Last week the University of Denver students gave their final presentation on the Bionic Deluxe*, a touch sensing, electronically actuated penile prosthetic that aims to mimic the human penis as closely as possible.
*Patent pending
Though still far from a completed prototype, they have made some amazing progress. I can’t give tooo much away on exact specifics, but what I can tell you, is that we now definitely have a solid proof of concept for the following elements:
A touch sensitive shaft that relays signals to the unit to actuate an erection when stimulated and also gives responsive feedback to the vibe at the base of the shaft when stroked and during penetration.
A hand-held or wrist mounted remote controller that actuates an erection through a simple up/down button push. This remote controller can either be strapped to the index finger and middle finger and operated with the thumb, or the strap can be switched out for a wrist strap and it can be worn like a regular watch.
We are also still wanting to incorporate a heart rate monitor response system, much like a fitness tracker, where an elevated heart rate would actuate an erection. However this will be through integrating an existing device such as an Apple Watch to speak to the Bionic via a custom app and would require a separate purchase of such an item to utilise this functionality. This would then essentially replace the custom device.
Then we also have a functional insertable controller, the size and shape of a tampon, that reads pelvic floor contractions and relays this information to the unit to actuate an erection and shift intensity settings on the vibe. This is essentially the same thing as the hand-held remote but rather than pushing an up and down button using your hand, it recognizes one pelvic floor squeeze as up and two squeezes within a four second period as down. There are definitely still a lot of noise and interference issues to be worked out and it’s not a hundred percent certain that we will be able to program it to ensure it’s not reading false positives, but I’m still very hopeful that with further refinement and programming this is achievable.
We’ve also found a bluetooth/wifi chip and rechargeable battery that are all small enough to be able to be contained in two average sized testicles. The battery is capable of powering the unit for a minimum of two hours with all functions operational ie vibe on, touch sensors on, erectile activation on.
The majority of the time, the unit will be dormant, ie the master switch will be OFF. This means it consumes no power at all, but still functions as a stand to pee packer. Only once the master switch is turned ON, does the unit start to “listen” for input signals. This master switch can be very discretely accessed on the side of the pubic plate by sliding a hand into a pant pocket.
The biggest question mark actually lingers around the erectile activation. The current solution is to use micro CO2 cartridges like the one below.
This cartridge is loaded into a small puncture canister with an electronic switch that allows the air in the pressurised cartridge to slowly release into the shaft when actuated, until a full erection is achieved. However the big down side to this is that the cartridge needs to be changed between uses, seeing each cartridge only contains a small amount of air.
I’d still really LOVE to be able to find an alternative solution to this pneumatic system, like a material that expands and hardens when a small electric current or magnet is applied, but alas, no such thing seems to currently be in existence… If anyone out there has any ideas on alternatives to a pneumatic or hydraulic system, I would LOVE to hear your thoughts! All electro active systems that we explored unfortunately required very high amounts of current to actuate.
Finally, as far as the attachment system goes, this is something we’re leaving with Cochlea. We know penile prosthetics have been successfully attached in the past using their Vistafix system and this can be incorporated into the Bionic Deluxe as an optional feature through an integration plate.
But the long and short of it, is that with this being such an ambitious project, it’s going to still take quite some time to get to a finished product. I will submit this as a university project again this year, so that a new group of students can pick up where this group left off and I’m confident that with further refinement, this product CAN become a reality.
Like with any ambitious project, it’s all a case of dedication, time, resources and money. In light of being fairly tight on the later two, this project is just going to need more time to complete, but as we have plenty of dedication, we WILL eventually get there!
And finally, thank you so much to all of you who have donated to this project so far! We couldn’t have come this far without you!
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Thank you so much Alex, you don’t know how much this means to me. I am a 15 year old transgender boy who is looking to transition at the age of 18, or the year 2021. Do you think the bionic deluxe will be out fully by then? And how about the price? How much should I start saving up? And some questions…
Will pubic hair be able to grow, giving the prosthetic a more realistic view and feel?
