Abstract:
A device for the treatment of erectile dysfunction or for penile exercise includes a vessel defining an elongated vacuum chamber and a mouth opening leading into the vacuum chamber. An annular pumping sleeve is mounted on, and slidingly displaceable relative to the vessel. The device includes valving arranged such that reciprocation of the sleeve relative to the vessel serves to pump air out of the vacuum chamber. The device further includes a constriction ring which is sealingly and dismountably mountable on the vessel, and which is configured sealingly to engage with an outer surface of a human penis inserted into the vacuum chamber.

Description:
THIS INVENTION relates to a device for the treatment of erectile dysfunction or for penile exercise in the human male. It also relates to a method of treatment of erectile dysfunction and to a method of penile exercise. It further relates to a pump device and to a sealing constriction ring. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     A problem that occasionally occurs in human male s is the inability to attain an erection of the penis. 
     One manner which has been used to alleviate this problem is by subjecting the penis to a negative pressure thereby inducing blood to flow into the erectile tissue of the penis and cause an erection. In order to retain the blood in the erected penis, a constriction ring is used to inhibit the flow of blood from the erect penis and thereby retain the erection of the penis. Various vacuum devices have been proposed which operate in this fashion, Inter alia, U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,213,563, 6,095,895, 5,421,808, 4,602,625 and CH 3473007. 
     It will be appreciated; that a device in accordance with the invention is normally used in an intimate situation. A major disadvantage with the prior art devices is that they are cumbersome and fairly time consuming to use which is not ideal in an intimate situation. 
     It is thus an object of the invention to provide a device which may be used particularly but not necessarily exclusively in the treatment of erectile dysfunction and for penile exercise, and which is not unwieldy or cumbersome when used in intimate situations. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     According to one aspect of the invention there is provided a device for the treatment of erectile dysfunction or for penile exercise which includes: 
     a vessel defining a vacuum chamber and having a mouth opening leading into the vacuum chamber, the vacuum chamber being shaped and dimensioned to receive a human penis; and 
     pumping means, at least part of which is mounted for reciprocation relative to the vessel, for pumping air out of the vacuum chamber. 
     The device may include seal means positioned in the vicinity of the mouth opening and configured sealingly to engage with an outer surface of a human penis inserted into the vacuum chamber. 
     The pumping means may include: 
     a pumping member, mounted on and slidingly displaceable relative to the vessel, the vessel and pumping member being shaped and configured so that the vessel and the pumping member together form a suction chamber and so that sliding displacement of the pumping member and the vessel relative to one another changes the volume of the suction chamber; 
     at least one pumping passage extending between the vacuum chamber and the suction chamber; 
     at least one exhaust passage leading from the suction chamber; 
     first one way valve means which permits fluid flow from the vacuum chamber to the suction chamber via the, or each, pumping passage; and 
     second one way valve means which permits fluid to be discharged from the suction chamber via the or each exhaust passage to atmosphere. 
     The vessel may have an outer surface which is substantially cylindrical for at least part of its length, the pumping member extending around the cylindrical portion of the outer surface of the vessel and being longitudinally slidingly displaceable relative thereto. 
     The or each pumping passage may be positioned and the pumping member may be arranged so that displacement of the pumping member towards the mouth of the vessel increases the volume of the suction chamber and causes air to flow from the vacuum chamber through the or each pumping passage into the suction chamber and displacement of the pumping member away from the mouth of the vessel decreases the volume of the suction chamber and causes air to be discharged from the suction chamber through the exhaust passage to atmosphere. 
     As the vacuum drawn in the vacuum chamber increases it becomes more difficult to draw air out of the vacuum and the effort required to displace the pumping member in the direction required to increase the volume of the suction chamber increases. By arranging the pumping means such that the volume of the pumping chamber increases when the pumping member is displaced towards the mouth of the vessel the primary loads applied to the device, in use, are towards a user&#39;s body which helps to minimize any discomfort the user may experience. 
