WO2018032111A1

WO2018032111A1 - A method for treating male urinary incontinence during sexual activity

Info

Publication number: WO2018032111A1
Application number: PCT/CA2017/050978
Authority: WO
Inventors: Anthony Bella
Original assignee: Exia Biomedical Inc.
Priority date: 2016-08-19
Filing date: 2017-08-18
Publication date: 2018-02-22

Abstract

The present invention relates to a device for treatment of male urinary incontinence during sexual activity comprising a stretchable first band having a distal edge sized to restrict blood flow out of a user's penis without substantially impeding blood flow into the penis, and a stretchable second band attached to the proximal edge of the first band, wherein the second band is sized to fit around a user's waist while the first band is configured to be pulled forward between the user's legs and stretched over the penis and positioned at the base of the penis, thereby exerting a pull on the first band toward the base of the penis.

Description

A METHOD FOR TREATING MALE URINARY INCONTINENCE DURING SEXUAL

ACTIVITY

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention pertains to the field of male sexual health. In particular, the present invention provides a method for treating male urinary incontinence during sexual activity.

BACKGROUND

[0002] The involuntary loss of urine during sexual activity or orgasm can severely impact a man's sexual function and negatively impact his quality of life.

[0003] Male urinary incontinence during sexual activity can be a treatment-related complication associated with prostatectomy or prostate brachytherapy. The leakage of urine during orgasm, climacturia, impacts a significant percentage of men following definitive treatment for prostate cancer. An anonymous survey of 906 post-treatment prostate cancer patients found 28.3% and 5.3% of those treated surgically or with radiation respectively reported climacturia (O'Neil ef a/. J. Urol, 191 (1 ): 159-163). Climacturia was also associated with erectile dysfunction following prostate cancer treatment.

[0004] The most common cause of climacturia is prostate cancer surgery, as the urinary sphincter may be compromised during treatment and the urinary leak is further worsened by smooth muscle atrophy within the corpora cavernosa, a mechanism which may also lead to venous leak erectile dysfunction. Other post-treatment complications associated with prostatectomy include foreplay incontinency, penile shrinkage and penile curvature.

[0005] Effective non-invasive management of climacturia includes use of a variable penile tension loop during sexual intercourse (Mehta, et al. BJU Int.. 111(3): 500-504). The variable penile tension loop is secured at the base of the penis after erection has been achieved and thus may be ineffective for patients with erectile dysfunction.

[0006] Other treatment options include the use of the common penis ring or "cock ring", however longitudinal movement of the ring along the shaft of the penis may reduce its overall effectiveness as a treatment of urinary incontinency during sexual activity. To improve functionality of the penis ring, the penis ring may be made very tight. This however leads to discomfort and increased risk of injury.

l [0007] This background information is provided to reveal information believed by the applicant to be of possible relevance to the present invention. No admission is necessarily intended, nor should be construed, that any of the preceding information constitutes prior art against the present invention.

BRIEF SUMMARY

[0008] An object of the present disclosure is to provide a method for treating male urinary incontinence during sexual activity. In accordance with an aspect of the invention, there is provided a method for treatment of male urinary incontinence during sexual activity comprising wearing a device comprising a stretchable substantially oval-shaped or substantially circular first band having a proximal edge and distal edge and sized to restrict blood flow out of a user's penis without substantially impending blood flow into the penis; and a stretchable second band having a first end and a second end, wherein the first end and the second end are attached to the proximal edge of the first band at substantially diametrically opposed points, wherein the second band is sized to fit around a user's waist and upon use the device is worn around the user's waist and the first band is pulled forward between the user's legs and stretched over the penis and positioned at the base of the penis such that the proximal edge is towards the user and the second band is under tension thereby exerting a pull on the first band towards the base of the penis.

[0009] In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, there is provided use of the device described above to treat male incontinence during sexual activity.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0010] Embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example, by reference to the attached Figures, wherein:

[0011] Figure 1 illustrates a perspective view of the device (1 ) for use in the method of the present invention detailing the first band (i.e. "ring") (10) and second band (i.e. "loop")(20).

[0012] Figure 2A illustrates lubrication of the device prior to use

[0013] Figure 2B illustrates a posterior view of a user wearing the device of Figure 1 prior to insertion of the penis into the ring. The device is initially worn such that the ring is positioned in-line with the intergluteal cleft and the loop sits against the abdominal wall below the umbilicus but generally above the anterior superior iliac spines. [0014] Figure 2C illustrates a posterior view of a user wearing the device of Figures 1 reaching between his legs to grasp the ring.

[0015] Figure 2D illustrates an anterior view of the user of Figure 2C having pulled the ring to the front and in the process of slipping the ring over the head of the penis.

[0016] Figure 2E illustrates an anterior view of the user of Figures 2C and 2D detailing final placement of the device at the base of the penis. The second band (20) is also shown and one of its attachment points (25) on the ring (10).

[0017] Figure 2F illustrates an anterior view of the user of Figures 2C, 2D and 2E detailing placement of the ring relative to the erect penis and scrotum. The figure shows the second band pulling the ring posteriorly and swelling of the penis surface flesh and glans due to engorgement.

[0018] Figure 3 illustrates user of Figure 2 engaging in vaginal intercourse detailing part of the ring (10) and second bands (20) and its attachment site.

[0019] Figure 4A is a closeup of the user and device shown in Figure 2F with left leg abducted and drawn back.

