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Penile Implant Models

The contemporary penile implant market is dominated globally by two manufacturers — Boston Scientific (AMS) and Coloplast — each with a flagship 3-piece inflatable, secondary device lines, and a malleable option. Several emerging manufacturers (Rigicon, ZSI, Promedon) have gained meaningful market share internationally and, in some cases, in U.S. practice. This page is an at-a-glance reference to the devices in 2026 clinical use, their distinguishing features, and the patient types where each shines.[1][2]

See preoperative evaluation for device-selection framework, and infection for coating-specific antibiotic handling.

Three-Piece Inflatable Penile Prostheses (3-Piece IPP)​

The gold standard for the vast majority of primary implants. Two corporal cylinders + a scrotal pump + an abdominal reservoir. Best flaccidity, best rigidity, highest satisfaction scores.

Boston Scientific AMS 700 Series​

The longest-standing 3-piece platform in clinical use; originated as the American Medical Systems 700 in the 1980s and iterated continuously. All current variants are InhibiZone-coated (rifampin + minocycline covalently bonded, eluting over ~72 hours).[3]

VariantExpansionCuff / cylinderKey features
AMS 700 CXControlled expansion — girth onlyStandardWorkhorse 3-piece; Momentary Squeeze (MS) pump option; mainstay of U.S. practice
AMS 700 LGXLength and girthStandardOnly cylinder with longitudinal (length) expansion; ideal for shorter shafts or patients prioritizing length
AMS 700 CXRControlled expansion — girth onlyNarrow-baseSmaller cuff circumference; designed for smaller corpora, fibrotic revisions

Pump: Current AMS pumps (Momentary Squeeze / MS Pump) allow rapid single-squeeze deflation rather than requiring sustained compression — a meaningful user-experience improvement.

Reservoir: Available in 65, 75, and 100 mL capacities. A low-profile Conceal reservoir (100 mL flattened shape) is available for ectopic HSM placement.

Coating handling: Do not dip. The factory coating is covalently bonded; dipping strips it. Irrigate the field with antibiotic-fortified saline or 0.05% CHG (Irrisept) — which bench data confirm is compatible with InhibiZone.[4]

Coloplast Titan Series​

The principal competitor to the AMS 700. Distinguished by its hydrophilic polyvinylpyrrolidone coating, which absorbs whatever antibiotic solution the surgeon chooses to dip it in immediately before placement — giving the surgeon customization that the factory-coated AMS does not offer.[5]

VariantExpansionKey features
Titan OTR (One Touch Release)Girth expansionHydrophilic coating; one-touch release deflation button; current-generation flagship
Titan TouchGirth expansionHydrophilic coating; tactile raised ridges on the deflate button for blind identification; preferred for patients with visual impairment or manual dexterity limitations
Titan Zero DegreeGirth expansionContemporary iteration; optimized pump ergonomics

Pump: The Touch pump's tactile ridge and the OTR's rapid-release mechanism are the user-facing differentiators.

Reservoir: Available in 75 and 100 mL; a Cloverleaf reservoir (bellows-shaped, low profile) is specifically designed for high submuscular (HSM) ectopic placement in patients with altered abdominal anatomy.

Coating handling: Must be dipped for at least 30 seconds. Most-evidenced solution: vancomycin 1 g/L + gentamicin 80–160 mg/L (Towe 2020 diabetic RCT).[6] Antifungal addition (fluconazole or amphotericin B) in high-risk patients does not compromise antibacterial efficacy.[7] Avoid 0.05% CHG (Irrisept) — the 2026 Ivan J Urol data showed a significant increase in infection rate (4.6% vs. 2.1%) on hydrophilic surfaces, with 12% infection in revisions.[8]

Rigicon Infla10 AX / X​

A newer U.S. entrant (Rigicon, Ronkonkoma, NY) with a competitive 3-piece platform. Antibiotic-impregnated coating (proprietary formulation with rifampin + minocycline analogs). Cylinder sizing range competitive with AMS and Coloplast. Adoption is growing but remains smaller than the two market leaders; long-term comparative data are accumulating.

Two-Piece Inflatable Penile Prostheses (2-Piece IPP)​

For patients whose anatomy precludes safe abdominal reservoir placement (extensive pelvic surgery, solid-organ transplant, hernia mesh, prior reservoir complications) and for surgeons seeking to avoid the reservoir-associated complication profile. The reservoir is integrated into the rear-tip of the cylinders or the pump housing.

