IL284632B2 - An erectile rehabilitation device and operation method thereof - Google Patents

Description

40073/IL/20- 1 - AN ERECTILE REHABILITATION DEVICE AND OPERATION METHOD THEREOF Field of the Invention The present invention is in the field of erectile dysfunction aids. More specifically, the invention relates to an erectile rehabilitation device and the operation method thereof.

Background of the Invention Penile erection is a neurovascular event characterized by the dilation of arteries that cause the corpora cavernosa and corpora spongiosum of the penis to fill with blood, while the ischiocavernosus and bulbospongiosus muscles compress the veins of the corpora cavernosa, which prevents the blood from exiting. The erectile function requires the participation of autonomic and somatic nerves (i.e., sacral parasympathetic [pelvic], thoracolumbar sympathetic [hypogastric and lumbar chain], and somatic [pudendal] nerves), with the hypothalamic and limbic pathways playing significant roles. Several medical conditions, beyond aging per se, are associated with erectile dysfunction (ED), such as Neurologic ED and Diabetes.

Existing solutions such as oral/injection given medications for ED are aimed to enable an immediate, yet temporal erection, providing a limited solution for maintaining sexual activity. Unfortunately, further to providing a temporal solution, medications produce undesirable side effects commonly include headache, flushing, hypotension, nasal congestion, and dyspepsia.

Mechanical solutions offered by the market include vacuum-assisted erectile devices which encourage blood flow into the penis, thus forcing temporal erection, and penile prosthesis transplants, which may provide a multi-use solution for ED patients. However, it is not aimed for and do not support the potential rehabilitation of patients.

It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide an erectile rehabilitation device, which is capable of inducing stimulation to the entire penis, 40073/IL/20- 2 - thereby providing a stimulation that is much closer sensation to the natural arousal during a sexual intercourse.

It is another object of the present invention to provide an erectile rehabilitation device, which is capable of controllably inducing stimulation of predetermined patterns to desirable areas of the penis, thereby enabling predetermined practicing in accordance with specific stimulation protocols.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent as the description proceeds.

Summary of the Invention The invention relates to an erectile rehabilitation device, comprising an elastic sleeve suitable to fit the shape and size range of a penis and a plurality of stimulation rings, each of which can vibrate at a desirable manner determined by a control unit, wherein said control unit selectively operates one or more of said plurality of stimulation rings according to desirable stimulation protocols defined by stimulation amplitude, continuity, and frequency induced at desirable number and combinations of vibrating the stimulation rings, thereby selectively stimulating target portions of said penis at predefined amplitudes and frequencies.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the device comprises measuring means for assessing the erectile status. For example, the measuring means may comprise a longitudinal conductive wire, of which electrical resistance is measured by suitable metering means, or one or more tensile load gauges distributed across the elastic sleeve.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the plurality of stimulation rings is selected from the group consisting of: piezoelectric vibrating rings, ultrasonic operated vibrating rings, or any combination thereof. 40073/IL/20- 3 - In another aspect, the present invention relates to a method for inducing selective stimulation, comprising: selectively operating stimulation rings, by a control unit, according to desirable stimulation protocols defined by stimulation amplitude, continuity and frequency induced at desirable number and combinations of vibrating the stimulation rings, thereby inducing stimulation on at least a portion of a target object.

According to an embodiment of the invention, the method further comprises receiving data indicative of an erectile status with respect to the induced stimulation.

Brief Description of the Drawings - Fig. 1 schematically illustrates an erectile rehabilitation device, according to an embodiment of the present invention; and- Fig. 2 schematically illustrates a block diagram of an exemplary configuration of a control unit of the device of Fig. 1, according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Detailed description of the Invention The present invention relates to an erectile rehabilitation device and operation method thereof, integrating electromechanical and control elements for practicing erections under a predetermined regimen of stimulation protocols, while monitoring the erectile status response, thereby supporting rehabilitation plans for improving the long term erectile functioning of a user.

The proposed device is adapted to the shape and size range of a penis, thus enabling usage of the proposed device for self-practice, during of which, the proposed device can collect clinical data regarding the patient's response to stimulation protocols, as well as the patient's capability to achieve an erection with reduced/no external stimulation (i.e., induced by the proposed device). 40073/IL/20- 4 - In the following detailed description, references are made to the accompanying drawings that form a part hereof and which are shown by way of illustrating specific embodiments or examples. These embodiments may be combined, other embodiments may be utilized, and other changes may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the present invention.

Fig. 1 shows an exemplary configuration of an erectile rehabilitation device, according to an embodiment of the present invention, in which device 100 is essentially comprised of an elastic sleeve 110 adapted to the shape and size range of a penis and comprising a plurality of stimulation rings 120 (e.g., made ofpiezoelectric material being vibrated by low electric current, ultrasonic operated vibrating element, or other vibrating elements). Also shown in Fig. 1 is an external control unit 130 connected to device 100 through suitable conductive wiring.