     The pumping vessel may have a cylindrical wall and the or each pumping passage may extend through the wall and have a mouth opening into the suction chamber, the first one way valve means being in the form of at least one elastically deformable band extending around the cylindrical wall to cover the or each mouth. 
     The second one way valve means may include an O-ring configured to provide an air tight seal between the pumping member and the vessel when being displaced relative to one another to increase the volume of the pumping chamber and to permit air to be discharged through the at least one exhaust passage when the pumping member and the vessel are being displaced relative to one another to decrease the volume of the pumping chamber. 
     In order to ensure the safe operation of the device it is desirable that the pressure in the vacuum chamber not decrease below a predetermined minimum pressure, typically of the order of −0.57 bar. However, the Inventor believes that a vacuum of −0.4 bar will work satisfactorily. 
     Accordingly, the device may include vacuum restriction means for restricting the vacuum which can be drawn in the vacuum chamber. 
     The vacuum restriction means may include a stroke limiting member positioned in the suction chamber to restrict the stroke through which the pumping member is displaceable relative to the vessel. 
     The seal means may include a sealing constriction ring which is readily dismountably mounted on the vessel in the vicinity of the mouth opening, the constriction ring including a generally ring-shaped body having a circumferentially extending engagement formation for releasable sealing engagement with the vessel in the vicinity of the mouth opening and a constriction ring opening configured sealingly to abut against the outer surface of a human penis. 
     The body of the constriction ring may be formed of a unitary moulding of an elastomeric material. In one embodiment of the invention the elastomeric material may be a silicone rubber and have a hardness of 50 A Shore. 
     The size of the constriction ring opening will depend on the intended application. Hence, where intended for use in the treatment of erectile dysfunction the opening will be sufficiently small to inhibit blood flow from the penis once an erection is attained in order to maintain the erection. In contrast, when the device is intended to be used for penile exercise the opening will be sufficiently small to seal against a surface of the penis and sufficiently large to permit blood to drain from the erect penis. 
     The constriction ring opening may have a diameter of between 13 and 24 mm. 
     The device may include a plurality of interchangeable sealing constriction rings each having a constriction ring opening of a different size. 
     According to another aspect of the invention there is provided a method of treating erectile dysfunction in the human male, which includes the steps of 
     drawing a penis through a sealing constriction ring which is releasably mounted on a vessel into a vacuum chamber defined in the vessel by pumping air out of the vacuum chamber to draw the penis through the ring into the vacuum chamber and to cause an erection of the penis in the vacuum chamber; and 
     disconnecting the sealing constriction ring from the vessel and removing the erect penis with the sealing constriction ring thereon from the vessel, the sealing constriction ring having a constriction ring opening which is small enough to constrict blood flow from the erect penis, thereby maintaining the erection. 
     Pumping air out of the vacuum chamber may include displacing a pumping member which is mounted on and displaceable relative to the vessel. 
     According to yet another aspect of the invention there is provided a method of penile exercise, which includes the steps of 
     drawing the penis through a sealing constriction ring which is mounted on a vessel into a vacuum chamber defined in the vessel by pumping air out of the vacuum chamber by reciprocal displacement of a pumping member mounted on the vessel thereby to draw the penis through the ring into the vacuum chamber and to cause an erection of the penis in the vacuum chamber; and 
     relieving the vacuum around the penis to permit blood to drain from the erect penis thereby relaxing the erection, the sealing constriction ring having an opening which is small enough to engage sealingly around the penis and large enough to permit blood to drain from the erect penis when the vacuum is relieved. 
     Relieving the vacuum may include breaking the seal between the sealing constriction ring and the vessel. 
     The Inventor believes the invention may find application in other pump devices. 
