Switch based spontaneous inflation inhibitor in a pump for an inflation prosthesis

A pump assembly for an implantable prosthesis comprising:

• a housing having a fluid passageway, the fluid passageway having an inlet and an outlet;
• a first flow valve located within the fluid passageway between the inlet and the outlet;
• a switchable member located within the housing that selectively operates in a first predetermined mode that substantially seals a portion of fluid passageway between the first flow valve and the inlet or a second predetermined mode,
• a locking valve moveable between an open and closed position, wherein the locking valve seals the portion of the fluid passageway when in the closed position,
• a rotor operatively coupled to the locking valve so that linear movement of the rotor causes the rotor to move between a first locked position and a second locked position, wherein the first locked position corresponds to an open position of the locking valve and the second locked position corresponds to the closed position of the locking valve, and
• a pusher having a plurality of cam lifters, wherein each cam lifter includes a medial ridge with a beveled edged on each side thereof.

A penile prosthesis comprising:

• a housing;
• a fluid inlet to the housing, coupleable to a reservoir;
• a fluid outlet from the housing, coupleable to an inflatable cylinder;
• a fluid passageway coupling the inlet to the outlet;
• a reservoir chamber coupling the inlet to the fluid passageway;
• a first check valve disposed within the fluid passageway and biased towards a closed position;
• a second check valve disposed within the fluid passageway between the first check valve and the reservoir chamber and biased towards a closed position;
• a pump bulb in fluid communication with the fluid passageway between the first and second check valves;
• a locking valve disposed between the second check valve and the reservoir chamber and switchable between an open position and closed position, wherein the locking valve seals the fluid passageway between the locking valve and the second check valve,
• a switching mechanism coupled to the locking valve to selectively move and lock the locking valve into either the open or the closed position, the switching mechanism comprising a rotor coupled to the locking valve and a spring loaded pusher coupled to the rotor,
• a stator, and
• wherein linear actuation of the spring loaded pusher causes the rotor to move between a first position and a second position.

A penile prosthesis comprising:

• a housing;
• a fluid inlet to the housing, coupleable to a reservoir;
• a fluid outlet from the housing, coupleable to an inflatable cylinder;
• a fluid passageway coupling the inlet to the outlet;
• a reservoir chamber coupling the inlet to the fluid passageway;
• a first check valve disposed within the fluid passageway and biased towards a closed position;
• a second check valve disposed within the fluid passageway between the first check valve and the reservoir chamber and biased towards a closed position;
• a pump bulb in fluid communication with the fluid passageway between the first and second check valves;
• and
• a locking valve disposed between the second check valve and the reservoir chamber and switchable between an open position and closed position, wherein the locking valve seals the fluid passageway between the locking valve and the second check valve,
• a switching mechanism coupled to the locking valve to selectively move and lock the locking valve into either the open or the closed position,
• wherein the switching mechanism includes:
• a rotor coupled to the locking valve;
• and
• a pusher having a plurality of cam lifters, wherein each cam lifter includes a medial ridge with a beveled edged on each side thereof.

A method of preventing inadvertent inflation of an implantable prosthetic comprising the steps of:

• providing a pump assembly comprising a housing having a fluid passageway, the fluid passageway having an inlet and an outlet;
• a first flow valve located within the fluid passageway between the inlet and the outlet;
• and a switchable member located within the housing that selectively operates in a first predetermined mode that substantially seals a portion of fluid passageway between the first flow valve and the inlet or a second predetermined mode, the switchable member including a rotator and a stator, wherein one of the rotator and stator includes a cam rider and the other of the rotator and stator includes a cam and a channel;
• setting a position of a locking valve to a closed position to prevent fluid flow in a direction causing inadvertent inflation, during periods of non-use;
• and
• setting the locking valve to an open position to allow free flow of fluid during periods of use.