So ejaculation is activated by squeezing the tip, right? Why not be able to put sensors on the existing genitals and on the prosthetic, and when it detects liquid from the existing genitals, activate the ejaculation chamber? It will make it extremely more realistic and natural.
Thank you again :)
I certainly hope so!! I’m pretty confident that with another year, it will be ready to take to production :) I’d say it’s safe to assume the Bionic Deluxe will be over the $1000 mark, though at this stage I’m not sure of the price point.
Yes pubic hair will help disguise the seam.
And in regards to the sensors you suggest, comfort and size restraints mean this kind of thing just isn’t feasible. Also, this would result in premature ejaculation for most.
Sensors to trigger ejaculation upon the contractions during orgasm could possibly be a better alternative, but I expect that the space constraints apply to this as well. It does seem like a more feasible option in the case of an existing insertable contoller; I’m unsure and doubtful that it could be practically implemented without the insert.
Yes, it’s something we were looking at but had to put it in the “too hard” basket. It’s something that we’re keeping in mind though for future iterations, so perhaps eventually a Bionic 5.0 or some such may have this feature.
Most of the things sound great but the insertable sounds like dysphoria for me. i d acually prefer a remote to the insertable sensor.
Yes, this is the case for a lot of guys. The insertable controller is totally optional. Everything that can be actuated through the insertable controller can also be actuated through the hand held controller. Others prefer the idea of operating their genitals with their genitals and hence we want to give people the choice :)
I can’t think of a non-pneumatic or hydraulic system, but I wonder whether squeezing the shaft (maybe in a certain spot) could be used as a way to release air from a cartridge while using less power? I’m thinking along the lines of the Ambrosia vibe’s air-tube system (though IIRC that didn’t work super well).
Also, i’m kinda curious whether it’d get a false positive from something like a sneeze- maybe the pelvic floor contraction would need to be of a certain length?
(You’ve probably thought of all of these things, but I thought I’d mention them anyway.)
In a way that’s what we’re doing with the Bionic Basic which uses fluid instead of air (the fluid is pressurised in the testicles and a press of a valve releases the fluid into the shaft)
And yes, it’s all of these inadvertent movements and actions that we need to make sure the sensors can distinguish between.
This sounds so awesome! Using a prosthetic actually makes me more dysphoric because I can’t feel it. It’s also hard because, with the fact that I can’t feel it, it slips out and is awkward and not even worth it for me. If something like the suction function of the lollipop with the grooves and such could mimic the feeling of insertion or stroking that would be amazing!! Also, my partner brought up the point that, with the heart rate function, could it learn an individual’s heart rate pattern during orgasm and therefore have an actuated ejaculatory device? I love the idea of the insertable controller, myself. Is there any way to include a vibe in it? Also, as far as pelvic floor contractions controlling the erection, what happens during orgasm? I feel like it would get confused and malfunction. Just some thoughts. Thank you so much for your work, ideas, and dedication, brother!!
the vibe cavity will be ribbed to allow for direct insertion as an alternative to the vibe. But an actual ejaculation device is not feasible at the moment. Perhaps it will be at some point in the future. and a vibe in the insertable controller is not possible as that would unfortunately interfere with the reading. And the squeezes to actuate/de-actuate the erection are very deliberate long squeezes, quite different to orgasm contractions.
Nickel titanium memory alloy responds to a wand that activates a tiny heating coil. It’s the new penile prosthesis they are working on. Will this be compatible for men who have had a total penectomy?
Yes we’ve looked into using Nitinol, but it’s just not great in terms of realistic feel. But yes, I’m aware of them exploring this for men with ED. Here’s an article on it https://news.wisc.edu/heat-activated-penile-implant-might-restore-sexual-function-in-men-with-ed/ In regards to in being compatible for men with penectomy, it depends. If the scrotum is intact then most likely no as this will be in the way. The urination system may also need to be adapted for an individual with a penectomy.