     Hence, according to still yet another aspect of the invention there is provided a pump device which includes 
     a vessel defining a primary chamber; 
     a pumping member mounted on the vessel for reciprocation relative to the vessel, the pumping member and the vessel defining between them a secondary chamber, the volume of which changes when the pumping member is displaced relative to the vessel; and 
     valve means whereby the primary chamber and the secondary chamber are selectively connectable in flow communication and whereby the secondary chamber is selectively connectable in flow communication with atmosphere. 
     The secondary chamber may be an annular chamber which extends around the vessel, the valve means including first one way valve means configured to connect the primary chamber in flow communication with the secondary chamber when the pumping member is displaced in a direction which increases the volume of the secondary chamber and second one way valve means configured to connect the secondary chamber in flow communication with atmosphere when the pumping member is displaced in the opposite direction. Reciprocation of the pumping member will thus cause the pressure inside the primary chamber to be reduced incrementally. 
     Hence, the pump device will function as a vacuum pump to draw a vacuum in the primary chamber. 
     The vessel may have an outer surface which is cylindrical for at least part of its length and the pumping member may be an at least partly cylindrical member which extends around at least part of the cylindrical surface of the vessel and which is longitudinally slidingly displaceable relative to the vessel. 
     Preferably the pumping member is a sleeve which encircles the cylindrical vessel for at least part of its length. 
     The invention extends to a constriction ring for use on a device as described above. 
     More particularly, the invention extends to a sealing constriction ring for use with a device including a vessel defining a vacuum chamber and having a mouth opening as hereinbefore described, the constriction ring comprising a generally ring-shaped body having a circumferentially extending engagement formation for releasable, sealing engagement with the opening and a constriction ring opening shaped and configured to sealingly engage with the outer surface of a zone around a human penis. 
     According to a further aspect of the invention there is provided a sealing constriction ring which includes a body of an elastomeric material, the body having 
     a tubular central portion defining a constriction ring opening, a radially inner surface of the central portion forming a penis contacting surface for contacting an outer surface of a penis extending through the constriction ring opening in an air tight manner; 
     a ring shaped formation which is positioned outwardly of the central portion and which defines a radially inwardly directed annular surface whereby the sealing constriction ring is mountable on a vessel defining a vacuum chamber; and 
     an annular connecting web connecting the central portion and the ring-shaped formation together. 
     The constriction ring opening may have a diameter of about 13 to 24 mm. Thus depending upon the diameter of the constriction ring opening and the diameter of the erect penis, the sealing constriction ring may provide a relatively air-tight seal around the penis and constrict blood flow from the penis or merely provide a relatively air-tight seal. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The invention will now be described, by way of non-limiting example, with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings. 
     In the drawings, 
     FIG. 1 shows a three-dimensional view of a device for the treatment of erectile dysfunction or for penile exercise in accordance with the invention; 
     FIG. 2 shows a side view of the device of FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 3 shows a sectional side view of part of the device of FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 4 shows, on an enlarged scale, a sectional side view of part of a sealing constriction ring forming part of the device of FIG. 1; and 
     FIG. 5 shows a sectional side view of another device in accordance with the invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Referring to FIGS. 1 to  4  of the drawings, reference numeral  10  generally indicates a device in accordance with the invention for use in the treatment of erectile dysfunction or for penile exercise. 
     The device  10  includes a hollow generally cigar shaped vessel  12  defining an elongate primary or vacuum chamber  14  (FIG.  3 ). The device  10  further includes pumping means, generally indicated by reference numeral  50  for pumping air out of the vacuum chamber  14 . 
