Method and apparatus for treatment of erectile dysfunction with extracorporeal shockwaves

Abstract

A method and device producing extracorporeal shockwaves for the treatment of erectile dysfunction

1 - 42 . (canceled) 
     
     
         43 . A method for the treatment of Erectile Dysfunction the method comprising:
 a) associating a penis with an electrohydraulic or/and electromagnetic shockwave generating device within an aqueous environment; and   b) applying a shockwave regimen to a penis wherein the shockwave generating device produces shockwave directed to a focal zone comprising at least a portion of the penis.   
     
     
         44 . The method of  claim 43  wherein the shockwaves are directed at a focal zone which includes at least a portion of the corpus cavernosa of the penis. 
     
     
         45 . The method of  claim 44  wherein the shockwaves are directed at a focal zone which comprises most of the length of the penis. 
     
     
         46 . The method of  claim 43  wherein the shockwaves are directed at a focal zone which includes most of the corpus cavernosa of the penis. 
     
     
         47 . The method of  claim 43  wherein the shockwave treatment regimen is determined based on at least one parameter chosen from the group consisting of shockwave parameters, treatment protocol parameters, and anatomical parameters. 
     
     
         48 . The method of  claim 47  wherein the shockwave parameters comprise number of shockwaves, frequency of shockwaves and intensity of the shockwave. 
     
     
         49 . The method of  claim 48  wherein the parameters are selected from at least one of: shockwave intensity in a range between 50 bar to 200 bar; shockwave frequency in a range between 60 to 300 shockwaves per min; and the number of shockwaves is below 3500 per session. 
     
     
         50 . The method of  claim 47  wherein the anatomical parameters comprise a selection of at least one treatment zones selected from at least seven treatment zones including the glans to the penis root, corpora cavernosa, corpus spongiosum, root of the penis, bulbos and glans, ischiocavernosus and bulbospongiosus. 
     
     
         51 . The method of  claim 47  wherein the anatomical parameters comprise a single focal zone including up to 90% of the corpus cavernosa of the penis. 
     
     
         52 . The method of  claim 43  further comprising administering the shock wave regimen in combination with a drug or medicament. 
     
     
         53 . The method of  claim 52  0wherein the medicament or drug is chosen from a group consisting of stem cells, growth factors, hormones, peptides, biologics, DNA, RNA, animal extract, plant extract, oil, gel, balm, cream, angiogenic drugs, PDES and vasodilating drugs. 
     
     
         54 . The method of  claim 53  wherein the shockwave and drug combination treatment promotes at least one of: vasodilatation, vasoconstriction, angiogenesis, endothelial function, neural regeneration, decalcification, increased cytoplasmic calcium concentration, reduced cytoplasmic calcium concentration, inhibition of PDES, enzymatic inhibition, enzymatic excitation, or any combination thereof. 
     
     
         55 . The method of  claim 43  wherein at least one of the shockwaves targets at least one or more of the penis vasculature chosen from the group consisting of:
 cavernosal artery, dorsal artery, bulbar artery, cavernosal vein, dorsal vein and bulbar vein. 
 
     
     
         56 . The method of  claim 43  wherein the shockwave treatment is applied at least during one phase of an erectile cycle chosen from the group consisting of initiation, generation, maintenance, and detumescence. 
     
     
         57 . The method of  claim 43  wherein the treatment protocols targets at least one erectile function chosen from the group consisting of arterial inflow, sufficient corpora cavernosal expansion, and competent venous sinusoidal outflow occlusion. 
     
     
         58 . The method of  claim 43  wherein at least one of the shockwaves is directed towards at least one or more penile anatomy member chosen from the group consisting of corpora cavernosa, corpus spongiosum, and glans. 
     
     
         59 . The method of  claim 43  wherein the shockwave treatment regime is implemented over a period of up to 18 weeks including periods of active shockwave treatment sessions and periods of rest. 
     
     
         60 . The method of  claim 59  wherein the treatment regimen comprises up to 18 active shockwave treatment sessions. 
     
     
         61 . The method of  claim 59  wherein the active treatment session treatment are implemented at least once a week.