Inflatable penile prosthesis having a cylinder with a porous portion

Abstract

According to an aspect, an implant includes an inflatable member and a pump assembly configured to facilitate a transfer of a fluid from the reservoir to the inflatable member. The inflatable member has a sidewall that defines a lumen and a porous structure disposed within the lumen.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An implant, comprising:
 an inflatable member; and   a pump assembly configured to facilitate a transfer of a fluid from the reservoir to the inflatable member,   the inflatable member having a sidewall that defines a lumen and a porous structure disposed within the lumen.   
     
     
         2 . The implant of  claim 1 , wherein the porous structure defines a plurality of cavities. 
     
     
         3 . The implant of  claim 1 , wherein the inflatable member defines a longitudinal axis, the porous structure extends along the longitudinal axis. 
     
     
         4 . The implant of  claim 1 , wherein the sidewall includes an outer surface, the outer surface of the sidewall is substantially smooth. 
     
     
         5 . The implant of  claim 1 , wherein the inflatable member is configured to be placed in an inflated configuration and a deflated configuration. 
     
     
         6 . The implant of  claim 1 , wherein the inflatable member is configured to be placed in an inflated configuration and a deflated configuration, the inflatable member having a tubular shape when in the deflated configuration. 
     
     
         7 . The implant of  claim 1 , wherein the inflatable member is configured to be placed in an inflated configuration and a deflated configuration, the inflatable member having a tubular shape when in the inflated configuration. 
     
     
         8 . The implant of  claim 1 , wherein the inflatable member is configured to be placed in an inflated configuration and a deflated configuration, the inflatable member having a tubular shape when in the deflated configuration and having a tubular shape when in the inflated configuration. 
     
     
         9 . The implant of  claim 1 , wherein the inflatable member is configured to be placed in an inflated configuration and a deflated configuration, the inflatable member configured to extend along a longitudinal axis of the inflatable member when placed in the inflated configuration. 
     
     
         10 . The implant of  claim 1 , wherein the inflatable member is configured to be placed in an inflated configuration and a deflated configuration, the inflatable member configured to extend in a direction transverse to a longitudinal axis of the inflatable member when placed in the inflated configuration. 
     
     
         11 . The implant of  claim 1 , wherein the porous structure defines a plurality of cavities, the fluid being configured to be disposed within the plurality of cavities when the inflatable member is placed in an inflated configuration. 
     
     
         12 . The implant of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a first cap coupled to a first end portion of the sidewall; and   a second cap coupled to a second end portion of the sidewall.   
     
     
         13 . The implant of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a first cap coupled to a first end portion of the sidewall; and   a second cap coupled to a second end portion of the sidewall,   the porous structure being disposed between the first cap and the second cap.   
     
     
         14 . The implant of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a reservoir configured to retain the fluid,   wherein the pump is configured to help facilitate a transfer of the fluid from the reservoir to the inflatable member when the implant is in an inflation mode.   
     
     
         15 . The implant of  claim 1 , wherein the pump assembly includes a valve body and a pump bulb member. 
     
     
         16 . A method, comprising:
 disposing a first material within a lumen of a sheath;   disposing a second material within the lumen of the sheath, the second material being different than the first material; and   removing the first material from with lumen of the sheath while leaving the second material disposed within the sheath.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the first material is water-soluble, the second material is non-soluble in water. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the removing the first material from the lumen includes passing a liquid through the lumen of the sheath. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the second material is disposed within the lumen of the sheath after the first material is disposed within the sheath. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising:
 disposing tubular members within the lumen of the sheath.