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Nocturnal penile tumescence devices: past, present and future

International Journal of Impotence Research (2023)Cite this article

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Abstract

Erectile function is an important part of men’s health that can significantly impact quality of life. Naturally occurring nighttime erections experienced by men throughout their lifespan provides insight into penile health as well as overall health. Nocturnal penile tumescence (NPT) and nocturnal penile tumescence and rigidity (NPTR) devices that can non-invasively evaluate the presence and quality of erections can have valuable diagnostic and clinical utility. Early devices have several limitations that limit their current use. New, wearable devices have promising applications for the evaluation of erectile function over time. Continued advancements in this technology have the potential to render future generations of these devices as invaluable tools that are useful for both men and healthcare professionals.

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Fig. 1: Past, Present and Future Devices.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Surgery, Division of Urology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA

    Jessica Nicole Schardein & Kelli Gross

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  1. Jessica Nicole Schardein
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  2. Kelli Gross
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Both authors were involved in all aspects of this publication, including designing the work that led to the submission, acquiring data, interpreting the results, drafting or revising the manuscript and approving the final version.

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Correspondence to Jessica Nicole Schardein.

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Schardein, J.N., Gross, K. Nocturnal penile tumescence devices: past, present and future. Int J Impot Res (2023). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41443-023-00789-z

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