Boston Scientific is releasing its new Tactra malleable penile prosthesis, a device that provides a new option for treating erectile dysfunction. It is designed to reproduce a natural erection thanks to a dual-layer silicone construction and Nitinol (a nickel titanium alloy), which is a shape-memory material that can easily transition between two different positions.
During the normal state of affairs, the prosthesis is kept in a lowered position, but when it’s time for intercourse, the patient simply pulls up on the penis and it stands up and stays at attention.
The cylinders that make up the Tactra can be implanted using a variety of procedures, depending on patient anatomy. Once there, the device has been verified to safely withstand at least 100,000 up/down cycles and when erect it’s strong enough for normal sexual intercourse.
The device was FDA approved back in April, but Boston Scientific is only now making it available to physicians. It is expected that the Tactra will also be made available in Europe, Canada, Latin America, and parts of Asia later in the year.
Here’s a quick animation showing how the penis works with the Tactra implanted:
Product page: Tactra Penile Prosthesis
Flashback: Penile Implant for Erectile Dysfunction Erects Itself When Heated
Via: Boston Scientific