Systems and methods for monitoring and evaluating penile tumescence

An apparatus for monitoring the tumescent state of the penis of a patient, the apparatus comprising:

• a plurality of sensing elements to be placed in proximity to the penis for sensing impedance values of the penis both when the penis is in an erect state and when the penis is in a flaccid state;
• a processing device operably coupled to the plurality of sensing elements, the processing device determining at least one penile variable using the impedance values, the at least one penile variable being selected from the group consisting of length, volume, volume-change, and volume-filling rate variables;
• and
• an output device operably coupled with the processing device to generate a display using the at least one determined penile variable.

A method of monitoring the tumescent state of the penis of a patient, the method comprising:

• (a) determining impedance values of the penis;
• (b) determining cardiac-signature data using the penile impedance values;
• and
• (c) using the cardiac-signature data to indicate periods of penile activity.

An apparatus for monitoring the tumescent state of the penis of a patient, the apparatus comprising:

• apparatus for determining impedance values of the penis;
• apparatus for determining cardiac-signature data using the penile impedance values;
• and
• apparatus for indicating periods of penile activity using the cardiac-signature data.

An apparatus for nocturnally monitoring erectile events in a patient, the apparatus comprising:

• sensing apparatus for sensing penile data over time while the patient is asleep;
• and
• display apparatus for displaying information determined from the penile data versus time;
• wherein the displayed information is used to diagnose vasculogenic and/or psychogenic causes of erectile dysfunction;
• wherein the sensing apparatus is used to determine penile-tissue impedance values and blood impedance values.

An apparatus for nocturnally monitoring erectile events in a patient, the apparatus comprising:

• sensing apparatus for sensing penile data over time while the patient is asleep;
• and
• display apparatus for displaying information determined from the penile data versus time;
• wherein the displayed information is used to diagnose vasculogenic and/or psychogenic causes of erectile dysfunction;
• further wherein the apparatus approximates change in an offset volume variable according to the equation:
• ##EQU22## where .DELTA.V.sub.os is change in offset volume, .rho..sub.b and .rho..sub.t are resistivities of blood and tissue filled penile volumes, respectively, A is cross-sectional area, L.sub.P is penile length at the time of measurement, L.sub.ref is a reference length reflecting average length of the penis in the flaccid state, and C is an integration constant.

A method of monitoring the tumescent state of the penis of a patient, the method comprising:

• (a) placing at least five sensing elements in proximity to the penis;
• (b) sensing penile impedance values with the sensing elements;
• (c) determining at least one penile variable using the impedance values, the at least one penile variable being selected from the group consisting of length, volume, volume-change, cross-sectional area and volume-filling rate variables;
• and
• (d) using the at least one penile variable to generate a display output.

An apparatus for nocturnally monitoring erectile events in a patient, the apparatus comprising:

• sensing apparatus for sensing penile data over time while the patient is asleep;
• and
• display apparatus for displaying information determined from the penile data versus time;
• wherein the displayed information is used to diagnose vasculogenic and/or psychogenic causes of erectile dysfunction;
• further wherein:
• a diurnal erectile event is medicinally induced in a flaccid penis while the patient is awake;
• the sensing apparatus senses diurnal penile data during said diurnal erectile event;
• and
• the display apparatus facilitates comparison of nocturnal penile data with diurnal penile data to evaluate the quality of nocturnal erectile events.