Field of the invention

The present invention relates to a method of generating a permanent elongation of the penis. The invention moreover relates to an apparatus for performing the method, said apparatus comprising a substantially ring-shaped element to be fitted proximally on the penis and connecting ele¬ ments which are secured at their one end to the ring- shaped element by means of hinge elements, and which sub¬ stantially extend along the penis to a region around the glans, where the connecting elements are provided with holding means for holding the distal end of the penis.

Since 1905 it has been known to use tissue traction for stretching parts of the body, and in 1957 Neuman per- formed tissue expansion in practice. Traction of fingers was first described by the American Cowen who at the An¬ nual U.S. Congress of Orthopedic Surgery in 1977 spoke about stretching fingers to normal length in children who had been born with too short fingers. On the basis of his clinical tissue distractions Cowen found that blood ves¬ sels and "all" other tissue on the extremity are stretched, provided that the rate of traction does not exceed the "rate of nerve regeneration".

Animal experiments have shown that the epidermis responds to constant expansion/tension by increased cell division activity in the basal layer, a process which reaches its maximum within 24-48 hours and normalizes within 6 days.

Animal experiments have also shown that expansion of the dermis reduces its thickness slightly. Normalization of

the thickness of the dermis after 2 years' expansion has been reported.

Most immediate prior art

Devices of the type mentioned in the opening paragraph are known for use as aids during intercourse, i.e. for shorter periods of time.

WO 84 01284, e.g., discloses a device of the type men¬ tioned in the opening paragraph for supporting the penis at a fixed angle from the body during intercourse. Prior to mounting of the device, it must be adjusted to fit the length of the penis concerned. The feasibility of subse- quent adjustment of the length of the device is not men¬ tioned in the document. EP 370 932 discloses another de¬ vice for buttressing the penis.

It is common to the above-mentioned devices that they are exclusively adapted to straighten the penis. Therefore, the devices are not adapted to be frequently adjusted in length and are moreover just adapted to be worn during intercourse.

DE 166168 discloses a device for straightening the ure¬ thra to thereby remedy a disorder, such as contracting scars which bend the penis and cause painful urination. The device consists of a metal rod which extends along the penis and is adapted to support the penis. The device is constructed to fit the penis concerned and does not stretch it, but merely straightens it for relief of pains, e.g. in connection with urination. The device, like the apparatus of the invention, comprises hinge ele¬ ments at the proximal end of the penis, so that the de- vice can be worn for an extended period of time.

Objects, etc.

The object of the invention is to provide a method of generating a permanent elongation of the penis.

The method is unique by using means for adjusting the connecting elements to cause a permanent traction between the proximal and distal ends of the penis for an extended period of time.

Experiments have been performed with 10 patients who un¬ derwent traction of the penis in accordance with the method over a period of 8 weeks. The experiments showed that 5 patients who had previously undergone surgical penile lengthening (detachment of the cavernous corpora from the symphysis) averagely achieved a 5.5 cm lengthen¬ ing of the penis, and that the patients without prior penile surgery averagely achieved a 2.5 cm lengthening. A traction of 4-6 newtons was applied for 24 hours, day and night.

Another object of the invention is to provide an appara¬ tus for performing the method which is adapted to bring about a permanent elongation of the penis, and which can be worn by the user day and night without any risk or discomfort.

This object is achieved by an apparatus of the type men¬ tioned in the opening paragraph, where the connecting elements have adjustment means for adjusting their length so that the connecting elements hold the ring-shaped ele¬ ment at a given distance from the holding means.

The advantage of this apparatus is that the length of the connecting elements can easily be adjusted, and that the apparatus always provides traction of the penis irrespec-

tive of the user's position. The user can thus wear the apparatus round the clock without any risk or discomfort, which has not been possible with the known devices.

Mode of operation

Tissue traction and tissue expansion are known phenomena in traction of extremities, such as fingers, thighs and skin. Experiments have shown that blood vessels and "all" other tissue on the extremities can be stretched so as to cause permanent elongation of the extremities. However, the rate of traction must not exceed the rate of nerve regeneration since, otherwise, the tissue may be damaged.

The method of generating permanent elongation of the pe¬ nis comprises positioning a substantially ring-shaped element proximally on the penis and attaching the holding means to the penis. Then, permanent traction is applied between the proximal and distal ends of the penis for an extended period of time.

The total length of the connecting elements is increased during this period via the adjustment means, thus causing tissue extraction of the tissue in the penis to generate a permanent elongation of the penis. The length of the connecting elements may e.g. be increased by 1/2 to 1 mm per day. Desirably, a fairly constant traction ranging from about 4 to 12 newtons is applied to the penis.

