Importance

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Abstract

For simulating a natural erection, a pump and valve assembly to be used in combination with a prosthetic penile implant which includes bladder means which are implanted within the penis and a fluid containing reservoir which is implanted within the abdominal cavity. The pump and valve assembly is generally implanted within the scrotum. To that end, the pump and valve assembly includes a rotor and uni-directional valve means such that the fluid is able to flow from the reservoir to the bladders when the rotor is in a first position and from the bladders to the reservoir when the rotor is in a second position. To that end, the valve means precludes the fluid from flowing in the reverse direction once the fluid has passed to either the reservoir or the bladders, respectively. Moreover, pump means are utilized in order to pump additional fluid either into the bladders to obtain a fully erect penis or alternatively, to pump fluid out of the bladders and into the reservoir to obtain a flaccid penis. In one embodiment of the invention, the rotor is manually rotated by actuating a slide lever comprising a portion of the assembly which is implanted with the scrotum. In another embodiment of the invention the valve assembly is implanted within the abdominal cavity while the primary inflation pump as well as a pair of volumetrically small actuator pumps are implanted within the scrotum and arranged such that by squeezing the actuator pumps, either an extension or a contraction of bellows occurs, resulting in corresponding rotation of the rotor.

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First Claim