber, thereby causing the tissue contacting portion to collapse around the tissue to be treated and create a vacuum seal
Implementation Method 2
maintaining the negative pressure within the vacuum chamber for sufficient time to draw blood into the tissue to be treated and achieve a desired state of blood engorgement within the tissue
Data Source
AI summary
Apparatus, methods and systems for treating venous occlusive disease are provided. Generally, devices include a removable soft extension member that is adapted to be mounted at a proximal end of a therapeutic vacuum chamber. The soft extension member includes a proximal end composed of a tissue contacting portion configured to receive a tissue to be treated, and a distal end composed of a collar configured to be mounted onto an exterior surface of a vacuum chamber. Apparatus, methods and systems for increasing penile and cavernosal tumescence by application of a vacuum are also provided.