Biomechanical Studies of the Inflatable Penile Prosthesis: A Review.

Area of Science:

• Urology
• Biomedical Engineering
• Mechanical Engineering

Background:

• Inflatable penile prostheses are the primary surgical treatment for erectile dysfunction.
• Advancements have improved mechanical reliability, patient satisfaction, and functional outcomes.
• Understanding biomechanical properties is key to optimizing device design and performance.

Purpose of the Study:

• To comprehensively review current literature on the biomechanical properties of inflatable penile prostheses.
• To analyze prosthesis biomechanical function, performance variability, and patient satisfaction.

Main Methods:

• A systematic literature search was conducted using Medline PubMed.
• Keywords included "biomechanics," "mechanics," "mechanical properties," "axial rigidity," "penile implant," and "penile prosthesis."
• Articles were screened for relevance and English language.

Main Results:

• At maximum inflation, Coloplast and American Medical Systems (AMS) implants demonstrated comparable axial rigidity.
• Coloplast Titan and AMS CX devices showed better resistance to longitudinal and horizontal forces compared to AMS LGX.
• AMS LGX was most sensitive to fill pressure variations, and rear tip extenders negatively affected axial loading in larger implants.

Conclusions:

• Circumferentially expanding devices (AMS CX, Coloplast Titan) offer superior resistance to forces and are less sensitive to fill pressure.
• Rear tip extenders can compromise axial loading, particularly in inflatable penile prostheses exceeding 20 cm.
• Further biomechanical analysis can guide the development of improved penile implant designs for better functional outcomes.