When using the apparatus of the invention, the substan¬ tially ring-shaped element is fitted over the penis and pushed down at the root so that the connecting elements substantially extend along the penis to the distal end of the penis behind the glans, where the holding means are attached around the penis and secure its distal end with respect to the connecting elements. The length of the

connecting elements may be changed via the adjustment elements so that a substantially constant traction is ap¬ plied to the penis, even though this is lengthened. The hinge elements enable the apparatus to be worn round the clock, with constant traction of the penis.

Advantages of advantageous embodiments

In a particularly advantageous embodiment of the method of the invention traction is applied with a tractive force greater than 4 newtons and less than 12 newtons. This ensures suitable stretching of the penis and thus relatively fast expansion of the tissue without causing any damage.

In another embodiment of the method of the invention traction is applied permanently for a period exceeding 14 days. Experiments have shown that traction of the penis for a period of this duration results in an acceptable lengthening to the user.

In an expedient embodiment of the apparatus of the inven¬ tion, the adjustment means are constructed such that the length of the connecting elements can be adjusted while the apparatus is fitted on the penis. This facilitates adjustment of the length of the connecting elements. Fur¬ thermore, it is ensured that pain does not occur in the mounting of the apparatus, because traction is applied to the penis when the penis is to be stretched by a further amount in the mounting of the apparatus.

In another expedient embodiment of the invention, d na- mometric devices are provided between the ring-shaped element and the holding means. This makes it possible to control the tractive force exerted on the penis. This may be an advantage when another person, e.g. a doctor, is to

adjust the length of the connecting elements, as traction is to be performed with a specific force.

In another expedient embodiment the dynamometric devices are constructed as compression spring elements which are arranged between the ring-shaped element and the holding means. This results in a dynamic traction of the penis, while the compression spring elements may easily be used as a particularly simple dynamometric device.

In yet another expedient embodiment the holding means are formed by a flexible belt which can be adjusted individu¬ ally to the diameter of the penis.

In another expedient embodiment the holding means may be formed by a support part which is secured to the penis by a strap. The support part supports the penis along the underside, and the strap is secured around the penis im¬ mediately behind the glans and to the support part. This structure of the holding means has been found to be par¬ ticularly advantageous since the strap ensures good fas¬ tening of the penis because the strap supports behind the glans. In addition, this structure is particularly hygi¬ enic since the strap is easy to clean.

In another embodiment the ring-shaped element comprises a recess which is provided in its inwardly facing periph¬ ery. The recess has such an extent that the ring-shaped element does not apply pressure to the urethra, so that the apparatus is comfortable to use and does cause any discomfort to the user.

Brief description of the drawings

The invention will be explained more fully below with reference to the drawings, which show an embodiment of the invention, and in which

Fig. 1 shows the apparatus in its entirety, fitted on the penis,

Fig. 2 is a lateral view of a connecting element,

Fig. 3 is a lateral view of the substantially ring-shaped element,

Fig. 4 is a front view of the same,

Fig. 5 is a sectional view of the same,

Fig. 6 is a front view of another embodiment of the appa¬ ratus fitted on the penis, and

Fig. 7 is a rear view of the same.

Detailed description of an advantageous embodiment

The apparatus of the invention consists of a substan- tially ring-shaped element 1 on which two connecting parts 3 are mounted via two hinge elements 2. The con¬ necting parts 3 are rotatably secured to the element 1 opposite each other, with an angle of about 180 degrees between their points of attachment.

As shown in fig. 1, the connecting parts 3, in the mounted state, extend along the penis to a region around the glans. Here, an approximately 3 cm wide elastic band 4 is secured around the penis. This band 4 is moreover attached to the outer ends 5 of the two connecting parts 3. In the embodiment shown in fig. 1 this attachment to

the connecting parts 3 takes place by inserting their outer ends 5 into two pockets 6 which are provided at their respective sides of the elastic band 4. The elastic band 4 is attached around the penis by means of a closing mechanism consisting of two hooks 7 so that the inside diameter of the band 4 may be adapted to the thickness of the penis.

The part of the elastic band 4 which engages the penis is internally coated with a layer of silicone (not shown), so that it softly engages the penis and external damage to the penis is avoided. Advantageously, the silicone layer is shaped such as to substantially conform to the shape of the penis at the region where it engages, so that the tractive force is distributed over as large an area as possible.

As shown in fig. 4, the ring-shaped element 1 has a re¬ cess 4 at an area along its inner periphery, thereby pre- venting pressure against the urethra. Furthermore, as shown in figs. 3 and 5, the ring-shaped element 1 is curved on the side facing the body, thus leaving space for accommodating the connecting rods 3 and enabling the element 1 to better engage the body. Finally, a layer of silicone 9 is embedded on the side of the ring-shaped element 1 which engages the pubic bone region to soften the pressure of the apparatus against this region.

