Why don't implants last longer?

[wolfcreek]

Why don't the manufacturers use a higher grade plastic? It wouldn't cost much more for them would it? After all, I can go to the dollar store and buy some cheap resealable containers or I can spend a little bit more and get long lasting Tupperware containers. How are implants different in this respect?? Just thinking out loud here....

You probably won't fully appreciate my question unless you have suffered through a broken implant (and expensive revision), by the way...

[David_R]

Sorry, man. My first implant (inserted in 2002) lasted 12 years with no problems (and yes, it was used regularly, in case anybody has a prurient interest in that detail), and then it was replaced in 2014 with another one which has been working fine for the 2.5 years I've had it (and it's being used regularly as well).

[dg_moore]

Do you seriously believe the mfrs don't use the very best materials available?

[wolfcreek]

I don't know. Share with us what you know about the plastics used by the manufacturers, please.

[alibaba]

I've dealt with engineers 1/2 my life and have a family full of them.There is always someone in accounting or at the stockholders meeting to answer to. At one time I called a company, now owned by AGCO, asked for engineering and asked why they could not make a tractor that would last; why I had to redesign or hire outside companies to manufacture parts to extend the life cycle of the parts to keep the same part from failing over and over? These were at the time $85,000 tractors still under warranty. Similar machines today cost around $400,000. The guy told me straight up: "We design them to last forever,then we send it to marketing and they send it back telling us to cheapen it up or we won't be able to sell it". My fix for the problem was to buy a $225,000 industrial tractor after 4 of the others. Still have it 38 years later. How many of us and our insurance companies are willing to buy an industrial dick that lasts 9 times as long and costs 2 1/4 times as much? Would you pay that price for one that outlives several cycles of new innovative products? It is a hard choice few will pay with advantages and disadvantages.

I have issues with cheapened up products. My customers tell me to cheapen my product and I refuse. If they want to me to cheapen my product where it may damage my reputation, I walk. I will compromise on many things but not quality.

I am sure as long as they can pass FDA approval they are fine within the rules. Basically the product has some degree of benefit and does not harm the patient to a degree more than the benefit. I do not think there is any standard I have read that the product has to provide benefit for a certain period of time before wearing out or failing. Reading product labels I find it often appalling how little benefit some approved products have. One cancer drug comes to mind. Increases the average user of that drugs lifespan. Read the label and studies. 55% of the patients live an average of 4-6 weeks longer. $35,000 for a month. Ads show all the extra time spent playing on swing sets with family when the reality is they are likely in hospice care awaiting death in that last month of life. Cost vs. benefit never seems to be calculated in.

[Lenny1965]

Wolf, at some point, i think someone will... today's implant not all that much improved from 30 years ago

[JerGeezer]

today's implant not all that much improved from 30 years ago

I agree. The first AMS I got in 1995 is almost identical to this third one I got in 2013. The only thing different is the pump and the first one was the best of the bunch.

[Lost Sheep]

today's implant not all that much improved from 30 years ago

I agree. The first AMS I got in 1995 is almost identical to this third one I got in 2013. The only thing different is the pump and the first one was the best of the bunch.

???
First one lasted 4 years. Number 2 lasted 14 years. Number 3 is 3 years old and still operating.

Looks like progress to me.

Not to argue, but I sure hope each new innovation is an improvement.

Lost Sheep

[alibaba]

Evolution of the erector kit dick in the link below.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4355428/

[ShopMan]

Mine has quit working after just over two years. Meeting with URO Feb. 1 to discuss options. To make matters slightly different my original uro retired this past year and I have a new guy who seems very qualified. Not sure what he will recommend. I now have a AMS LGX.
Charlie