Prosthesis for improved penis function

Abstract

A subcutaneous prosthesis subcutaneously implanted within a penis, the prosthesis forming two sides of an elongated cylinder, the sides hinged along top longitudinal edges of their sides. One end of the prosthesis has a gauze sheath providing a means to secure the prosthesis from moving relative to the corpora cavernosa around which it is placed. When the penis is erect it grows in girth thereby causing the two sides of the cylindrical prosthesis to spread divergently and forcing a press-rib against the deep dorsal vein of the penis, thereby restricting blood flow out of the penis so as to improve erectile rigidity and duration.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A penile prosthesis comprising:
 a cylindrical body for subcutaneous implantation into a penis;   said cylindrical body having two hingably-joined halves capable of mutually converging and mutually diverging depending on an erectile state of said penis; and   further comprising a first gauze sheath sutured to an end of said cylindrical body in a position enabling suturing of said cylindrical body to a corpora cavernosum of said penis.   
     
     
       2. The penile prosthesis of  claim 1  wherein said hingably-joined halves are joined by a second gauze sheet extensive on at least one of top surfaces and bottom surfaces of said hingably-joined halves. 
     
     
       3. The penile prosthesis of  claim 1  wherein said cylindrical body is formed as a single integral part having a length for extending over at least a portion of a length of a penis. 
     
     
       4. The penile prosthesis of  claim 1  wherein said cylindrical body has a wall thickness varying circumferentially from a maximum thickness to a minimum thickness. 
     
     
       5. The penile prosthesis of  claim 1  wherein said cylindrical body has a wall thickness varying longitudinally from a maximum thickness to a minimum thickness. 
     
     
       6. The penile prosthesis of  claim 1  wherein said cylindrical body has two opposing longitudinal edges defining a longitudinal gap in said cylindrical body. 
     
     
       7. The penile prosthesis of  claim 1  wherein said cylindrical body defines an oblate space therein. 
     
     
       8. A penile implant comprising:
 an elongate integral body having first and second joined halves that are joined along a joining line, the elongate integral body having an inside surface, an outside surface, and a length and size enabling subcutaneous implantation into a penis, the elongate integral body including:
 the first joined half having a first edge; 
 the second joined half having a second edge; 
 each of the first and second edges extending longitudinally along said elongate integral body, there being a gap between the first edge and the second edge; and 
 net sheeting embedded under the inside and the outside surfaces of the elongate integral body, the net sheeting extending continuously under the outside surface of the elongate integral body such that the net sheeting functions as a hinge between the first and second joined halves along the joining line.  
   
     
     
       9. The penile implant of  claim 8 , further comprising a protrusion joined to the net sheeting along at least a portion of the inside surface of the joining line.  
     
     
       10. The penile implant of  claim 9 , wherein the protrusion is joined to the net sheeting along the length of the elongate integral body.  
     
     
       11. A penile implant comprising:
 an elongate integral body having first and second joined halves that are joined along a joining line, the elongate integral body having an inside surface, an outside surface and a length and size enabling subcutaneous implantation into a penis, wherein the first and second joined halves are joined along the joining line by net sheeting embedded under the outside surface of the elongate integral body; and   a protrusion joined to the net sheeting along at least a portion of the joining line, the protrusion configured to facilitate an erect state when the penile implant is implanted into the penis.    
     
     
       12. The penile implant of  claim 11 , wherein the protrusion is configured to facilitate the erect state by being configured to compress the deep dorsal vein of the penis to slow outward blood flow.  
     
     
       13. The penile implant of  claim 11 , wherein the protrusion is joined to the net sheeting along the length of the elongate integral body.  
     
     
       14. The penile implant of  claim 11 , wherein the net sheeting functions as a hinge between the first and second joined halves along the joining line.  
     
     
       15. The penile implant of  claim 11 , wherein:
 the first joined half has a first edge and the second joined half has a second edge; and wherein   each of the first and second edges extends longitudinally along said elongate integral body, there being a gap between the first edge and the second edge.