Comparing The Boston Scientific AMS 700 and Coloplast Titan Penile Implants?

In the world of severe erectile dysfunction, there truly is only one curative solution, and that is a penile implant…and yet, it may seem like a drastic option for many men. A penile implant or inflatable penile prosthesis is an elegant and discreet solution for patients who can otherwise not achieve an erection of any kind. To boot, a penile implant can address both the intractable erectile dysfunction and significant curvature of the penis, known as Peyronie’s Disease. In the penile implant market, there are two dominant players – Boston Scientific and Coloplast. They manufacture and market penile implants known as the AMS 700 and the Titan, respectively. Now, you may have seen that Dr. Natale is an AMS 700 center of excellence, but regardless of his preference, this is an honest review of the two implants.

The Feel of the Device

One of the essential qualities of a penile implant to most men is a natural feeling, and this is where the AMS 700 by Boston Scientific truly outshines the Coloplast Titan. Components used in the tubes of the implant, which replace the hollowed-out penis, are made of incredibly soft and supple silicone. This means that during an erection or even when the penis is flaccid, the implant is not noticeable at all. On the other hand, the Coloplast Titan is made of Bioflex, a tougher polymer material that can develop noticeable kinks or dogears when the penis is flaccid, which can be bothersome for some patients.

Risk of Infection

Ultimately, urologic surgeon skill and knowledge play the most significant role in the risk of infection, but penile implant devices have some tricks up their sleeves to help, resulting in an infection rate of only a touch over 1% on average. Here, the AMS 700 and the Titan differ in their methods but not so much in the outcomes.

The AMS 700 is pre-coated with an antibacterial compound, Inhibizone (Rifampin and Minocycline), allowing us to implant the device knowing that infection mitigation is built in.

On the other hand, the Titan does not come with a pre-applied antibiotic coating but rather a hydrophilic (soaks up liquid) coating that allows the surgeon to choose the antibiotic used. This is particularly beneficial if a patient requires a specific antibiotic.

There is no appreciable difference in infection rates between the two.

Pump and Valve Release Function.

Of course, another significant component revolves around the pump and valve that is implanted in the scrotum and works to inflate the corporal tubes in the prosthesis and create an erection. The pumps and the valves that ultimately release water back into the water repository are efficient and allow for discrete function. However, when speaking to patients, we found:

• The Titan implant was easier to inflate owing to its softer material.
• The AMS 700’s valve release system was more intuitive than the Titan’s due to a more prominent button and vibration during release.

Options

The size of the penile implant makes a difference. While we do not use this implant to increase the length or girth of a man’s penis, we do want to match the size of the implant to the man’s anatomy, so it remains as close to its original erectile length as possible. Both manufacturers offer various sizes customized to the man’s anatomy. However, the Titan does offer better options for men with larger penises.

Rigidity

While there is plenty of debate over which implant offers better rigidity, studies have shown that it is ultimately a man’s anatomy that determines the rigidity of the erection, even when they have a penile prosthesis implanted.

Bottom Line

In Dr. Natale’s practice, the AMS 700 penile implant made by Boston Scientific is preferred primarily because of the comfort during the penis’ flaccid state. However, the decision on which implant to use is based mainly on the urologic surgeon’s preference, as both prostheses offer excellent results.

Most importantly, it’s critical to find a surgeon with significant experience in penile implantation for various reasons.

• First, knowledge, experience, and skill are all combined for better outcomes. For example, Dr. Natale’s Center of Excellence designation shows that he has successfully performed many of these procedures and submitted results to prove this track record.
• Second, experienced implanters can customize the procedure to ensure the patient’s happiness and maintain both prostheses’ exceptional satisfaction rates among patients and their partners.
• Lastly, and certainly not least, skilled and experienced implant specialists can reduce the risks of surgery while minimizing the pain and discomfort a patient will experience after their implant.

For more information about your suitability for a penile implant, we encourage you to contact our office and schedule a consultation with Dr. Natale. In doing so, you’ll learn more about the options for severe erectile dysfunction, up to and including a penile implant, which can address even the most complex cases of ED. You do not have to live with erectile dysfunction any longer.