     The vessel  12  has a generally cylindrical wall  13 . The pumping means  50  includes a cylindrical pumping member or sleeve  16  which is mounted on and slidingly displaceable relative to the vessel  12  in the directions of the arrows  18 ,  22  (FIGS.  2  and  3 ). Referring, in particular, to FIG. 3 the vessel  12  and the sleeve  1   6  are configured so that, together, they form an annular secondary or suction chamber  20 . As is also evident from FIG. 3, displacement of the pumping member in the direction of the arrow  22  will increase the volume of the suction chamber  20  and displacement in the direction of the arrow  18  will decrease the volume of the suction chamber  20 . The pumping means  50  further includes sealing means in the form of a pair of O-rings  24 ,  26 , described in further detail below, and pumping passages  28  in the wall  13  of the vessel  12  which provide a flow path for air to flow from the vacuum chamber  14  to the suction chamber  20 . Four pumping passages  28  are provided, arranged in diametrically opposed pairs. the pumping means  50  includes upper exhaust passages, described in further detail below, indicated by the dotted lines  29  in FIG. 3 which allow air in the suction chamber  20  to be discharged to atmosphere when the pumping member  16  is moved in the direction of the arrow  18 . The pumping means  50  further includes one way valve means in the form of a flat rubber band  32 , described in further detail below, extending around the cylindrical vessel  12  to cover the pumping passages  28 . 
     The vessel  12  has an open bottom end or mouth opening  12 . 4  (FIG. 2) which leads into an end of the vacuum chamber  14 . Seal means in the form of a sealing constriction ring  34  is mounted on the vessel  12  in the vicinity of the mouth opening  12 . 4 , as described in further detail below. 
     As can be seen, in particular, in FIG. 2, the cylindrical vessel  12  has a closed dome-shaped upper end  12 . 1  and a lower shoulder  12 . 2  adjacent the opening  12 . 4  with a narrower cylindrical part  12 . 3  extending from it and defining the opening  12 . 4 . 
     As can be seen in FIG. 3, the sleeve  16  comprises a top part  16 . 1  and a bottom part  16 . 2  which are screw-threadedly joined by complementary screw threads generally indicated by reference numeral  16 . 3  with a lower portion of the upper part  16 . 1  overlapping an upper portion of the lower part  16 . 2  at the screw threads  16 . 3 . This allows the device  10  to be disassembled. The upper part  16 . 1  has an upper inwardly directed collar  16 . 4  with a tapered upper face  16 . 5 . The lower part  16 . 2  has a complementary tapered lower face  16 . 6 . The lower part  16 . 2  has a circumferentially extending inwardly directed recess  16 . 7  and the O-ring  26  is positioned in the recess  16 . 7 . The O-ring  26  is configured so that it sealingly and slidingly abuts the wall  13  of the cylindrical vessel  12  to provide an airtight seal between the vessel  12  and the pumping member or sleeve  16 . 
     A collar  12 . 7  projects outwardly from the wall  13  below the inwardly directed collar  16 . 4  of the sleeve  16 . The exhaust passages  29  are formed by spaced recesses in the collar  12 . 7 . A second outwardly projecting collar  12 . 8  is located below the collar  12 . 7  and the wall  13  of the vessel  12  between the collars  12 . 7  and  1   2 . 8  is recessed. The collar  12 . 7  projects slightly further from the wall  13  of the vessel  12  than does the collar  12 . 8  as can be seen, in particular, in FIG.  3 . This allows the sleeve  16  to slide smoothly over the collar  12 . 7  which thus acts as a guide for accurate “centering” of the sleeve  16 . The collars  12 . 7 ,  12 . 8  define between them an annular cavity  16 . 8  and the O-ring  24  is positioned in the cavity  12 . 8 . The O-ring  24  has a diameter which is selected so that it abuts slidingly and sealingly against the inside face of the sleeve  16 . A further recessed portion  38  in the wall  13  of the vessel  12  is provided below the collar  12 . 8  and the pumping passages  28  extend through the wall  13  of the vessel  12  in the recessed portion  38 . The rubber band  32  is located in the recessed portion  38  and covers the pumping passages  28 . A vacuum relief hole  17  is provided in the top part  16 . 1  of the sleeve  16  adjacent the upper O-ring  24  to release vacuum when the sleeve  16  is in its lowest position. 
