The last survivor of unitary and two-piece inflatables-the Ambicor. Does it still have a role in today's implant marketplace?

Abstract

The history of the development of today's very dependable three-piece inflatable penile prostheses is fascinating. In its infancy, the three piece was plagued with frequent revisions and a relatively complex insertion and consequently unitary and two-piece prostheses flourished with the implanting urologists. While the surgery was less difficult because these devices did not require the dreaded reservoir insertion, they often proved unsatisfactory to patients in flaccidity, erection and longevity. By the turn of this century all of the unitary and two-piece inflatables had been withdrawn from the market except the Ambicor two-piece inflatable penile prosthesis. This paper covers the history of the various unitary and 2-piece inflatable models before examining a critical question: is the Ambicor 2-piece still a needed implant today?