Erectile dysfunction (ED), also known as impotence, is the inability to develop or maintain an erection firm enough for sexual activity.
According to Dr. Brian Le from the University of Wisconsin, men who struggle with erectile dysfunction will soon be able to try out the remote-controlled bionic penis.
Dr Le’s invention involves the insertion of a metal coil into the base of the penis, which heats and expands a separate implant when switched on. The metal implant grows thanks to the 42C heat, creating a bionic erection up to eight inches long.
The device is controled by a remote control placed over the groin area, and the penis purportedly expands the same way a natural erection does.
Dr. Le said: “The modern era of penile implants has progressed rapidly over the past 50 years as physicians’ knowledge of effective materials for penile prostheses and surgical techniques has improved. In the future, prosthetics will have increasing competition from emerging technologies. A shape memory alloy-based penile prosthesis represents a promising new technology in the treatment of erectile dysfunction.”
According to Asif Muneer from the British Association of Urological Surgeons, the proposal has potential. “Some patients are not suitable for existing treatments because they have already had major abdominal surgery, say for prostate or bladder cancer, and have a lot of scarring. With this technique, that’s not a problem.”
British daily Express reports that after the proposal is tested out on animals, it will be available for testing by men.