Apparatus for inducing and sustaining an erection

A method for inducing and sustaining an erection of a penis, the penile erection method comprising the steps of:

• providing a vacuum assembly including an elongated tube having an open end and defining a chamber adapted for receiving the penis, and an air pump operatively connected to the tube for evacuating air from the chamber for generating a vacuum within the chamber to induce flow of blood into the penis causing an erection of the penis;
• providing a closed ring assembly adapted to encircle the penis, the ring assembly comprising
• an annular inflatable bladder having an inner surface and an outer surface and defining a hollow interior between the inner surface and the outer surface for containing a fluid, the inner surface of the bladder forming central circular opening adapted for receiving the penis,
• a rigid annular ring support disposed within the bladder, the ring support having a transverse opening through the support ring,
• a one-way valve disposed in the transverse opening of the ring support and opening into the bladder, the valve configured to control the ingress and egress of a bladder-inflating fluid, and
• a fluid pump selectively coupled to the valve, the pump adapted to introduce the bladder-inflating fluid under pressure through valve and into the bladder,
• positioning the ring assembly inside the proximal end of the vacuum tube so that the central opening is approximately concentrical with the internal diameter of the vacuum chamber;
• positioning the vacuum tube over the penis through the open proximal end of the tube such that the open proximal end is adjacent the groin and the penis passes through the opening in the ring assembly when the ring is in a first uninflated condition;
• actuating the air pump for evacuating air from the tube for generating a vacuum within the chamber adequate to induce an erection of the penis;
• inflating the bladder with fluid to a second inflated condition at which the inner surface of the bladder substantially seals against the base of the erect penis to constrict blood flow out of the penis;
• and
• releasing the vacuum and removing the tube leaving the ring assembly engaged at the base of the penis to restrict the egress of blood for maintaining the erection.