     A circumferentially extending rubber stop member  23  is provided above the collar  12 . 7  to dampen the sound of the sleeve when it is reciprocated. 
     Thus, in use, if the sleeve  16  is moved upwardly i.e. in the direction of the arrow  18 , the O-ring  24  is displaced upwardly so that it abuts against the collar  12 . 7  and is clear of the collar  12 . 8 . In addition, the volume of the exhaust chamber  20  is reduced and air in the exhaust chamber is driven past the O-ring  24  and the collar  12 . 8  and out through the exhaust passages  29 . When the sleeve  16  is moved in the direction of the arrow  22 , the O-ring  24  is displaced downwardly and abuts sealingly against the collar  12 . 8  thereby forming an airtight seal between the sleeve  16  and the vessel  12 . In addition, the volume of the exhaust chamber  20  is increased so that air is sucked via the pumping passages  28 , under and past the rubber band  32 , which acts as a one way valve by allowing air flow from the vacuum chamber  14  to the suction chamber  20  but preventing air flow in the opposite direction. On the return stroke of the sleeve  16  air is again exhausted via the exhaust openings  29 . The O-ring  24  hence functions as a one way valve. In this way by reciprocating movement of the sleeve  16 , air is drawn out of the vacuum chamber  14  thereby, when the mouth is closed, incrementally reducing the pressure in the vacuum chamber  14 . It will be appreciated that if desired the O-ring  26  can function as a one way valve in addition to the O-ring  24 . 
     Referring now to FIG. 4 the constriction ring  34  comprises a body of rubber, e.g. silicone rubber. The ring  34  includes a central opening  34 . 1  surrounded by a tubular central portion or collar  34 . 2 , a circumferentially extending upwardly directed ring-shaped formation or skirt  34 . 3  and a flat annular connecting web or recessed portion  34 . 4  between the collar  34 . 2  and the ring-shaped formation  34 . 3 . The ring-shaped formation has an inner surface or wall  34 . 5 . The outside diameter of the constriction ring  34  is about 58 mm. The diameter of the wall  34 . 5  is about 47 mm. This diameter is slightly smaller than the diameter of the cylindrical part  12 . 3  of the vessel  12  so that the constriction ring  34  is sealingly received or engaged on the end of the cylindrical part  12 . 3  of the vessel  12  by a friction fit. In different embodiments of the invention, the opening  34 . 1  has a diameter of 13 to 24 mm. 
     In use, the flaccid penis of a user (not shown) is drawn into the vessel  12  of the device  10  through the opening  34 . 1  of the constriction ring  34  by operating the sleeve  16  to reduce the air pressure in the pumping chamber  14  the penis is drawn into the vessel  12  and by virtue of the reduced pressure in the vacuum chamber  14  blood is drawn into the penis to achieve an erection of the penis in the vacuum chamber  14 . The constriction ring  34  seats sealingly around the penis. The pumping action causes a pressure drop in the vacuum chamber  14  to about −0.4 bar. This is sufficient to draw the penis into the vessel  12  and to draw blood into the penis to cause an erection. 
     The skirt  34 . 2  is deformed by the drawing of the penis into the opening  34 . 1  thereby causing the seal-penis contact area to be increased by the draping of the skirt  34 . 2  onto the penis, collar-fashion. Once an erection is achieved, the vessel  12  is simply disengaged from the constriction ring  34  which remains in place on the erect penis. In this case the diameter of the opening  34 . 1  is selected by a user of the device  10  so that blood flow from the penis is constricted. In the case of penile exercise, the diameter of the opening  34 . 1  is selected by a user so that the constriction ring engages sealingly with the penis during the pumping action so that an erection is achieved but not so that blood flow from the penis is constricted when the vacuum is relieved. Thus when the vacuum is relieved blood flow from the penis relaxes the erection. Such penile exercise is believed to function as a treatment for erectile dysfunction. 
