Surgery: light – thermal – and electrical application – Light – thermal – and electrical application – Light application
Reexamination Certificate
1998-08-04
2001-06-05
Peffley, Michael (Department: 3739)
Surgery: light, thermal, and electrical application
Light, thermal, and electrical application
Light application
C606S016000, C607S089000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06241752
ABSTRACT:
FIELD AND BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to a method of treating a male for impotence, namely a male's inability to achieve or maintain a penile erection of adequate rigidity for sexual intercourse. The invention also relates to apparatus for irradiating an object with monochromatic light, preferably a laser beam, which apparatus is particularly useful in such method.
The penis consists of two longitudinal cylindrical bodies called the corpora cavernosa. These bodies are composed of sponge-like tissue that contains tiny vascular spaces (cavernous sinuses) surrounded by smooth muscle. A third cylinder is the urethra, a tube that carries the urine and the ejaculate. Blood flows to the penis via two very small arteries that come from the aorta. During erection, blood is pumped into the penis under great pressure, and a series of valves trap the blood in the penis to maintain the erection.
The sequence of events that initiate an erection includes relaxation of the sinusoid muscle, which results in a decrease of resistance and an increase in blood flow. The events that lead to this smooth muscle relaxation are controlled by biochemical substances which are released from the nerve endings after sexual stimulation. These substances include, among others, the endothelium-derived relaxing factor (EDRF), also known as nitric oxide (NO). NO has been found to act as a neurotransmitter causing smooth muscle relaxation in the urogenital tract and seems to be the final mediator of penile erection. Penile erection is mediated by nitric oxide via cyclic guanosine monophosphate. Any medication or process which will mimic these mechanisms will enhance an erection.
Following are the main types of impotence and their causes:
psychogenic impotence, caused by impulses from the brain which inhibit the erectile process;
neurogenic impotence, secondary to nervous system disorders;
arteriogenic impotence, secondary to disease of the arteries which supply blood to the penis;
hormonal impotence, caused by a deficiency of androgens and loss of sexual interest and erections;
impotence caused by a deficiency of nitric oxide (NO) production in the corpora cavernosa of the penis, which has been implicated in erectile dysfunction;
venogenic impotence, caused by abnormal venous channels of communication, producing an inability to maintain an erection; and
erectile tissue disfunction impotence, secondary to fibrosis, trauma, diabetes, tumor infiltration and others.
Currently the following methods are used in the treatment of impotence i.e., to enable, or to improve the ability of, a male to achieve or maintain a penile erection of adequate rigidity for sexual intercourse:
vacuum constrictor devices; however these may be cumbersome to use and may cause pain and/or premature loss of penile tumescence/rigidity.
transdermal administration of vasoactive drugs; however these are usually ineffective.
transurethal administration of vasoactive drugs; however these may cause pain and insufficient erection.
intracavernous injection of vasoactive agents; however these are frequently accompanied by side effects including hematomas, pain, formation of fibrotic nodules within the corpora cavernosa, penile curvature and priapism.
penile prosthesis implantation; however this involves irreversible destruction of corpora cavernosa vessels, and possible complications including infection, erosion of a component of a prosthesis, and mechanical failure of prosthesis components.
sildenafil (e.g., Viagra, the recently introduced drug) which prevents degradation of the cyclic guanosine monophosphate and thus enhances erections; however, this may be accompanied by serious, possibly fatal, side effects.
OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION
An object of the present invention is to provide a novel method of treating a male for impotence, i.e., for enabling, or improving the ability of, the male to achieve penile erection of adequate rigidity for sexual intercourse, which method has advantages in one or more of the above respects. Another object of the invention is to provide apparatus for irradiating an object with light radiation, preferably laser radiation, which apparatus is particularly useful in the above method but could conceivably be used in other applications.
According to one broad aspect of the present invention, therefore, there is provided a method of treating a male for impotence, comprising: applying low-power monochromatic light radiation to the penis of the male sufficient to induce relaxation of the walls of the blood vessels supplying blood to the corpora cavernosa of the penis.
According to further features in the preferred embodiment of the invention described below, the monochromatic light radiation is laser radiation of a wavelength of 440-960 nm, and is applied at a rate (irradiance) of 20-2000 millewatts per square centimeter for a total energy (radiant exposure) of 50-200 joule per square centimeter for a treatment time of 1.5-40 minutes.
According to still further features in the described preferred embodiments, the radiation is applied while it is moved along the length of the penis. Preferably, the radiation is applied through one or more cycles, each including a slow forward stroke having a duration in the order of minutes, and a quick return stroke having a duration in the order of seconds.
It is believed that the foregoing method can be used for treating a male for impotence without the side effects and other drawbacks present in the currently used methods.
Thus, recent studies have shown that monochromatic light radiation, particularly laser radiation, induces relaxation of vascular smooth muscle in vitro and in vivo at low powers. At high power, predominantly heat formation, constriction, focal coaguli formation, hemostasis and thermal damage to tissues occur. The shorter is the light wavelengths, the more effective is the relaxation.
In addition, low-power monochromatic, preferably laser, radiation has been reported to reduce injury, to promote regenerization, to provide protective effects against ischemic damage, and to produce analgesia. While the mechanism is unknown, one hypothesis is that the radiation produces free radicals (EDRF), like nitric oxide (NO), which have beneficial effects on impotence at low concentrations. Suggested causes of blood vessel wall relaxation by laser or other monochromatic light are similar to the endothelium-derived relaxation (based on endothelium-derived relaxing factor, EDRF) and depends on the presence of nitric oxide (NO) donors.
However, the exposure to the laser radiation should be within the exposure limits set forth in the Guidelines of the International Commission On Non-Ionising Radiation Protection (ICNIRP), e.g., as published in the Eighth International Congress Of The International Radiation Protection Association, Montreal, May 18-22 1992.
According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided apparatus for treating a male for impotence, comprising: a source of low-power, monochromatic light radiation; and a radiation applicator for holding the male's penis and for applying to a large surface area thereof monochromatic light radiation from the source sufficient to induce relaxation of the walls of the blood vessels supplying blood to the corpora cavernosa of the penis.
According to a further aspect of the invention, there is provided apparatus for treating a male for impotence, comprising: a source of low-power, monochromatic light radiation; and a radiation applicator for holding the male's penis and for applying to a large surface area thereof monochromatic radiation from the source sufficient to improve the male's ability to achieve and maintain penile erection as a result of a sexual stimulation.
According to yet another aspect of the present invention, there is provided apparatus for irradiating an object with light radiation, which apparatus is particularly, but not exclusively, useful in the above method. The novel apparatus comprises: a radiation source outputting a radiation beam; a radi
Sheinman Shuki
Sidi Abraham Ami
Yacobi Yacov
Birch & Stewart Kolasch & Birch, LLP
Farah Ahmed
Inventis
Peffley Michael
LandOfFree
Method of treating for impotence and apparatus particularly... does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Method of treating for impotence and apparatus particularly..., we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Method of treating for impotence and apparatus particularly... will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2448359