Device for measuring the degree of axial rigidity of the penis

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS As can be appreciated from FIGS.
1 and 2, the invention's device consists of a deformable support surface, referenced with number 1, an electronic pressure sensor 2 and an intermediate pressure transmission element 3.
The deformable surface 1 will preferably consist of a membrane on which will rest the rigid penis that it is wished to measure.
The intermediate pressure transmission element 3 is fitted between the membrane 1 and the sensor 2 and is designed in such a way that it can reliably transmit the intensity and direction of the force exerted on the membrane 1 by the penis 4.
This intermediate element can be made from a piece of silicone, with a conical or truncated conical shape, on whose vertex or smaller base rests the pressure detector 2, and on whose larger base in turn rests the deformable membrane 1.
The electronic element can consist of an integrated microceramic.
The entire unit described will be fitted inside a housing 5 which will have a hoop 6 around the membrane 1 for securing a directioning cup 7.
With the stated design, when the penis 4 rests in a state of maximum axial rigidity, the force exerted on the deformable membrane 1 is entirely transmitted via the intermediate element 3 to the electronic sensor 2.
The force F transmitted to this sensor will be transformed into a voltage that can be digitalized for its interpretation by the microprocessor, as shall be explained further below.
While the normal direction of application of the force F to the membrane 1 is maintained, the system is sampling the data at the rate of 400 times a second.
At the moment in which the magnitude of the force changes, the system ceases taking data and automatically stores the latest data read in an EEPROM type memory.
The day, date, hour and minute on which this reading was obtained are simultaneously stored in the memory.
This data is recorded on the basis of a real-time clock built into the system.
At the same time as the latest value read is stored in the memory, it is represented in an alphanumeric display incorporated into the equipment, where it is retained for a certain length of time for convenience of use at the clinical level