Importance

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Abstract

The nocturnal penile tumescence and rigidity monitor includes a penile cuff formed on a nondistensible flexible membrane with an internal chamber defined therein. The chamber is initially filled with liquid from a reservoir until the cuff contacts the periphery of a flaccid penis. The flaccid penile diameter is correlated with the amount of liquid in the cuff by use of a weight sensor signal. During penile expansion, liquid in the cuff is displaced into the fluid reservoir and the tumescence is correlated with the amount of liquid displaced from the cuff by making a weight measurement of the reservoir after such liquid displacement. The weight sensor provides signals that permit a continuous plot of penile tumescence on a strip chart. When the penile tumescence is at a predetermined reference magnitude, a rigidity test is started. During rigidity testing, rigidity sensing probes on the cuff are displaced against the sides of the penis to measure the pressure of engagement which is correlated with penile rigidity. The rigidity test is repeated on a periodic basis as long as penile tumescence exceeds the predetermined reference magnitude. When the penile tumescence is less than the predetermined reference magnitude, the rigidity test is not performed.

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First Claim