Mechanical impotence treatment apparatus

Abstract

A method for treating a male patient suffering from impotence is disclosed. The method comprises the steps of: cutting the skin of the patient, inserting at least one dissecting tool, and dissecting the area of a penile tissue including a blood flow passageway using said dissecting tool. The method further comprises the steps of: placing restriction device in the dissected area, and forming a restricted penile blood flow passageway, wherein the restriction device is adapted to be powered and controlled from outside the patient's body.

1 .- 63 . (canceled) 
     
     
         64 . A male sexual impotence treatment apparatus, comprising:
 an adjustable restriction device implantable in a male patient for directly engaging a portion of the normal penile tissue or the prolongation thereof,   an operable adjustment device implantable in the patient and adapted to mechanically adjust the restriction device to temporarily contract said portion to restrict the blood flow leaving the penis, and   an implantable operation device for operating the adjustment device, comprising hydraulic means for operating the adjustment device,   wherein the apparatus further comprises an implantable reservoir containing a predetermined amount of fluid for supplying the hydraulic means with fluid, and   wherein the operable adjustment device and the operation device are both powered.   
     
     
         65 . An apparatus according to  claim 64 , wherein the restriction device is operable to contract said portion such that the penile arterial blood flow is at least substantially unrestricted, whereas the penile venous blood flow is substantially restricted. 
     
     
         66 . An apparatus according to  claim 64 , wherein the restriction device is designed for engagement with both of the corpora cavernosa or crura of the penis or the prolongations thereof as a single unit, or for engagement with each as two separate units. 
     
     
         67 . An apparatus according to  claim 64 , wherein said portion comprises one or more of the exit veins from the penis. 
     
     
         68 . An apparatus according to  claim 64 , wherein the adjustment device is adapted to adjust the restriction device in a non-magnetic or non-thermal manner. 
     
     
         69 . An apparatus according to  claim 64 , wherein the restriction device is non-inflatable. 
     
     
         70 . An apparatus according to  claim 64 , wherein the restriction device comprises an element to be placed on one side of said portion, and the adjustment device is adapted to squeeze said portion between the element and the human bone or tissue to decrease the blood flow leaving the penis. 
     
     
         71 . An apparatus according to  claim 64 , wherein the restriction device comprises at least one elongated restriction member and forming means for forming the restriction member into at least a substantially closed loop around said portion, the loop defining a restriction opening, whereby the adjustment device is adapted to adjust the restriction member in the loop to change the size of the restriction opening. 
     
     
         72 . An apparatus according to  claim 71 , wherein the restriction device comprises several elongated restriction members to be formed into at least substantially closed loops around the penile tissue. 
     
     
         73 . An apparatus according to  claim 71  or  72 , wherein the adjustment device is adapted to adjust the longitudinal extension of the elongated restriction member in said loop to change the size of the restriction opening. 
     
     
         74 . An apparatus according to  claim 73 , wherein the restriction member comprises a main portion and two elongated end portions, and the adjustment device is adapted to establish longitudinal relative displacement between the end portions of the restriction member, such that the size of the restriction opening is adjusted. 
     
     
         75 . An apparatus according to  claim 64 , wherein the adjustment device comprises a movement transferring member in engagement with at least one of the end portions of the restriction member and is operable to displace said at least one end portion relative to the other end portion of the restriction member. 
     
     
         76 . An apparatus according to  claim 75 , further comprising a motor, which is fixed relative to the main portion of the restriction member and has a rotating drive shaft operatively connected to the movement transferring member. 
     
     
         77 . An apparatus according to  claim 76 , wherein the motor is positioned relative to the elongated restriction member such that the drive shaft extends in parallel with a chord in said loop of the restriction member. 
     
     
         78 . An apparatus according to  claim 73 , wherein the elongated restriction member is longitudinally resilient and the adjustment device comprises a contraction means adapted to longitudinally contract the resilient restriction member. 
     
     
         79 . An apparatus according to  claim 78 , wherein the elongated restriction member comprises a substantially non-resilient man portion and an end portion forming an elongated helical spring, which is contractible by the contraction means. 
     
     
         80 . An apparatus according to  claim 78 , wherein the contraction means comprises an elongated flexible pulling member connected to the main portion of the restriction member and extending through the helical spring to contract the helical spring against an arresting member, which is fixed relative to the main portion of the restriction member. 
     
     
         81 . An apparatus according to  claim 71 , wherein the restriction member comprises an elongated helical spring having a free end, and a body to which said spring is non-rotatably secured at its opposite end, the adjustment device being adapted to rotate the helical spring in one direction to enlarge the coils of the helical spring to longitudinally contract the elongated helical spring and to rotate the helical spring in the opposite direction to reduce the size of the coils of the helical spring to longitudinally extend the helical spring. 
     
     
         82 . An apparatus according to  claim 81 , wherein the restriction member comprises a further elongated helical spring having a free end and being non-rotatably secured to the body at its opposite end, and the adjustment device comprises a drive shaft having two opposite end portions connected to the helical springs, respectively, at their free ends, the helical coils forming left and right hand helices, respectively. 
     
     
         83 . An apparatus according to  claim 71 , wherein the restriction member forms a radial innermost circumferential confinement surface in said loop of the restriction member, and the adjustment device is adapted to mechanically adjust the restriction member such that at least a portion of the confinement surface is substantially radially displaced in said loop.