Unit 130 comprises control means (i.e., suitable processor, memory and management software), as well as selection means for selecting a desirable stimulation protocol for execution, from among multiple different stimulation protocols stored by unit 130, each of which is a specific stimulation pattern defined by parameters such as stimulation amplitude, continuity and frequency induced at desirable portions of device 100 (i.e., vibrating various combinations and numbers of stimulation rings 120, thus arousing target portion of the patient's penis at predefined amplitudes (e.g., in the range of 1mm-4.0mm peak-to-peak) and frequencies (e.g., between 10-120Hz).

While basic configurations of device 100 may comprise a limited number of possible stimulation protocols, being selected by a mechanical button of unit 130, more advanced embodiments of the proposed device are provided with programming capability for creating any desirable number of stimulation protocols.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, device 100 may monitor the penis erection status by employing suitable means for measuring electric resistance 40073/IL/20- 5 - of a longitudinal (i.e., along elastic sleeve 110) conductive wire, or by receiving tensile load data from sensors distributed across elastic sleeve 110, thereby being capable of assessing the erectile status.

Of course, remote operation, configuration, and monitoring means (e.g., suitable software/application running on a remote computing device such as a desktop/mobile computer/tablet/smartphone) may be employed for convenient operation/monitoring and configuring the proposed device (e.g., for performing firmware upgrades, or for collecting clinical data by a remote central computer), as one skilled in the art will readily select for desirable implementations of the proposed device.

According to some embodiments of the present invention, unit 130 is integrated with sleeve 110, utilizing microelectronic hardware and downsized power storage and supply means. According to an embodiment of the invention, control unit 1comprises power supply means that can be recharged through wires (e.g., being provided with a USB port) or wirelessly (e.g., being provided with a common wireless charging circuitry). In some embodiment, practicing device 100 can be powered by an external power source.

Practicing device 100 can initially be preceded by using a vacuum means to support an initial erection, which will be maintained by the stimulation protocol induced by device 100, aiming to reduce/eliminate the need for using vacuum means along with the progress of the rehabilitation practicing with device 100, whereas the patient regains increasing erection control, the intensity of stimulation protocols induced by device 100 will decrease until regaining partial / full independent erectile functioning.Fig. 2 schematically illustrates a block diagram of an exemplary configuration of control unit 130, according to an embodiment of the present invention, in which unit 130 essentially comprises a processor module 210 having an operation and management module 211, which trigger a stimulation inducer 220 to vibrate 40073/IL/20- 6 - stimulation rings 120 according to a desirable protocol (e.g., stored by a memory module 230 comprising a protocols repository 231) set by amplitude, frequency and ring selectors 221 thru 223. According to preferred embodiments of the invention, processor 210 further comprises a measured data collector 212 that receives measurement data from suitable means for measuring, thereby being capable of assessing the erectile status.

Although embodiments of the invention have been described by way of illustration, it will be understood that the invention may be carried out with many variations, modifications, and adaptations, without exceeding the scope of the claims.

Claims (7)

1. 40073/IL/20 284632/- 7 - Claims 1. An erectile rehabilitation device, comprising an elastic sleeve suitable to fit the shape and size range of a penis and a plurality of stimulation rings, each of which can vibrate in a desirable manner determined by a control unit, wherein said control unit selectively operates one or more of said plurality of stimulation rings according to desirable stimulation protocols defined by stimulation amplitude, continuity and frequency induced at desirable number and combinations of vibrating the stimulation rings, thereby selectively stimulating target portions of said penis at predefined amplitudes and frequencies, wherein said device monitor the penis erection status by measuring electric resistance of a longitudinal conductive wire along said elastic sleeve, or by receiving tensile load data from sensors distributed across said elastic sleeve, thereby being capable of assessing the erectile status.

2. A device according to claim 1, further comprising measuring means for providing data relative to erectile status to be further processed by the control unit.

3. A device according to claim 2, in which the measuring means comprising a longitudinal conductive wire, of which electrical resistance is measured by suitable metering means.

4. A device according to claim 2, in which the measuring means comprising one or more tensile load gauges distributed across the elastic sleeve.

5. A device according to claim 1, in which the plurality of stimulation rings comprises: a) piezoelectric vibrating rings capable of inducing vibrations by low electric current, said rings being vibrated in a controlled manner by the control unit to achieve desired therapeutic outcomes, or b) ultrasonic operated vibrating rings, which are controlled by the control unit to specifically target portions of the penis with vibrations at predefined 40073/IL/20 284632/- 8 - amplitudes and frequencies, or c) any combination thereof to provide a tailored and dynamic therapeutic treatment.

6. A method for inducing selective stimulation, comprising: selectively operating stimulation rings, by a control unit, according to desirable stimulation protocols defined by stimulation amplitude, continuity and frequency induced at desirable number and combinations of vibrating the stimulation rings, thereby inducing stimulation on at least a portion of a target object.

7. A method according to claim 6, further comprising receiving data indicative of an erectile status with respect to the induced stimulation.