| 摘要 |
An apparatus for monitoring the tumescent state of the penis of a patient includes a plurality of sensing elements to be placed in proximity to the penis for sensing penile impedance values. A processing device is 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 is selected from the group consisting of length, volume, volume-change, cross-sectional area and volume-filling rate variables. An output device operably coupled with the processing device to generate a display using the at least one determined penile variable. The output device displays e.g. a plot of penile length, penile volume values and/or penile cross-sectional area values for comparison by a user of the apparatus, readily allowing the user to distinguish artifactual effects from erectile events. According to one embodiment, cardiac-signature data is determined using the penile impedance values, and the apparatus indicates periods of erectile activity using the cardiac-signature data. Corresponding methods also are discussed. |
