Temporary Space-Filling Penile Implant for Corporal Healing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing penile prostheses face challenges during inter-procedure time periods, such as fibrosis, scarring, and difficulty in maintaining a cavity for future implantation due to the absence of erectile tissues in neophalluses, leading to complications like penile shortening and increased susceptibility to infections.

Innovation Solution

A temporary space-filling penile implant device is introduced, which can be inserted into corpora cavernosa or neophallus during inter-procedure periods, comprising a body portion, end portion, and a cover, optionally with a biodegradable matrix and local drug delivery, to prevent fibrosis, maintain cavity, and facilitate easier re-implantation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If a penile prosthesis is removed during inter-procedure time period to resolve infection, then infection is resolved, but fibrosis and scarring occur leading to penile shortening and increased susceptibility to future infections

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveinfectionVSAvoidfibrosis and scarring

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

A temporary space-filling implant acts as an intermediary device placed in the corpora cavernosa during the inter-procedure period. This mediator maintains the corporal space and prevents direct tissue collapse, thereby reducing fibrosis and scarring while allowing time for infection resolution. The implant is removed after the infection resolves and before definitive prosthesis re-implantation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The temporary space-filling implant is placed in advance during the first procedure before infection resolution. This preliminary action preserves the corporal architecture and prevents the development of fibrotic tissue that would complicate future re-implantation, setting the stage for successful definitive prosthesis placement.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Object-affected harmful factors

If no penile prosthesis is implanted during inter-procedure time period, then infection can resolve, but the corpora cavernosa experience fibrosis and scarring

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinfection resolutionVSAvoidcorporal tissue structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The temporary space-filling implant serves as a mediator that maintains corporal tissue structure during the infection resolution period. It prevents tissue collapse and fibrosis while allowing the infection to heal, bridging the gap between infection control and definitive prosthesis re-implantation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The implant changes the physical parameters of the corporal space by maintaining volume and pressure during the inter-procedure period. This parameter maintenance prevents the tissue from collapsing and developing fibrotic changes, preserving the corporal architecture for future prosthesis placement.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Adaptability or versatility

If a neophallus is created without erectile tissues, then phalloplasty is achieved, but the neophallus cannot achieve erection and requires complex two-stage procedure

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveneophallus constructionVSAvoidtwo-stage surgical procedure

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The temporary space-filling implant is placed during the first stage of neophallus construction to preliminarily establish the corporal space. This preliminary action maintains the cavity and prevents fibrosis during the inter-procedure period, facilitating easier prosthesis implantation in the second stage and reducing overall surgical complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The temporary implant acts as an intermediary structure that bridges the two surgical stages. It maintains the corporal space without providing erectile function, allowing the neophallus to be constructed in stages while preserving the ability to achieve erection through subsequent prosthesis implantation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

4Reliability

If inter-procedure time period is extended for healing, then tissue recovery is improved, but fibrosis and penile shortening occur

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetissue healingVSAvoidpenile length

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLength of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The temporary space-filling implant serves as a mediator that maintains penile length during the healing period. By preserving the corporal space and preventing tissue collapse, it allows extended healing time without the penalty of fibrosis-induced shortening, maintaining both healing quality and dimensional integrity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentEP4009915B1Temporary space-filling penile implant for corporal healing and neophallus conditioning

Publication Date: 2025.09.24 BOSTON SCIENTIFIC SCIMED INC

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AI summary

A temporary space-filling penile implant device (102) for penile surgery includes a body portion, an end portion attached to the body portion, and a cover surrounding the end portion and at least a portion of the body portion. The temporary space-filling penile implant may be configured for insertion into either corpora cavernosa of a penis or into interior tissue of a neophallus, during an inter-procedure time period that occurs between two surgical procedures performed on the penis or the neophallus.