Pump for an implantable penile prosthesis

Abstract

A pump adapted to be attached between a reservoir and an inflatable penile implant of an implantable penile prosthesis includes a pump body connected between a pump bulb and tubing that is attachable to the reservoir and to the inflatable penile implant. An inlet valve and an exhaust valve are disposed within the pump body between the pump bulb and the tubing. A deflate valve is disposed within the pump body between the inlet valve and the tubing. The deflate valve includes a valve stem connected between a spring stabilizer and a valve surface. An aperture is formed to extend entirely through the deflate valve.

1 . (canceled) 
     
     
         2 . A method of providing a user with a reversible erection, the method comprising:
 implanting in the user a pump connected to a reservoir and an inflatable penile implant with tubing, wherein   squeezing a pump bulb of the pump moves liquid from the reservoir to the inflatable penile implant, thus inflating the inflatable penile implant; and   releasing the liquid from the inflatable penile implant and returning the liquid to the reservoir through the tubing thus reversing an erection by deflating the inflatable penile implant, including   activating a deflate valve by moving a valve stem disposed in the pump between an inlet valve and an exhaust valve with a one-touch activation to the deflate valve characterized by an absence of a sustained activation force applied to the deflate valve by the user, with the valve stem having an end surface opposite a base surface, the moving the valve stem including   displacing the base surface away from the inlet valve toward the exhaust valve and allowing liquid to flow from the inflatable penile implant to the reservoir through the tubing.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein squeezing the pump bulb of the pump includes moving the base surface away from the exhaust valve toward the inlet valve to inflate the inflatable penile implant. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 sealing an engagement surface on the base surface of the deflate valve to a restriction ring in the pump.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 2 , comprising maintaining the deflate valve in a deflate mode by configuring a restrictor ring formed in the pump to operate by resisting movement of an engagement surface formed on the base surface of the deflate valve past the restrictor ring formed in the pump. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 2 , comprising biasing the deflate valve with a valve spring and maintaining an unactuated state in the inflatable penile implant until force is applied to activate the deflate valve. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 2 , comprising moving the base surface of the valve stem from a valve compartment to an actuator compartment in the pump and deflating the inflatable penile implant. 
     
     
         8 . A method of providing a user with a reversible erection, the method comprising:
 implanting in the user a pump connected to a reservoir and an inflatable penile implant with tubing, wherein   squeezing a pump bulb of the pump moves liquid from the reservoir to the inflatable penile implant, thus inflating the inflatable penile implant;   activating a deflate valve on the pump by moving a valve stem disposed transversely in the pump between an inlet valve communicating with the reservoir and an exhaust valve communicating with the inflatable penile implant, including   activating the deflate valve with a one-touch activation that is characterized by an absence of a sustained activation force applied to the deflate valve by the user; and   releasing the liquid from the inflatable penile implant and returning the liquid to the reservoir through the tubing thus reversing an erection by deflating the inflatable penile implant.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , comprising releasing the liquid from the inflatable penile implant and returning the liquid to the reservoir past the valve stem. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 8 , comprising displacing a base surface of the valve stem away from the inlet valve and toward the exhaust valve and allowing liquid to flow from the inflatable penile implant to the reservoir past the valve stem.