ModelManufacturerNotes
AMS AmbicorBoston ScientificInhibiZone-coated; reservoir in rear-tip of cylinders; simple pump; excellent option for prior radical prostatectomy, cystectomy, transplant
Rigicon Infla10 2-PieceRigiconNewer 2-piece platform; fluid reservoir within pump housing

Trade-offs: Less rigidity than 3-piece; less complete flaccidity; shorter cylinder expansion range. The trade-off is favorable only when 3-piece anatomy is truly not feasible — the 2-piece is not a routine first-line choice for the standard primary patient.

Malleable / Semi-Rigid Prostheses​

Two firm, bendable rods implanted in the corpora cavernosa. The device is manually bent down for concealment and bent up for use. No fluid, no pump, no reservoir.

ModelManufacturerKey features
AMS SpectraBoston ScientificSilver-wound wire core; soft silicone jacket; InhibiZone-coated; classic workhorse malleable
Coloplast GenesisColoplastPolytetrafluoroethylene surface (low friction for placement); hydrophilic-coated; tactile position indicator
Coloplast TactraColoplastDual-layer silicone; hydrophilic-coated; improved rigidity profile vs. older Genesis; contemporary workhorse
Rigicon Rigi10RigiconDual-core silicone; silver-alloy core; competitive with Tactra/Genesis
Promedon TubePromedonHydraulic malleable hybrid; internal fluid transfer between segments gives improved rigidity on demand; bridges malleable simplicity with some inflatable-like behavior
ZSI 100Zephyr Surgical ImplantsCompact malleable; European and selected U.S. market

Where malleables shine:

  • Limited manual dexterity (arthritis, neuromuscular disease, intellectual disability, stroke)
  • Severe corporal fibrosis where inflatable cylinders cannot be safely placed
  • Neophallus (phalloplasty) implants — where inflatable device erosion risk is prohibitive
  • Revision after multiple inflatable device failures
  • Patient preference for simplicity / cost / durability
  • Spinal cord injury patients with impaired dexterity and concerns about intermittent self-catheterization with an inflated cylinder

Where malleables fall short:

  • Aesthetic appearance — always semi-erect, difficult to fully conceal
  • Patient satisfaction scores are consistently lower than inflatable devices
  • Not ideal for men with an active sex life who value a flaccid/erect distinction

Specialty / Niche Devices​

ZSI 475 (3-piece IPP, Zephyr Surgical Implants)​

European 3-piece IPP with notable design features:

  • Preconnected reservoir (not surgeon-connected) — reduces tubing connection time
  • Intrascrotal pump with dedicated FTM (female-to-male GAS) variants — the only IPP explicitly designed and sized for neophallus placement
  • Growing adoption in European GAS centers; limited U.S. availability

Notable for being the only contemporary IPP with a variant specifically labeled for phalloplasty / gender-affirming surgery, though many centers use standard AMS or Coloplast devices in that population with good outcomes.

ZSI 100 / 475 FTM — dedicated GAS variants​

Specific neophallus-sized devices with modified anchoring points and shorter cylinder profiles to suit neocorporal anatomy. See the GAS section for additional detail on phalloplasty prosthesis considerations.

Coating Technology Comparison​

TechnologyManufacturerMechanismPractical implications
InhibiZoneBoston ScientificRifampin + minocycline covalently bonded during manufacture; elutes locally over ~72 hoursFactory-fixed; do not dip; adds additive protection on top of any field irrigation
Hydrophilic PVPColoplast (Titan)Polyvinylpyrrolidone surface absorbs surgeon-applied antibiotic dipSurgeon-customized antibiotic choice; must dip ≥30 sec; avoid 0.05% CHG (strips dip)
Rigicon proprietaryRigiconAntibiotic-impregnated silicone surface (proprietary composition)Per-manufacturer instructions; generally compatible with standard field irrigation
Parylene microcoatingMultipleUltra-thin polymer barrier reducing protein adsorption and biofilm formationUsed as a substrate beneath active antibiotics; not an independent infection-prevention layer

The coating decision is central to the broader antibiotic strategy — see the infection article for the complete device-specific framework including the 2026 Irrisept pivot.

Device Selection — a Practical Framework​

Primary, virgin anatomy, no special considerations​

  • Default: 3-piece AMS 700 CX/LGX or Coloplast Titan OTR/Touch.
  • Choice between AMS and Coloplast is largely surgeon preference and institutional experience.
  • Patients with manual dexterity concerns (arthritis, tremor) benefit from the Titan Touch tactile ridge.
  • Shorter shafts benefit from AMS 700 LGX for longitudinal expansion.

Prior pelvic surgery (radical prostatectomy, cystectomy, transplant)​

  • 3-piece with HSM reservoir first choice — see reservoir placement.
  • AMS Ambicor 2-piece when HSM is not feasible (extensive mesh, multiple reservoir complications).

