Vas Deferens Constriction Device for Reversible Male Contraception
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing male contraception methods, such as vasectomy and artificial sphincter implants, often result in tissue injury, poor blood circulation, and irreversible sterility, with side effects like sperm antibody formation, necessitating a safer and more reversible approach for controlling sperm flow in the vas deferens.
Innovation Solution
A method involving gentle constriction and stimulation of the vas deferens tissue wall to control sperm flow, using a combination of constriction devices and stimulation techniques that allow for intermittent and individual area stimulation to maintain blood circulation and prevent tissue injury, enabling reversible contraception.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a constriction element is applied around the vas deferens to occlude the lumen, then sperm flow is blocked, but tissue injury and erosion occur over time
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the physical parameters of the constriction element by making it compliant and soft rather than rigid, and controls the constriction force to be gentle rather than tight. This allows effective occlusion of the vas deferens lumen while preventing tissue injury and erosion that occurs with traditional rigid constriction elements.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the traditional mechanical rigid constriction element with a compliant element that can adapt to tissue movement and pressure changes. This substitution eliminates the mechanical stress concentration that causes tissue erosion while maintaining the occlusion function.
2Reliability
If a constriction element is applied tightly to occlude the lumen, then sperm flow is effectively blocked, but blood circulation is hampered and tissue deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the constriction force parameter from tight to gentle, and uses a compliant material that can dynamically adjust to pressure changes. This gentle constriction is sufficient to occlude the smaller vas deferens lumen for contraception while allowing adequate blood circulation to prevent tissue deterioration.
Solution Approach 2:
The compliant constriction element can dynamically adapt its shape and pressure distribution in response to tissue movement, pulsation, and pressure changes. This dynamic behavior ensures effective occlusion during periods of inactivity while allowing blood flow during periods of tissue activity.
3Reliability
If vasectomy is performed to achieve permanent sterility, then contraception is effective, but reversibility is lost and sperm antibody formation occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a dynamic, reversible constriction system rather than permanent surgical cutting. The compliant constriction element can be applied and removed, allowing the vas deferens to return to its normal state and restore fertility, thus providing reversibility that vasectomy lacks.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs a minimally invasive preliminary action by applying a external constriction element rather than performing permanent surgical cutting. This preliminary, reversible occlusion method achieves contraception without the irreversible tissue damage and sperm antibody formation associated with traditional vasectomy.
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to a male contraception apparatus for obtaining a time-limited sterility of a male mammalian individual. The apparatus comprises a restriction device adapted to restrict the lumen of a vas deferens of the mammalian, and a controller operable to control the restriction device to restrict the lumen of the vas deferens during a controlled period to prevent sperms from reaching the urethra of the mammalian. The apparatus further comprises an implantable constriction device configured to gently constrict at least one portion of a tissue wall of the vas deferens to restrict the lumen of the vas deferens such that the flow of sperms in the vas deferens is restricted, and a stimulation device configured to stimulate the constricted wall portion of the tissue wall.