FR2556956A1 - SEMI-RIGID PENAL PROSTHESIS FOR THE TREATMENT OF ERECTION IMPERENCES - Google Patents

Abstract

A. SEMI-RIGID PENIAL PROSTHESIS FOR THE TREATMENT OF IMPOTENCE OF ERECTION. B. PROSTHESIS CHARACTERIZED IN THAT IT IS CONSTITUTED OF INDEPENDENT ELEMENTS 5, 9, 10 PRESENTING COMPLEMENTARY CONTACT SURFACES, AND MEANS 7, 14 ALLOWING TO EXERCISE ON THESE ELEMENTS A VARIABLE FORCE INTENDED TO PRESS THE ONE AGAINST THEM OTHERS. C. THE INVENTION RELATES TO A SEMI-RIGID PENIAL PROSTHESIS FOR THE TREATMENT OF IMPOTENCE OF ERECTION.

Description

Semi-rigid penile prosthesis for

  treatment of erection impotence. "

  The invention relates to a semi-rigid penile prosthesis for the treatment of impotence cases in which, for various reasons

erection can not be reached.

  Urological prostheses used for the same purpose are already known and consist of rigid or semi-rigid elements surgically placed, the role of these prostheses being of

  allow the male organs to reach the state of erection.

  Some of these prostheses are made of silicone rubber and have a core of intertwined silver wires, so as to form malleable elements but sufficiently rigid

  to be introduced into cavernous bodies.

  Other prostheses consist of cylinders of elastomeric material filled with a suitable foam so as to be sufficiently flexible, while other types consist of

  by inflatable bodies set up surgically.

  All the prostheses used up to now, however, have many disadvantages, because they require connections and devices to allow inflation, or, although made of malleable material, are still a little rigid, which is a real physical trouble . The need therefore arises for a prosthesis which, although it reaches a sufficient degree of rigidity when it is necessary, is also flexible under normal conditions, so as to be scarcely felt and to avoid the inconveniences.

mentioned above.

  For this purpose, the invention relates to a semi-rigid penile prosthesis, characterized in that it consists of 6 independent elements having complementary contact surfaces, and means for exerting on these elements a variable force

  intended to press them against each other.

  The stiffening means of this prosthesis may, for example, be constituted by a series of spheres slightly flattened at the poles, and pierced with holes through which a thread of suitable material can pass. This yarn, when stretched by the devices described below, keeps the spheres pressed against each other

  to form a sufficiently rigid set.

  According to another preferred embodiment of the invention, the prosthesis is constituted by a series of plastic elements connected to each other by a thin tongue of the same material, so as to fold the assembly, the elements being provided with snap-in sealing elements allowing, when necessary, to bring the prosthesis into

semi-rigid position.

  The invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: - Figure 1 is a top view of a prosthesis according to the invention; - Figure 2 is a side view of a prosthesis according to the invention in erect position; - Figure 3 is a side view of the prosthesis according to the invention in the rest position; FIG. 4 is a schematic representation of the manner of putting in place a prosthesis according to the invention; - Figure 5 shows a section along the line AA of Figure 4; - Figure 6 shows a section of another embodiment of the invention; FIG. 7 is a partial view, in perspective, of the element of FIG. 6; and

  FIG. 8 schematically represents

  a side view, in section, of the prosthesis of

Figure 6.

According to a first form of

  the prosthesis according to the invention comprises a support 1 intended to be applied to the base of the cavernous body, this support being equipped with a cavity 2 closed by an element 3 serving as a support for the remaining part of the prosthesis comprising an element basic 4

  and a series of spheres or others 5, 9 and 10.

  Element 4 has a wedge-shaped opening 6, while spheres are provided with pairs of holes. The spheres are interconnected by a wire 7 passing through the holes. The ends of the wire 7 then pass into the wedge opening 6, then from there, in not shown passages, to reach the interior of the cavity 2 while crossing

the closure element 3.

The surface of spheres 5,9 and 10

  is flat at the point of mutual contact.

  In the end sphere 10 is a groove 11 or other, connecting the two holes of the sphere. As already mentioned above, the spheres 9 and 10 are connected to the body 4 by a wire whose two ends terminate inside the cavity 2 o they are blocked by a device 13 or other,

  after passing through a head element 12.