How about making an app for the Apple Watch!! Instead of making a whole new tracker and possibly awkward
Yes we’re looking into adapting an existing fitness tracker.
This sounds really amazing. I’ve been working in my own stuff, nothing quite like this.
Gotta live being poor.
This sounds awesome I think I may hold off on my bottom surgeries I was really worried about them however this sounds very promising thank you guys for coming up with something so genius
how is the sensation with the bionic deluxe for masturbation?
In lots of ways quite similar to the Joystick, except that the vibe will be responsive so will rise with intensity on the down stroke.
I think it looks and sounds great, but —
Forget the cost of the device, how much will those implants cost? Cochlear implant surgery costs $30k-$50k without insurance covering it, and that’s with it being a more common procedure than this will be — and one that’s more commonly deemed “medically necessary.” Saving up a grand or two? Totally feasible. Saving up (at least) $30k? Slightly less so. Like, I want the damn thing to stick to me rather a lot, but that’s the cost I’m really worried about.
Cochlea Vistafix surgery is usually around the $5000 mark.
This is amazing, I’ve been following the development for a while… But what I’m thinking is I wish there was this kind of research going into biological penises for trans men. Is there any chance the developments in this project could be translated to phalloplasty type surgeries? I like the idea of the bionic, but I also like the idea of having a penis that I can touch and that feeling is translated to your brain. Like a biological penis maybe 3d printing will make strides (instead of harvesting structures from the arm or thigh) and have some of the technology from the bionic implemented in it.
Yes hopefully that is the future. Check out this blog post http://transthetics.com/the-future-penis/
My immediate thoughts on the canister is that it seems a bit iffy. Obviously i dont know how this works but wouldnt using a liquid like the bionic basic be the best option? It seems more ‘seamless’ in a way, i stead of loading up a cartridge. Am i on the right track with that thought process or completely off?
The issue with that is that humans only have two testicles. If they had four, then yes, using hydraulic would be ideal. But you either use the testicles to store the fluid, or to house the electrical components. There just physically isn’t enough room for fluid and electronics :(
Ok this is crazy but you know those heating pads that have the little metal thing in them that you pop and when it does it crystalizes the gel and heats it up…idk just crossed my mind. The only thing that wouldn’t work with that is having to boil it after. Maybe there’s something along those lines ????♂️
This is so Great!
And how long will be the penis when its erect?
We’re aiming for “average size” in both flaccid and erect states.
Will there be different sizes of the penis?
There will be one size, but it will vary in size between flaccid and erect state.
About some of the things i’ve read in the comments:
The cochlear surgery would be cheaper if everyone could get them implanted in their home country/choice of surgeon with instructions or something.
Top surgery for example will cost me 3500 dollars (and i’m already having trouble saving for that), I could never get it if I lived in the states where it’s at least 10k or more according to what I’ve read. I hope the same won’t be true for this.
As for biological penises I think the best option would be bio-ink printed penises or something done with stem cells, but I guess it will be a while.
The project is super exciting in general either way.
What sizes will be available. I’m a guy that likes to go rather large in terms of play. For play I always use a prosthetic that’s between 8 and 9 inches. Can you tell more about the different sizes that will be available?
There will be one size and we are aiming for average sizes in flaccid and erect states, so definitely won’t be in the 8 to 9 inch mark seeing less than 5% of human penises are 8 inch or over.
Alex, you are incredible! This is an amazing project and I’m so thrilled to hear how it’s coming along. I’m a college student so I don’t have much income to be able to really donate at the moment, BUT I fully support and appreciate all that you’re doing! Reading about this makes me wish I had chosen to study physics and engineering so I could be of help in some way haha. Keep on being awesome!
https://m.techxplore.com/news/2018-05-artificial-nerve-prosthetic-devices-robots.html
Someone shared this on my facebook and I thought it could be relevant to the discussion or at least a fun timing/subject-related coincidence xD.