[0020] Figure 4B is a side view of the user and device shown in Figure 2F showing that the scrotum is pulled back by the ring until it is substantially posterior of the plane in-line with the anterior superior iliac spines and pubic symphysis.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0021] This invention provides a device and method for treating male urinary incontinence during sexual activity and in particular a method for treating climacturia comprising use of a device. The device is configured to be worn during sexual activity including intercourse or alternate penile stimulation and is designed to ameliorate male urinary incontinence during sexual activity.

[0022] In particular, the method for treating male urinary incontinence during sexual activity utilizes a device to apply circumferential compression to the penis proximal to its base to ameliorate the impact of smooth muscle atrophy by acting as a backstop to urine leak through the urethra at the location of the occlusion loop.

[0023] Referring to Figure 1 , the device comprises a stretchable, optionally silicone or latex, substantially oval-shaped or substantially circular band, i.e. "ring" sized to restrict blood flow out of the penis without substantially impending blood flow into the penis. The ring is attached to or is integral with the ends of a stretchable, optionally silicone or latex, second band at its proximal edge at substantially diametrically opposed points such that the second band forms a loop extending from the ring and is referred to as the "loop" herein. The loop is of sufficient size that when worn around the user's waist with the ring at the back, the ring may be pulled forward between the user's legs and stretched over the penis at its base. During use, the second band is under tension and thereby exerts a pull on the ring in the direction of the base of the penis preventing the drifting of the ring up and down the penile shaft.

[0024] The pull exerted on the ring impacts the urinary sphincter position allowing a more natural, pre-surgery like, geometric angle of flow (i.e. straightens the urethra at the point of the sphincter) thereby allowing the native urinary sphincter muscle to coapt as best as physiologically possible).

[0025] The device may be made of any appropriate material contemplated by someone skilled in the art including but not limited to latex, or silicone. In some embodiments, the device is made of a single material and the ring and second band optionally integral. Alternatively, the ring and the second band may be made as separate pieces and fused or otherwise attached.

[0026] In other embodiments, the ring and the loop are made from different materials.

[0027] In some embodiments, the ring is made of silicone in order to reduce the friction of the ring on the penile skin.

[0028] The device may be manufactured in any desired colour. In some embodiments, it is contemplated that the device will be clear in appearance in order to blend in with the flesh colour of the user. Alternatively, the device may be solid in colour or patterned or textured in order to accentuate the device during sexual activity. It is also contemplated that the material of the device could have certain appearance and functional properties that enhance sexual activity, such as leather-like, glow in the dark material, and/or other materials understood by a skilled person in the field.

[0029] The device, by slowing blood flow from the base of the penis, facilitates the start and maintenance of an erection. The ring of the device exerts a mild compressive force at the base of the penis thereby partially restricting blood flow from the penis resulting in a more reliable, harder and more lasting erection. The device applies pressure to the dorsal veins, both the superficial dorsal and the deep dorsal and also provides supportive pressure on the two corpus cavernosa helping to enable adequate compressive force.

[0030] The device, by facilitating the engorgement of the soft surface flesh of the penis, makes the penis look and feel thicker and as a result may have a positive psychological impact on the user.

[0031] The device, by holding the ring in place at the base of the penis, allows for the ring to be of a more comfortable and safe size while still being effective for treating erectile dysfunction and urinary incontinency associate with sexual activity..

[0032] The second band (i.e. loop) is under tension once the user puts on the device. This tension pulls the ring posterior which results in the scrotum being pulled posterior. Since the skin of the scrotum is continuous with the penile skin, the base of the penile skin is also pulled in the direction of the base of the penis thereby stimulating the stretch-sensitive nerves of the penile skin. This may facilitate a stronger erection.

[0033] During use, the device pulls the scrotum posterior longitudinally relative to the penile shaft somewhat beyond the location at which it normally rests and maintains the scrotum in that position.

[0034] It is obvious that the foregoing embodiments of the invention are examples and can be varied in many ways. Such present or future variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of the invention, and all such modifications as would be obvious to one skilled in the art are intended to be included within the scope of the following claims.

[0035] The scope of the claims should not be limited by the preferred embodiments set forth in the foregoing, but should be given the broadest interpretation consistent with the description as a whole.

Claims

WE CLAIM:

1. A method for treatment of male urinary incontinence during sexual activity comprising wearing a device comprising a stretchable substantially oval-shaped or substantially circular first band having a proximal edge and distal edge and sized to restrict blood flow out of a user's penis without substantially impending blood flow into the penis; and

a stretchable second band having a first end and a second end, wherein the first end and the second end are attached to the proximal edge of the first band at substantially diametrically opposed points, wherein the second band is sized to fit around a user's waist and upon use the device is worn around the user's waist and the first ring is pulled forward between the user's legs and stretched over the penis and positioned at the base of the penis such that the proximal edge is towards the user and the second band is under tension thereby exerting a pull on the first band towards the base of the penis.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the male urinary incontinence is foreplay incontinence.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the male urinary incontinence is climacturia.

4. The method of any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the user was treated for prostate cancer.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the treatment was a radical prostatectomy.

6. The method of any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the user has post-treatment penile curvature.

7. The method of any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the device is made of latex or silicone.

8 Use of a device for treatment of male urinary incontinence during sexual activity, the device comprising a stretchable substantially oval-shaped or substantially circular first band having a proximal edge and distal edge and sized to restrict the involuntary flow of urine; and