Device and method of treating loss of intimacy

Abstract

A device, system and method of treating lack of intimacy in a patient is described, incorporating a penile stimulation device worn by the patient, optionally operated by a remote caregiver or device, such a software treatment regimen or a video game. The device provides mechanical linear motion of a driven penile sleeve, external to the body of the device, adjustably fitted to a patient. A caregiver or remote device connects to a desired patient device, via a server, solely by the use of a unique connection key, without the use of personal identifying information. An open interface, such as an API or framework, provides for third party applications, such as treatment software, a video game or voice control. Connectivity options include one-to-many. Mechanical motion of the control device may control motion of the patient device, or vice-versa.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A device for male masturbation comprising:
 a hollow shell, generally cylindrical, comprising an axis, an interior, a proximal end and a distal end, and further comprising a co-axial slot opening the interior to an exterior of the shell;   wherein the interior of the shell comprises:
 a motor; 
 a co-axial lead screw, operatively connected to the motor; 
 a slider operatively connected to the lead screw, wherein rotation of the lead screw causes the slider to move co-axially; 
   wherein an interior portion of the slider is interior to the shell;   wherein an arm portion of the slider passes through the slot;   wherein a sleeve retainer portion of the slider is external to the shell;   one or more operative buttons, wherein the one or more operative buttons are located on the distal half of the shell; and   control electronics located in the interior of the shell.   
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a flexible sleeve, generally cylindrical, open at a proximal end;   wherein the sleeve is adapted to be removably attached to the sleeve retainer;   wherein, when removably attached, the entire sleeve is external to the shell.   
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the motor is located in the proximal half of the shell.   
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 one or more guide rods;   wherein the slider rides on the one or more guide rods.   
     
     
         5 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the distal end of the shell comprises a smooth, curved top cap;   wherein top cap mates with the shell such that a continuous smooth exterior surface, free of discontinuities, is created at the junction between the top cap and the shell.   
     
     
         6 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein:
 at least one button or the one or more buttons is located such that an average adult male hand, when holding the shell at the distal end with a palm of the hand against the top cap, is operative by at least one finger of the hand.   
     
     
         7 . The device of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 one or more motor sensors;   one or more distal slider position sensors;   one or more proximal slide position sensors;   wherein the one or more motor sensors are adapted, in conjunction with the control electronics to count motor revolutions;   wherein the one or more distal slider position sensors are adapted to detect a position of the slider at a predetermined distal location; and   wherein the one or more proximal slider position sensors are adapted to detect a position of the slider at a predetermined proximal location.   
     
     
         8 . The device of  claim 7 , wherein:
 the one or more motor sensors, the one or more distal slider positions, and the one or more proximal slide position sensors are adapted to operate redundantly such that either the one or more motor sensors and either of the: one or more distal slider positions and the one or more proximal slide position sensors detect an endpoint of travel of the slider.   
     
     
         9 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the shell comprises a smooth, curved, concave recess;   wherein the one or more operative buttons are located in the recess.   
     
     
         10 . The device of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 an adjustable strap, attached to the sleeve retainer portion of the slider, wherein the strap is adapted to be removably placed around the sleeve;   wherein adjustment of the strap adjusts the effective interior diameter of the sleeve.   
     
     
         11 . A method of using the device of  claim 1 , comprising the steps:
 (a) placing the sleeve over a patient's penis;   (b) attaching removably the sleeve to the sleeve retainer portion of the slider;   (c) placing a single patient hand over the distal end of the device; and   (d) operating one or more buttons of the device using one or more fingers of the single patient hand;   wherein the method includes all of the structures and limitations of  claim 1 .   
     
     
         12 . A method of connecting a user device anonymously to a remote operator comprising the steps:
 provisioning a server, comprising the sub-steps:
 (a) creating of a device-unique connection key; 
 (b) programming the connection key into the user device; 
 (c) providing a user of the user device with the connection key; 
 (d) programming a device-access credential set into the user device; 
 (e) programming a user-to-server-access credential set into the user device; 
   opening a server chat room associated with the connection key, comprising the sub-steps:
 (f) providing the remote operator with a remote-operator-to-server-access credential set; 
 (g) providing to the remote operator, by the user, the connection key; 
 (h) accessing the server chat room, by the user, using the connection key and the user-to-server-access credential set; 
 (i) accessing the server chat room, by the remote operator, using the connection key and the remote-operator-to-server-access credential set; 
 (j) associating the server chat room with the connection key; 
 (k) providing communication between the user device and the remote operator, via the chat room; wherein other user devices not having the connection key and other remote operators not having the connection are blocked from communicating via the server chat room; 
   using the user device by the user anonymously, comprising the sub-steps:
 (l) enabling the user device for remote access, by the user; 
 (m) controlling the user device by the remote operator, via communication from the remote operator, through the chat room, to the user device. 
   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12  further comprising the step:
 (n) closing the server chat room associated with the connection key; 
 wherein the connection key is not stored in the server during a time when the chat room is closed. 
 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13  wherein:
 during the time when the chat room is closed, the connection key is stored only in the user device and in other devices provided, by the user, directly or indirectly, with the connection key. 
 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 12  wherein:
 the method is free of a requirement for the user to download a computer application. 
 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 12  wherein:
 the remote operator, the server, the server chat room and device manufacturer are all free of any information that identifies personally the user of the user device. 
 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 12  comprising the additional step:
 (o) synchronizing, controlled by the remote operator, the user device motion with a video stream. 
 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 12  wherein:
 the method includes all of the structures and limitations of  claim 1 .