Severe corporal fibrosis​

  • AMS 700 CXR (narrow-base cylinder) for inflatable placement.
  • Malleable (Tactra, Rigi10) when fibrosis precludes safe inflatable placement.

Peyronie's disease + ED​

  • 3-piece — any of the flagship options. Peyronie's modeling is compatible with any 3-piece device.
  • Subcoronal approach typically preferred for severe curvature.

Limited manual dexterity, neuromuscular disease, intellectual disability​

  • Malleable — Tactra, Genesis, Rigi10, Spectra. Simplicity and durability outweigh aesthetic considerations.

Neophallus (phalloplasty)​

  • ZSI 475 FTM or malleable — standard IPPs can be used but erosion rates are higher; dedicated neophallus devices or malleables often preferred.

Revision after prior infection​

  • 3-piece with antibiotic coating (both AMS and Coloplast are acceptable).
  • Some surgeons favor switching manufacturer at revision (AMS → Coloplast or vice versa) to alter the surface-microbe interaction, though evidence supporting this is anecdotal.
  • Consider malleable in the highest-risk reinfection-prone patient.

Device Sizing​

Cylinder length​

  • Measured from proximal crus to distal glans with the Coloplast or Boston Scientific corporal measuring device
  • Available cylinder lengths typically 12, 15, 18, 21, and 24 cm (device- and manufacturer-specific)
  • Rear-tip extenders (RTEs) in 0.5, 1, 1.5, 2, and 3 cm sizes are used to fine-tune total cylinder length to the measured corpus
  • Total length = cylinder + RTE should precisely match measured corporal length. Undersize → SST deformity (the cylinder tip doesn't fill the distal corpus, and the glans droops forward); oversize → distal pain, glans aneurysm, or erosion.

Reservoir volume​

  • 65 mL — standard for most patients; adequate for CX/CXR cylinders and modest LGX sizes
  • 75 mL — increasingly the default in larger patients and LGX cylinders
  • 100 mL — for large patients or maximal LGX inflation demand

Underfill by ~5–10% of total capacity to avoid autoinflation.

Manufacturer Support and Device ID​

All current devices come with:

  • Patient identification card — for TSA screening, MRI compatibility information, and future revision reference
  • MRI compatibility — contemporary IPPs are MR-conditional (safe under specified conditions — typically 1.5T and 3T scanners without motion during imaging); patients should present the ID card at imaging
  • Lifetime limited warranty on device components — manufacturer replacement for mechanical failure
  • 24/7 clinician support line for intraoperative device questions (both AMS and Coloplast)

See Also​

References​

1. Barnard JT, Cakir OO, Ralph D, Yafi FA. Technological advances in penile implant surgery. J Sex Med. 2021;18(7):1158–1166. doi:10.1016/j.jsxm.2021.04.011

2. Goodstein T, Jenkins LC. A narrative review on malleable and inflatable penile implants: choosing the right implant for the right patient. Int J Impot Res. 2023;35(7):623–628. doi:10.1038/s41443-023-00690-9

3. Carson CC III, Mulcahy JJ, Harsch MR. Long-term infection outcomes after original antibiotic impregnated inflatable penile prosthesis implants: up to 7.7 years of follow-up. J Urol. 2011;185(2):614–618. doi:10.1016/j.juro.2010.09.094

4. Lim R, Liang J, Bole R, et al. Minocycline-rifampin-impregnated penile prosthesis surfaces retain antimicrobial activity following irrigation with 0.05% chlorhexidine gluconate and antibiotic solutions. J Sex Med. 2024. doi:10.1093/jsxmed/qdae041

5. Wolter CE, Hellstrom WJG. The hydrophilic-coated inflatable penile prosthesis: 1-year experience. J Sex Med. 2004;1(2):221–224. doi:10.1111/j.1743-6109.2004.04032.x

6. Towe M, Huynh LM, Osman MM, et al. Impact of antimicrobial dipping solutions on postoperative infection rates in patients with diabetes undergoing primary insertion of a Coloplast Titan inflatable penile prosthesis. J Sex Med. 2020;17(10):2077–2083. doi:10.1016/j.jsxm.2020.07.009

7. Im B, Giordano A, Winslow A, et al. Addition of antifungal agents to antibiotic solutions does not diminish the antibacterial properties of penile prosthesis hydrophilic surface dips. J Sex Med. 2026;23(2). doi:10.1093/jsxmed/qdaf372

8. Ivan SJ, Abou Chawareb E, Hammad M, et al. Intraoperative 0.05% chlorhexidine gluconate utilization is associated with an increased incidence of infection in hydrophilic inflatable penile prosthesis surgery. J Urol. 2026;215(4):460–471. doi:10.1097/JU.0000000000004853