Wednesday, June 28, 2006

Positionable Penile Prosthetic Prompts Payout

Filed under: Urology

A former ...handyman... has been awarded $400,000 for a malfunctioning penile implant, which has given him an erection for the past ten years. The implant is a Dura II from Dacomed -- a firm that has since gone bankrupt after Viagra's introduction caused a sales slump. The positionable penile prosthetic has apparently been locked in the "up" position:

Charles "Chick" Lennon, 68, received the steel and plastic implant in 1996, about two years before Viagra went on the market. The Dura-II is designed to allow impotent men to position the penis upward for sex, then lower it.

But Lennon could not position his penis downward. He said he could no longer hug people, ride a bike, swim or wear bathing trunks because of the pain and embarrassment. He has become a recluse and is uncomfortable being around his grandchildren, his lawyer said...

The implant consists of a series of plastic plates strung together with steel surgical wire, almost like a roll of wrapped coins. Springs press against the plates, creating enough surface tension to simulate an erection, D'Alessandro said.

Lennon cannot get the implant removed because of health problems, including open-heart surgery, his lawyer said. Impotence drugs could not help Lennon even if he were able to have the device taken out, because tissue had be to removed for it to be implanted.

More from American Medical Systems...

Via KevinMD... and my girlfriend.

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