Abstract: A pressure relief valve system for a prosthetic penile implant device where the penile implant device basically includes bladder means, a reservoir, and a pump and valve assembly. The bladder means is implanted in the penis while the reservoir, and the pump and valve assembly are implanted at a remote location thereto. The pump and valve assembly provide means for pumping water from the reservoir into the bladders to obtain a simulated erection and for pumping water from the bladders to the reservoir to obtain a flaccid penis. The pressure relief valve system of the instant invention is used in combination with the pump and valve assembly to prevent excessive pressure from developing within the bladder means so as to cause injury. The pressure relief valve system comprises a primary valve and a secondary valve.

Abstract: A method of simulating a natural erection utilizing a penile implant which is arranged to be actuatable to simulate the natural erection. The implant comprises a pair of hollow, enclosed bladders, each formed of a membrane of thin, very flexible material and being capable of inflation from a flaccid state by the introduction of a fluid therein. Each bladder is located within a passageway formed in each corporus cavernosum. Means are provided for filling the bladders with fluid to inflate the bladders from the flaccid state to a predetermined volume without causing the bladder membrane to undergo tension. The predetermined volume is sufficiently great to cause the corpora cavernosa to expand so that its fibrous tissue envelope is stretched to encompass another predetermined volume, whereupon the fibrous tissue envelope becomes tense and the penis becomes hard and erect.

Abstract: For simulating a natural erection, a pump and valve assembly to be used in combination with a prosthetic penile implant which includes bladder means which are implanted within the penis and a fluid containing reservoir which is implanted within the abdominal cavity. The pump and valve assembly is generally implanted within the scrotum. To that end, the pump and valve assembly includes a rotor and uni-directional valve means such that the fluid is able to flow from the reservoir to the bladders when the rotor is in a first position and from the bladders to the reservoir when the rotor is in a second position. To that end, the valve means precludes the fluid from flowing in the reverse direction once the fluid has passed to either the reservoir or the bladders, respectively. Moreover, pump means are utilized in order to pump additional fluid either into the bladders to obtain a fully erect penis or alternatively, to pump fluid out of the bladders and into the reservoir to obtain a flaccid penis.