Inflatable penile prosthesis with valves for increasing flow efficiency

Abstract

According to an aspect, an inflatable penile prosthesis includes a reservoir configured to hold fluid, an inflatable member, and a pump assembly configured to facilitate a transfer of a fluid from the reservoir to the inflatable member. The pump assembly includes a pump bulb, and a valve body defining a fluid passageway. The valve body includes a refill valve disposed in the fluid passageway. The refill valve includes a valve member. In response to the pump bulb being compressed, the valve member moves within the fluid passageway in a first direction to a closed position in which the valve member blocks the fluid from being transferred around the refill valve. In response to the pump bulb being uncompressed, the valve member moves within the fluid passageway in a second direction to an open position in which the valve member allows the fluid to transfer around the refill valve.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An inflatable penile prosthesis comprising:
 a reservoir configured to hold fluid;   an inflatable member; and   a pump assembly configured to facilitate a transfer of a fluid from the reservoir to the inflatable member,   the pump assembly including a pump bulb, and a valve body defining a fluid passageway, the valve body including a refill valve disposed in the fluid passageway, the refill valve including a valve member,   in response to the pump bulb being compressed, the valve member configured to move within the fluid passageway in a first direction to a closed position in which the valve member blocks the fluid from being transferred around the refill valve,   in response to the pump bulb being uncompressed, the valve member configured to move within the fluid passageway in a second direction to an open position in which the valve member allows the fluid to transfer around the refill valve.   
     
     
         2 . The inflatable penile prosthesis of  claim 1 , wherein the valve member includes a valve seat portion configured to block the fluid passageway in response to the valve member being in the closed position. 
     
     
         3 . The inflatable penile prosthesis of  claim 1 , wherein the valve member includes a tapered seat portion configured to block the fluid passageway in response to the valve member being in the closed position. 
     
     
         4 . The inflatable penile prosthesis of  claim 1 , wherein the valve member defines a plurality of grooves. 
     
     
         5 . The inflatable penile prosthesis of  claim 1 , wherein the refill valve includes a first guide member that extends from a first side of the valve member in the first direction, and a second guide member that extends from a second side of the valve member in the second direction. 
     
     
         6 . The inflatable penile prosthesis of  claim 5 , wherein at least one of the first guide member or the second guide member includes a plurality of grooves. 
     
     
         7 . The inflatable penile prosthesis of  claim 1 , wherein the valve body includes a plurality of protrusions that extend into the fluid passageway, the plurality of protrusions being configured to contact the valve member in response to the valve member being in the open position. 
     
     
         8 . The inflatable penile prosthesis of  claim 1 , wherein the refill valve is devoid of a biasing member that biases the valve member to either the closed position or the open position. 
     
     
         9 . The inflatable penile prosthesis of  claim 1 , wherein the fluid passageway is a first fluid passageway, the valve body including a second fluid passageway and an inflation valve disposed within the second fluid passageway, the inflation valve including a valve member disposed within the second fluid passageway and configured to move between an open position and a closed position, the inflation valve including a biasing member configured to bias the valve member of the inflation valve to the closed position. 
     
     
         10 . The inflatable penile prosthesis of  claim 9 , wherein the valve member of the inflation valve includes a valve seat portion configured to block the second fluid passageway in response to the valve member of the inflation valve being in the closed position. 
     
     
         11 . The inflation penile prosthesis of  claim 9 , wherein the inflation valve includes a first guide member that extends from the valve member of the inflation valve in the first direction, and a second guide member that extends from the valve member of the inflation valve in the second direction. 
     
     
         12 . A valve assembly for an inflatable penile prosthesis, the valve assembly comprising:
 a valve body having a first fluid passageway for transfer of fluid between a reservoir and a pump bulb and a second fluid passageway for transfer of fluid between the pump bulb and an inflatable member;   a refill valve disposed in the first fluid passageway, the refill valve having a valve member, wherein in response to the pump bulb being compressed, the valve member is configured to move within the first fluid passageway in a first direction to a closed position in which the valve member blocks the fluid from being transferred around the refill valve, wherein, in response to the pump bulb being uncompressed, the valve member is configured to move within the first fluid passageway in a second direction to an open position in which the valve member allows the fluid to transfer around the refill valve; and   an inflation valve disposed in the second fluid passageway.   
     
     
         13 . The valve assembly of  claim 12 , wherein the inflation valve includes a valve member and a biasing member disposed within the second fluid passageway, the biasing member configured to bias the valve member of the inflation valve to a closed position. 
     
     
         14 . The valve assembly of  claim 13 , wherein the second fluid passageway includes:
 a first flow section having a first size;   a second flow section having a second size; and   a central section disposed between the first flow section and the second flow section, the central section having a third size, the valve member of the inflation valve and the biasing member being disposed within the central section,   wherein the third size is larger than the second size.   
     
     
         15 . The valve assembly of  claim 12 , wherein the inflation valve includes a flapper valve. 
     
     
         16 . The valve assembly of  claim 12 , wherein the flapper valve includes an outer structural member, a cut pattern, and a valve head, the valve head being configured to move away from the outer structural member in response to fluid force. 
     
     
         17 . The valve assembly of  claim 12 , wherein the first fluid passageway includes:
 a first cylindrical section having a first diameter;   a second cylindrical section having a second diameter; and   a central cylindrical section disposed between the first cylindrical section and the second cylindrical section, the central cylindrical section having a third diameter, the valve member of the refill valve being disposed within the central cylindrical section,   wherein the third diameter is larger than the second diameter.   
     
     
         18 . An inflatable penile prosthesis comprising:
 a reservoir configured to hold fluid;   an inflatable member; and   a pump assembly configured to facilitate a transfer of a fluid from the reservoir to the inflatable member,   the pump assembly including a pump bulb, and a valve body defining a first fluid passageway and a second fluid passageway, the valve body including a refill valve disposed in the first fluid passageway, and an inflation valve disposed in the second fluid passageway,   at least one of the refill valve and the inflation valve including a flapper valve.   
     
     
         19 . The inflatable penile prosthesis of  claim 18 , wherein the flapper valve includes an outer structural member, at least one spring strut, and a valve head, wherein the outer structural member, the at least one spring strut, and the valve head substantially lie in a same plane in response to the flapper valve being within a closed position, wherein the valve head is disposed in a different plane than the outer structural member in response to the flapper valve being within an open position. 
     
     
         20 . The inflatable penile prosthesis of  claim 18 , wherein the flapper valve includes a valve head layer, an elastomeric seal layer, and a backplate layer, the elastomeric seal layer being disposed between the valve head layer and the backplate layer.