Implantable device and method for managing erectile dysfunction

Abstract

An implantable device and method for managing a patient's erectile dysfunction, wherein the device generally comprises: at least one power source member that is adapted to be implanted in the patient's lower abdominal wall; at least one pulse generating member that is adapted to be implanted in the patient's lower abdominal wall; and at least one electrode that is adapted to be implanted at the suprapubic level of the patient's neurovascular bundle of the phallus, is connected to said power source member and pulse generating member, and is adapted to electrically stimulate the neurovascular bundle upon selective activation by the patient.

1 . A method for managing a patient's erectile dysfunction, comprising the steps of, 
 providing an implantable delivery device, comprising, 
 at least one power source member;  
 at least one pulse generating member; and  
 at least one electrode that is adapted to be implanted in said patient's body cavity, is connected to said power source member and pulse generator, and is adapted to electrically stimulate the neurovascular bundle; and  
 a means for enabling the patient to selectively activate said electrode surgically implanting said device in said patient's cavity; and  
   selectively activating said pulse generator to generate electrical pulses through said electrode to electrically stimulate the patient's neurovascular bundle.    
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said power source member and said pulse generating member are housed in a biocompatible shell that is adapted to be implanted in a pocket of the patient's abdominal wall.  
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said electrode is implanted at the suprapubic level of the patient's neurovascular bundle of the phallus.  
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said pulse generating member is adapted to generate pulses of about 10 to 40 Hz and 1 to 5.5 V when selectively activated by said patient.  
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said step of surgically implanting comprises implanting said device so that, at least one of said power source members is implanted in the patient's abdominal wall; and at least one of said pulse generating members is implanted in the patient's abdominal wall.  
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said step of surgically implanting comprises implanting said device so that at least one of said electrodes is implanted at a suprapubic level of the patient's neurovascular bundle.  
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said power source member and said pulse generating member are adapted to be deactivated automatically after a predetermined temporal period has passed.  
   
   
       8 . A method for managing a patient's erectile dysfunction, comprising the steps of, 
 providing an implantable delivery device, comprising, 
 at least one power source member;  
 at least one pulse generating member; and  
 at least one electrode that is powered by a power source member and pulse generator, and is adapted to electrically stimulate the neurovascular bundle; and  
 a means for enabling the patient to selectively activate said electrode  
   surgically implanting said device at a suprapubic level of the patient's neurovascular bundle of the phallus; and    selectively activating said pulse generator to generate electrical pulses through said electrode to electrically stimulate the patient's neurovascular bundle.    
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein said device is implanted so that at least one of said power source members is implanted in the patient's abdominal wall; and at least one of said pulse generating members is implanted in the patient's abdominal wall.  
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein said device further comprises an elongated lead, to which said electrode is fixed, that connects said electrode to said power source member and pulse generating member.  
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein said device further comprises a means for remotely activating said power source member and said pulse generating member.  
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein said power source member comprises a high impedance battery.  
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein said pulse generating member is adapted to emit low amplitude, high frequency pulses.  
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein said device further comprises a lead with an outside diameter of about 2 mm or less, to which said electrode is attached and comprises at least one extension cable having a length sufficient to connect said electrode to said power source member and said pulse generating member.  
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein said power source member and said pulse generating member are adapted to be deactivated automatically when a predetermined electrical potential is reached.  
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein said power source member and said pulse generating member are adapted to be deactivated automatically after a predetermined temporal period has passed.  
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein said power source member and said pulse generating member are housed together within a titanium shell that is adapted to be implanted in a subcutaneous pocket in the patient's abdominal wall.  
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein said pulse generating member is adapted to emit electrical pulses of about 10 to 40 Hz and 1 to 5.5 V.  
   
   
       19 . A method for managing a patient's erectile dysfunction, comprising the steps of, 
 providing an implantable delivery device, comprising, 
 at least one power source member;  
 at least one pulse generating member; and  
 at least one electrode that is adapted to be implanted at the suprapubic level of the patient's neurovascular bundle of the phallus, is connected to said power source member and pulse generator, and is adapted to electrically stimulate the neurovascular bundle upon selective activation by the patient  
   surgically implanting said device so that, 
 at least one of said power source members is implanted in the patient's abdominal wall;  
 at least one of said pulse generating members is implanted in the patient's abdominal wall;  
 at least one of said electrodes is implanted at a suprapubic level of the patient's neurovascular bundle; and  
   selectively activating said pulse generator to generate electrical pulses through said electrode to electrically stimulate the patient's neurovascular bundle.