Erectile Dysfunction (ED) is when a man is unable to achieve or sustain an erection that is needed for sexual activity. This condition can be a result of injury, drug use, or disease. ED symptoms are further pronounced with the onset of mental health, psychological, and emotional issues for the patient 1. Treatment options for erectile dysfunction include penile implant usage, specific medications, and lifestyle variations.
How a Penile Implant Works
As a last resort, surgery is done if all the other treatments fail to show favorable results. Different types of devices can be surgically placed in the penis to help with achieving erections. One such device is the inflatable penile implant that works by placing inflatable rods inside the penis.
These rods are connected to a pump filled with fluid that the patient squeezes from under the skin to enable the fluid to flow into the inflatable rods. As a result, the penis gets erect and ready for sexual activity.
Another type of penile implant is the semi-rigid implant consisting of two rods placed strategically through surgery within the penis. With this type of implant, the penis is always in a semi-erect state, and the patient only has to move it towards his torso for concealment.
Most Recent Trends
The inflatable penile implants have seen numerous improvements over the years, focusing on improving the quality of the patient’s life. Some of the most recent trends are discussed below.
The Artificial Urinary Sphincter
This device is a product from American Medical Systems, with the most recent upgrade being the inhibizone coating 2. The coating is an antibiotic based substance that is found on the artificial penile pumping mechanism.
Ever since it was introduced, users have exhibited significantly minimized cases of infection. It seeks to eliminate the need for direct contact between the skin and the penile prosthesis, which is proved to be the leading cause of infection. This new coating will shield the patient from some of the most destructive bacteria directly tied to infections on the sphincter.
Titan 0-Degree Implant Cylinders
For years now, Coloplast has been consistently seeking new ways to improve the quality of penile implants for those who require this kind of treatment. The most recent project involved developing an improved design for the cylinder found in the internal penile pump from Titan’s products 3.
The FDA recently approved this new improvement for the soft tip cylinders on the Titan 0-degree penile implant. The implant has added new features such as the zero-degree proximal tube that allows for better proximal positioning. It also packs a new distal tip made entirely out of soft-molded silicone that facilitates anatomic placing.
The 700 series Tactile Pump
AMS recently developed the Tactile pump targeting the 700 series penile implant. It can transfer a much more considerable amount of fluid in a single squeeze with an improved exterior structure that inflates the implant with ease. The deflation section is now smaller with sharpened edges for better accessibility of the deflation pump.
Final Thoughts on Penile Implant Usage Advancements
A patient may find it quite challenging to get used to having a penile implant for the first time, but it is quite a valid option when it works well. Medical advancements will continue to ensure that patients get the best from these treatments.
Links to Sources Used:
- Symptoms & Causes of Erectile Dysfunction https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/urologic-diseases/erectile-dysfunction/symptoms-causes
- Artificial Urinary Sphincter (AUS) https://healthcare.utah.edu/urology/conditions/incontinence/artificial-urinary-sphincter.php
- Penile prosthesis implant: scientific advances and technological innovations over the last four decades https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5313299/