  A coil spring 14 is stretched to separate the head member 12 from the closure member 3 thereby exerting a pulling force on the wire 7. It will be noted in passing that one end of the body 4, namely the end lower in Figure 2 is shorter than the other. All the elements described above are enclosed in an elastomeric sheath of

silicone or silicone foam.

  The above prosthesis is introduced into one of the cavernous bodies after being subjected to calibration suitability tests by means of a

dilator of Hegar.

Base 1 must be in the vicinity

  rooting while the semi-rigid part, that is to say all the spheres maintained by the

  son, is introduced into the remaining part of the urethra.

  To bring the prosthesis into the rigid state, it is sufficient to exert a slight traction on the spheres, which causes the movement of the assembly formed by the spheres and the wire against the action of the spring 1i. , until the sphere 9

  come to lodge on the convex part 8 of the body 4.

  Through the head member 12, the spring exerts on the wire a tension to maintain the flat surfaces of the pressed spheres against each other, so as to

  to maintain the prosthesis in erect position.

By a slight pull, it is

  then possible to clear the sphere 9 of the body 4.

  In this case, since the lower part of the body 4 is shorter than the other, no more traction is exerted on the wire 7, so that all the elements of the prosthesis become independent of each other,

  which makes the prosthesis itself completely flexible.

Using a double wire 7

  takes place a single wire avoids any move-

  prosthesis. In addition, it is possible, at the time of setting up, to vary the length of the prosthesis according to the different needs, by making

  simply vary the number of spheres used.

  FIGS. 6 to 8 show another preferred embodiment of the prosthesis according to the invention, consisting of a one-piece body comprising a series of plastic elements 16 placed one after the other and connected together. the

  others in areas 17 of smaller section.

  Each of the elements 16 is formed, in its lower part, so as to define between two

  successive elements a free cuneiform space

  the prosthesis as a whole to retreat to

  take the form shown in Figure 8.

  In the upper part of each element 16, there is a small front tongue 19 and a rear groove 20 fitting together to form a seal. The front end portion of the prosthesis is constituted by a rounded element 21 while the rear end portion constitutes a support 1 for applying this prosthesis

at the root of cavernous bodies.

  The whole is enclosed in a sheath

  23 also made of a suitable plastic material.

  The group of elements 16 is, preferably, connected to the support 22 by an articulated joint

  or other 24 schematically represented in FIG. 8.

  The specialists of the question will be able to make various modifications or variants

  without departing from the scope of the invention.

Claims (6)

CLAIMS) Semi-rigid penile prosthesis, characterized in that it consists of independent elements (5, 9, 10) having complementary contact surfaces, and means (7, 14) for exerting on these elements a variable force intended to press them against each other.   2) semi-rigid penile prosthesis according to claim 1, characterized in that it consists of a number of devices that can be coupled in different ways to vary the total length,   these devices being connected together by a single element   inextensible (7) sliding inside those   ci, and elastic means (14) being used to exert   on the inextensible connecting element a suitable traction   nable to keep tight against each other   the variable coupling devices constituting the prosthesis.   3) Prosthesis according to any one of   claims 1 and 2, characterized in that it comprises   a support (1) intended to be set up at the root of the cavernous bodies, a series of spheres (5, 9, 10) connected to   this support (1) by an inextensible filamentary element (7) capable of   gliding against the effort of elastic means   (14) and a central body (4) placed between the spheres and the   port, this central body (4) having a shape allowing the spheres to move to pass from a position in which the wire (7) is held taut by the elastic means (14), to a position in which no traction n ' is more exercised on the wire.   4) Prosthesis according to any one of   Claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the surfaces   mutually in contact with the spheres (5,9,10) are flattened.    ) Prosthesis according to any one of   Claims 1 to 4, characterized in that a sheath (23) made of   silicone is used to enclose all the elements of the prosthesis itself.   6) Semi-rigid penile prosthesis according to   claim 1, characterized in that it uses a   number of elements connected to each other by small languets.   flexible elements (19), these elements being formed so as to have in their lower part a groove (20) for folding the prosthesis by rotating each element around the corresponding tongue, and in their upper part, elements of seal to maintain the prosthesis in erect position.   7) Prosthesis according to claim 6, characterized in that it uses an articulated joint (34) between   the elements of the prosthesis and the support of it.   8) Prosthesis according to any one of   Claims 6 and 7, characterized in that it is realized   one-piece molded plastic enclosed in   a sheath also made of plastic.