New implant technology?

[Mlsyes]

I'm not a doctor, but I can see one big issue with the 'electric implant' topic. Implantable cardiac defibrillators/pacemakers give your heart an electrical shock to restart it or get it back in track, coming from a small battery. Their batteries are for momentary, use not as a continuous power sources. ICD batteries also need regular replacement, usually around 5/7 years, and they are used rarely if ever in that schedule.

I have a feeling most of us would use up the power from any battery size of a penile implant very quickly. We could recharge batteries..but how? plug in? Having to be close or on top of a power source. Any medical issues with power transmission through our body? Batteries would need replacement regularly. Usually the higher use of a battery, the shorter replacement schedule. Younger, more virile guys than me may be going through their batteries very quickly. For these reasons I don't see any such type technology happening anytime in the near (10-15 year) future.

[wolfpacker]

I'm not a doctor, but I can see one big issue with the 'electric implant' topic. Implantable cardiac defibrillators/pacemakers give your heart an electrical shock to restart it or get it back in track, coming from a small battery. Their batteries are for momentary, use not as a continuous power sources. ICD batteries also need regular replacement, usually around 5/7 years, and they are used rarely if ever in that schedule.

I have a feeling most of us would use up the power from any battery size of a penile implant very quickly. We could recharge batteries..but how? plug in? Having to be close or on top of a power source. Any medical issues with power transmission through our body? Batteries would need replacement regularly. Usually the higher use of a battery, the shorter replacement schedule. Younger, more virile guys than me may be going through their batteries very quickly. For these reasons I don't see any such type technology happening anytime in the near (10-15 year) future.

Wireless battery charging is a pretty mature technology and in common use for things like cell phones, electric toothbrushes, etc. Seems like it would fit here as well

[Gt1956]

I'm not a doctor, but I can see one big issue with the 'electric implant' topic. Implantable cardiac defibrillators/pacemakers give your heart an electrical shock to restart it or get it back in track, coming from a small battery. Their batteries are for momentary, use not as a continuous power sources. ICD batteries also need regular replacement, usually around 5/7 years, and they are used rarely if ever in that schedule.
I have a feeling most of us would use up the power from any battery size of a penile implant very quickly. We could recharge batteries..but how? plug in? Having to be close or on top of a power source. Any medical issues with power transmission through our body? Batteries would need replacement regularly. Usually the higher use of a battery, the shorter replacement schedule. Younger, more virile guys than me may be going through their batteries very quickly. For these reasons I don't see any such type technology happening anytime in the near (10-15 year) future.

Wireless battery charging is a pretty mature technology and in common use for things like cell phones, electric toothbrushes, etc. Seems like it would fit here as well

Yes, perfect application. The problem in my mind is no matter how well you maintain or charge batteries. They do wear out.
If the lifespan of cell phone batteries is any indication. Battery powered implants are not the way to go.
If guys think implant revisions happen too often. They won't be any happier going under the knife for a new battery.

[Mlsyes]

I understand about the wireless charging technology. But how much experience/history/testing is there with wireless charging of batteries implanted in a human body? I'm not aware of any such technology currently available in humans. ICDs/Pacemakers batteries are not recharged, they are replaced.

[CigareVolant]

I'm fascinated by future tech. Self inflating. Softer flaccid. More durable. No visible or feel-able pump. All cool!

But I'm sure not waiting for any of those. They mostly sound a good ways off, and I probably wouldn't want to be one of the guinea pigs getting the new technology in the first year or three anyway. To be clear, I'm a tech guy and I always upgrade to the latest phone. But that's not in my body! Have you ever seen photos of lithium ion batteries on fire? In my body? Plus, batteries tend to wear out after a couple of years. I know that pace makers last a long time (~10 years), but that is a tiny signal that triggers your own nerves. A pump that moves liquid is completely different.

I'm not saying I would never consider this stuff. I'm just saying that I don't intend to go first, and I'm sure glad I didn't wait. Loving my implant.

[Discovernew]

I see a lot of potential issues and hazards of this "bluetooth implant".

First of all, having a battery on my body, that could explode in any moment (does anyone remember the galaxy note on airplanes?), passing metal detectors and having to explain what this is.

And also, imagine having sex with a girl, and when you are in foreplay saying "wait, i have to go get my phone", and then go get your phone again to deflate. I would absolutely not trust this. Better and more convenient to do it manually.

What if your phone is out of battery? I would like the phone app to be only a secondary option to inflate the pump, but not the only way.

The main advantage i see here is to not have the visible pump on the scrotum, but i also think there could be other ways of placing the pump.

I even thought initially that the pump could go in the back side of the scrotum, until i watched some videos and i saw it is on the front. But i honestly wonder why it is not in the back on the first place? so it would be less visible to someone giving you oral sex for example. (i do not have an implant yet but considering it).

Anyway i cannot imagine this technology in the next 10 years. Even if it was released on the market today, i would wait at least 2 or 3 years and read hundreds of testimonials before i would even consider putting a battery in my body.

[newbie443]

You all need to understand one thing in that this is not new technology. Batteries and in body recharging have been going on for a long time. The first pacemakers used this technology until battery development progressed and it was no longer needed. And not with just pacemakers. There are other stim constant use implants for pain and other issues that that have had years of use. Both with recharging and again now that battery technology has improved no need for this. These devices (pacemakers, stim, ect...) have been around for many many years. So blue tooth has been used as well not only for these implants but for testing devices that are worn for some time period for diagnostic purposes.