The connecting parts 3 consist of an intermediate section 10, which has a right-handed thread 13 at one end and a left-handed thread 14 at the other end, as well as an in¬ ner part 11 and an outer part 12, said parts 11, 12 hav¬ ing substantially the same length. Each of the two in¬ termediate sections 10 connects the inner parts 11 of the connecting parts with their outer parts 12, as shown in fig. 1, since also these inner 11 and outer 12 parts have

threads 15, 16. It should be noted in this connection that the left-handed threads and the right-handed threads may be reversed of course.

It is shown in fig. 2 how the intermediate section 10 en¬ gages with threads 15, 16 in the inner part 11 and the outer part 12, respectively. One part has a left-handed thread, and other part has a right-handed thread, thereby enabling the total length of the connecting parts 3 to be adjusted by turning the intermediate sections 10 one way or the other. It is shown in fig. 2 by means of arrows how the inner and outer parts 11, 12 will move with re¬ spect the intermediate section 10 when said section is turned in a particular direction.

As shown in figs. 2 and 5, the inner parts 11 of the con¬ necting parts are slidably mounted in cylinder parts 17 and have a thickening 18 at their proximal end so that they cannot be removed from the cylinder parts.

In the shown embodiment the apparatus moreover comprises compression springs 19 which are arranged between the thickening 18 of the connecting part and the ring-shaped element 1. The compression springs 19 constantly subject the thickening 18 and thereby also the two connecting parts 3 to an outwardly directed force in a direction to¬ ward the distal end of the penis, said forces being transferred to the penis via the connecting parts 3 and the elastic band 4.

As the spring constant of the spring 19 is known, the force exerted can be determined by measuring the compres¬ sion of the compression spring 19. This compression and thus also the force exerted on the penis may e.g. be reg- istered by reading the distance of the inner part 11 from the cylinder part 17.

This may be done e.g. in that measuring marks (not shown) are provided in the inner part 11 of the connecting part

3. These measuring marks move with respect to the ring- shaped element when the connecting parts 3 exert a force on the penis. Thus, the force exerted on the penis may be measured by reading the measuring marks aligned with the cylinder part 17, which is an advantage when e.g. a doc¬ tor is to adjust the length of the connecting elements. The compression springs 19 moreover ensure a dynamic traction of the _x penis.

In the embodiment shown the cylinder part 17 is rotatably secured to the ring-shaped element 1 so that the connect- ing parts 3 can rotate with respect to the ring-shaped element 1. The apparatus can hereby be used round the clock, as the penis can extend from the body at various angles.

Figs. 6 and 7 show another embodiment of the apparatus of the invention. This embodiment differs from the embodi¬ ment shown in figs. 1-5 in that the connecting parts 3 are secured to the penis in a different manner.

Thus, a support part 20 is provided instead of the band

4, said support part 20 comprising two pockets 21 which are arranged on their respective sides of the support part 20. The pockets 21 are adapted to receive the con¬ necting parts 3. The central area 22 of the support part is adapted to engage the underside of the penis, as shown in figs. 6 and 7.

In addition, two through bores 23 are provided in the central area 22 of the support part. The openings 23 are adapted to receive a strap 24 which is secured around the penis directly behind the glans. The strap 24 may advan-

tageously be made of a flexible material, such as e.g. silicone, thereby reducing the risk of damage to the pe¬ nis. The attachment to the penis takes place in the shown embodiment by moving the strap 24 around the penis, and then each of its two ends 25 is passed through the open¬ ings 23 down for attachment in two grooves in the rear side of the support part 20.

It is noted that the strap 24 may be secured to the sup- port 20 in many ways, and also the strap 24 may be de¬ signed differently. Further, the support part 20, like the elastic band 4, may be coated with a layer of sili¬ cone so that it softly engages the penis and external damage to the penis is avoided.

The apparatus may moreover comprise loose segments which can be arranged in elongation of the connecting parts 3. The same apparatus can hereby be used for different per¬ sons. Moreover, the length of springs and threads is of less significance, since the lengths of the connecting parts are then only to be adjustable within a limited range.

It is moreover noted that the means for adjusting the length of the connecting elements may be constructed in many ways within the scope of the invention. Thus, the intermediate section 10 need only be threaded at one end, and this length adjustment device may moreover be con¬ structed in many ways. For example, the entire connecting part 3 might be exchanged, or a tension spring might be used.

The attachment of the connecting part 3 to the ring- shaped element 1 may likewise be made in many different ways. Thus, an ordinary hinge might be used, or the inner part might be made of a flexible material. Also, it is

possible to use hinge elements that allow the penis to turn from side to side.