Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
64 words
A penile prosthesis (10) implantable within one or more corpus cavernosa, the prosthesis comprising a tubular inflatable housing (26) connectable to a source of pressurizing fluid (16), the housing defining a pressurizable chamber having a wall with a relatively low modulus of elasticity in expansion to a diameter exceeding the flaccid diameter of the surrounding tissue and a relatively high modulus of elasticity thereafter.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
64 words
A penile prosthesis (10) implantable within one or more corpus cavernosa, the prosthesis comprising a tubular inflatable housing (26) connectable to a source of pressurizing fluid (16), the housing defining a pressurizable chamber having a wall with a relatively low modulus of elasticity in expansion to a diameter exceeding the flaccid diameter of the surrounding tissue and a relatively high modulus of elasticity thereafter.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
32 words
A prosthesis according to claim 1 characterized in that the wall is elastically expandable to a high modulus transition and elastically contractable in response to a decrease in pressure with said chamber.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
18 words
A prosthesis according the claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the wall is formed of spandex material.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
27 words
A prosthesis according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the housing includes a relatively rigid front tip (18) in the erect state.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
38 words
A prosthesis according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized by including a plurality of layers including an outer layer (28) which is compatible with human tissue, and an inner layer (32) which provides a fluid barrier.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
32 words
A prosthesis according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the chamber has a high modulus transition at a prosthesis outside diameter of from about 14 to 20 millimeters.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
32 words
A prosthesis according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the housing is expandable to a diameter at least equal to the largest diameter of the distended tunica albuginea.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
38 words
A prosthesis according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the chamber exhibits a ratio of internal pressure to corresponding internal diameter of at least 300% greater after said modulus transition than before said modulus transition.