     In an embodiment of the invention (not shown), the vessel  12  is provided with a removable vacuum gauge for measuring the vacuum inside the vessel  12 . Once a user is familiar with the use of the device, the vacuum gauge may be removed. 
     Reference is now made to FIG. 5 of the drawings, in which reference numeral  100  refers generally to another device in accordance with the invention for use in the treatment of erectile dysfunction or for penile exercise. Unless otherwise indicated, the same reference numerals used above are used to designate similar parts. 
     In this embodiment of the invention, the vessel  12  is formed in two parts  102  and  104  which are screw-threadedly connected together. The part  102  defines an annular shoulder  106 , the O-ring  24  being held captive between the shoulder  106  and the collar  12 . 7 . A seal  108  is provided between the two parts  102 ,  104 . 
     The shoulder  106  functions in the same manner as the collar  12 . 8  of FIGS. 1 to  3  such that the O-ring  24  cooperates with the shoulder  106  to form a non-return or one way valve means. The O-ring  26  is held captive between the lower part  16 . 2  and an annular insert  110  which is sandwiched between the upper part  16 . 1  and the lower part  16 . 2  when they are screwed together. If desired, the lower part  16 . 2  and insert  110  can be configured such that the O-ring  26  also functions as a non-return valve. 
     This arrangement, the Inventor believes, will facilitate manufacture of the device  100 . 
     In addition, the device  100  includes vacuum restriction means, generally indicated by reference numeral  112  for restricting the vacuum which can be drawn in the vacuum chamber  14 . It will be appreciated that, in use, air will be drawn from the vacuum chamber  14  into the suction chamber  20  only when the pressure in the suction chamber  24  is below that in the vacuum chamber  14 . Accordingly, by limiting the maximum vacuum which can be drawn in the suction chamber  20  the maximum vacuum which can be drawn in the vacuum chamber  14  is also limited. In order to achieve this, the vacuum restriction means  112  includes a stoke limiting member  114  which is positioned in the suction chamber  20  and is designed to limit the maximum stroke of the pumping member or sleeve  16  relative to the vessel  12 . It is hence a relatively simple matter to calculate the stroke volume of the sleeve  16  and hence the maximum vacuum which can be drawn. 
     A further difference between the device  100  and the device  10  is that, in the case of the device  100  the pumping member or sleeve  16  is moved closer towards the mouth  12 . 4  and is arranged that at the extremities of its stroke it does not protrude beyond the ends of the vessel  12 . This reduces the risk that an article of clothing or a body part may be caught between the sleeve  16  and the vessel  12 . 
     In this embodiment of the invention, even though the sleeve  16  is moved closer to the mouth  12 . 4 , at the limit of its pumping stroke, i.e. when closest to the mouth  12 . 4 , the sleeve  16  is spaced from the mouth end of the vessel as shown in FIG.  5 . This reduces the risk that the sleeve  16  will strike the testes or another part of the body of a user. 
     In addition, the diameter of the outer surface of the sleeve  16  increases towards the mouth  12 . 4 . As mentioned above, the maximum effort applied to the sleeve  16  is when it is being displaced in the direction of arrow  22 . Accordingly this gentle taper of the sleeve  16  reduces the risk that a user&#39;s hand will slip on the sleeve  16 . 
     A further difference between the device  100  and the device  10  is that, in the case of the device  100 , the sealing constriction ring  34  is provided with a pair of annular ribs or gripping formations  34 . 6  which assist in removing the ring  34  on the vessel  12 . 
     The device  100  will be used in substantially the identical fashion to the device  10 . 
     The Applicant believes that it is an advantage of the invention as illustrated that the device due to its size, form and simplicity of use can be easily used in an intimate situation. It is a particular advantage that the pumping vessel is easily detached from the constriction ring leaving the constriction ring in place. 
     The Applicant believes that it is a further advantage of the invention as illustrated that the sealing ring may be removably attached to the device to form a unit for ease of use.