And there seems to be a bit of downplaying to the advantages of this. One is you can have really early activation that has been shown to reduce size loss from surgery. And there would be nothing in your scrotum and no hematomas or other complications with scrotal swelling ect. An easier recovery for men also. The information in the survey's was that the pump / battery would be the size of a deck of playing cards and implanted under the skin somewhere in the abdomen. This would be very much like the stim devices that are also placed under the skin in the back or side for pain control and other issues that in the past were recharged by placing a tray charger over the device to charge it. The controller can be a watch, attached to a necklace around the neck or as stated accessed by an ap in your phone. I had a heart test done and a pain test done both with a phone I kept with me to record and adjust (in the case of pain stim) the device. A manual switch has also been in mix for this so a controller would not be needed for an erection. The device can also be locked out to keep men from inflating early if the need to wait is an issue. This is really game changing technology. The ability to have custom cycling protocols with accurate percentage and inflation times would come into play. The speed of inflation could also change and be increased or decreased.

I have read that with other technology that it moves so fast that by the time it is implemented and manufactured, that it is out of date. Not being the first group for this would then be with older technology. So as time goes on the devices would improve and as with the other devices they will get smaller. I think that infection risk for the cylinders and size loss from that would also decrease as the pump would not be in the scrotum. If the pump/battery did develop an infection it would be away from the cylinders and not effect them or need for them to be removed.

It is fun to put all the stuff out that the system could be hacked and other devices messing with this but that is just not the case as has been proven with the use of other devices listed that are in use.

Would it be worth waiting a few years for improvement to be made? Maybe so. No way to tell though if or when the improvements would be done as that would be controlled by the manufacturer.

The technology is not new but it is the first time it is being used with a penile implant. I would think the chances are very high that manual pump in the scrotums days are numbered.

[Hrc714]

In the litigious world where liability is a top source of disputes, the implants app enabled control gives manufacturers and physicians insight into use and thereby some amount of liability. To sight an example of remote oversight, I recently had the video and data recorder on my car remotely modified/disabled as the manufacturer deemed it could be used illegally in some states. Not the car I purchased, but good luck getting the capability back.

With the app enabled erections the physicians may be in the loop and you could be limited on how hard, how long (time wise), and how often you are using. Participation in the study taught me that the surgeon was in the loop for initial timing of cycling. Plan was for them to remotely enable use after appropriate recovery time. If you develop a heart (or other) condition, your physician might need to shut down erections for your own good. If they do not, someone with a known heart condition will have a heart attack during sex, and the grieving family will sue claiming the doctor knew of the condition and did not stop the risky behavior.

Sounds far fetched but medical care is ruled by lawyers and insurance companies. While I like some of the concepts, big brother involved in my erections is concerning.

[Discovernew]

You all need to understand one thing in that this is not new technology. Batteries and in body recharging have been going on for a long time. The first pacemakers used this technology until battery development progressed and it was no longer needed. And not with just pacemakers. There are other stim constant use implants for pain and other issues that that have had years of use. Both with recharging and again now that battery technology has improved no need for this. These devices (pacemakers, stim, ect...) have been around for many many years. So blue tooth has been used as well not only for these implants but for testing devices that are worn for some time period for diagnostic purposes.

And there seems to be a bit of downplaying to the advantages of this. One is you can have really early activation that has been shown to reduce size loss from surgery. And there would be nothing in your scrotum and no hematomas or other complications with scrotal swelling ect. An easier recovery for men also. The information in the survey's was that the pump / battery would be the size of a deck of playing cards and implanted under the skin somewhere in the abdomen. This would be very much like the stim devices that are also placed under the skin in the back or side for pain control and other issues that in the past were recharged by placing a tray charger over the device to charge it. The controller can be a watch, attached to a necklace around the neck or as stated accessed by an ap in your phone. I had a heart test done and a pain test done both with a phone I kept with me to record and adjust (in the case of pain stim) the device. A manual switch has also been in mix for this so a controller would not be needed for an erection. The device can also be locked out to keep men from inflating early if the need to wait is an issue. This is really game changing technology. The ability to have custom cycling protocols with accurate percentage and inflation times would come into play. The speed of inflation could also change and be increased or decreased.

I have read that with other technology that it moves so fast that by the time it is implemented and manufactured, that it is out of date. Not being the first group for this would then be with older technology. So as time goes on the devices would improve and as with the other devices they will get smaller. I think that infection risk for the cylinders and size loss from that would also decrease as the pump would not be in the scrotum. If the pump/battery did develop an infection it would be away from the cylinders and not effect them or need for them to be removed.

It is fun to put all the stuff out that the system could be hacked and other devices messing with this but that is just not the case as has been proven with the use of other devices listed that are in use.

Would it be worth waiting a few years for improvement to be made? Maybe so. No way to tell though if or when the improvements would be done as that would be controlled by the manufacturer.

The technology is not new but it is the first time it is being used with a penile implant. I would think the chances are very high that manual pump in the scrotums days are numbered.

Man, i personally don't wear any necklaces and i don't use smartwatches, precisely because i hate to have yet one more device in my life that i need to recharge and carry a charger with me. My laptop and phone running out of battery is enough. I would hate to miss out on sex because i forgot to charge my penis.

That being said, i see there are potential advantages to this approach but for sure i would not be within the first batch if people testing it.

[bldoink]

I think where it's currently at is:
Pump is not placed in the sack.
There may be an option for your doctor to limit it's use remotely. (pay your bill)
The battery is the limiting factor with an expected life of 10 years.
When the battery goes you get a total revision.

That's what I gathered from the 2 interviews I did.