That’s super cool! The future looks pretty darn exciting :)
All I can think of would be springs, magnets that push against each other, or freezing a bit of ice to have it expand. I wish you guys the best though, and am very excited for it to come out!
Thank you SO much for all the hard work you’re doing and thanks to all the students who are making this a reality for so many of us who will be waiting at the tip of our toes this baby. Once I have money I’ll donate, for sure.
I’m curious. When you say average size, are you talking closer to 5 inches or 7?
check out the graph on this blog post to get an idea of what constitutes average http://transthetics.com/the-truth-about-penis-size/
I apologize if someone else has asked this already and it’s been covered, but from the sounds of everything going into this, this is going to cost more than a phalloplasty to buy when it’s all put together. I can’t imagine most of us being able to afford this when it’s all over and done, am I wrong? Not a criticism, I still think it’s an amazing project, just wondering how accessible it will be in the end.
I think phalloplasty is around the $80,000-$100,000 mark. This product is likely to be in the $1000 mark so around 1/100 of phalloplasty :)
It probably wouldn’t work in line of what you’re currently going for, but for future ideas have you ever considered something along the lines of those reusable hand warmers with the crystalising gel? I imagine it would be good for feel and function, as it goes from being a malleable semi-liquid to a rigid solid, and could be very easy to activate. And if something like that could be employed it would appeal to me, as I’ve always found it offputting and unlifelike to penetrate with a cold object, it would be amazing to have something warm for my partner.
I guess the tricky bit might be making sure it assumes the right shape, maximum heat level and weight.. But for the bedroom it would be good. You’d need to heat the crystals to make it soft again, but you could have a couple of exchangeable insertable gel implants to slide into a phallus skin, so you’ve could swap them over to go again. Fun!
Or you know those self inflating ground mats for camping? You just twist the valve and it lets air in to become rigid? Very easily deflated too. If you could adapt the mechanism to your needs I’m sure that sort of porous foam could function well in an lightweight erectable phallus.
Hi Os, yes, I’ve had a couple of people mention those hand warmers over the past few days, so I’ve ordered some and will be doing some experiments with them to see how they behave under pressure. But yeah, a downer to that is the “gotta boil your dick to get it back to flaccid state” which I’m guessing will be a no no for many. But thanks for the suggestion! It’s definitely worth a look! In any case, the idea is that as you’ll be wearing it all day anyway, it will be your body temperature regardless as silicone holds body temperature really well, so there’s no need for any kind of heating element. In fact the opposite is true that with electronics, we need to make sure we have enough of a heat sink so that the unit doesn’t get too hot. We also thought about the self inflating ground matts but simply couldn’t get them to assume a soft natural shape in flaccid state. As you know those ground matts feel very much like cardboard when they’re deflated.. But thanks so much for sharing your thoughts! :)
Just… Thank you
Hi Alex. What happened to the “silencing one gene will let ovaries turn into testes” ?
Yes, that’s this article here. http://transthetics.com/one-gene-stops-ovaries-from-turning-into-testes/ Exciting stuff! :)
Is it still being tested?
It’s still in development.
What graduate school is this development coming out from? I’m interested in joining this project as a grad student .
Colorado University was doing this last year, but I doubt they will again this year. I do intend to run it a second year with the undergrad program at Denver University. Contact Michael.Caston@du.edu to find out more about the program. He’s very familiar with the Bionic Project and will know what you’re talking about :)
Thank you for your prompt reply.
sorry i posted my comment on the wrong article. so here is is again:
let’s say a girl sucks me off with this bionic deluxe. how will i be able to feel it?
For that, you’d probably be better off with something like the Lollipop http://transthetics.com/the-lollipop/ which will hopefully be ready in the near future. The Bionic will have an interface between a touch sensitive shaft and a responsive vibe, so essentially it could only respond to feeling pressure (say from a tongue) and relaying that into lower and higher intensity settings of the vibe.
How can you guys simulate the “throbbing” sensation our partners can feel from the penis during Intercourse? Specifically when we’re about to ejaculate or have an orgasm.
“throbbing” sensation our partners can feel from the penis during Intercourse?” not sure what you’re meaning here…. Are you talking about vaginal intercourse? And what the vagina feels? The vagina will not be able to distinguish between the Bionic and a biological penis. In terms of the user, the Bionic will have a responsive vibe at the base which syncs in intensity levels to the intensity of the stroke.
Women can feel a throbbing sensation from the arteries on the penis during sex. They can tell the difference between the current models on the market because they can feel cold and not do that sensation I described. Based on what you’re saying you’re going to address it.
I’m talking about what a vagina feels during sex between a hetero couple. When a penis ejaculates, women comment about feeling the penis expand and contract which is a “throbbing” sensation. Maybe ask a cis woman to describe it to you.
Maybe it’s just you. Everyone is different in terms of how strong those perineal muscles are. Maybe yours are just unusually strong. And any silicone worn against the body becomes body temperature.
Hi Alex, could you maybe link me to some articles on development of work leading to biological penises for trans men? I’m dealing with terrible dysphoria and I really need something to look forward to.
This article I published a while ago is pretty interesting http://transthetics.com/the-future-penis/. Have a look at the subcategory “science” in my blog post and you should be able to find some interesting stuff :)
https://www.engineering.com/DesignerEdge/DesignerEdgeArticles/ArticleID/15668/Soft-Actuators-Signal-a-Step-Toward-Artificial-Muscles.aspx
There are heat and electronically activated muscle components out there. They look fairly cheap to make actually. There are multiple kinds.
Yeah we did look at this quite extensively, as you are correct in that it’s actually very easy and cheap to produce, but the problem is the temperature threshold. It only actuates over 80 degrees celcius (175F) which creates too many risk factors around burns and also consumes way too much energy, meaning the battery pack would need to be external to the device, which we considered a deal breaker. The other issue with it, is as it’s a gel, it looses its efficacy over time, so would need to be regularly replaced. But I do love people bringing forth their ideas and suggestions! It’s always hugely appreciated :)
I have a lot of disphoria and some things sound great but I think vibe is not like a real penis and I don’t want a vibe.
Another question :
Is necessary making a surgery to use the bionic?
I have 5 years on T but I don’t have money to make a genital surgery and nor want to lose my pleasure so, I don’t want to do a genital surgery but I need a cock who appears more real as possible… But the vibe…the girl who stays with us must be all that we were and no all the guys want to live with that all his life (clear example, me and my natural condition).
About the price:
$1000 but… If then we prove this and is nothing real and confortable… Money thrown?
I wait some answers and info about this.
Thank you so.
You don’t have to use the vibe. Surgery is not necessary. The bionic basic may be a better option for you.
Hi‚ I have a couple questions about the product; so will the product be completely cis passing for one night stands/hookups so that you wouldn’t have to disclose your trans status? Also will the magnetic implants be a major surgery and hurt? Or would it be very simple?
Technology is still quite a ways off from a Luke Skywalker hand unfortunately. I think to have a penis that will pass when someone is going down on you is an unrealistic ask for quite some time. To find out more about the surgery check this link https://www.cochlear.com/us/for-professionals/products/vistafix/products
This is only a Toy!
For someone who isn’t looking to get bottom surgery until medical technology significantly improves the functionality a neophallus is capable of, this seems like a really good, promising option and I dearly hope it comes to fruition… and that maybe some day I’ll be able to afford it lol!
Is there the possibility of using the remote control or something similar to register orgasm response in the wearer’s body to allow a real time ejaculation from the Bionic Deluxe (specifically this one and not the regular Bionic) as this would benefit those who would want the ejaculation feature but not have to take out the prosthesis to put fluid in.
For example, a reservoir in the shaft as is designed, but make it only ejaculate upon the partner’s orgasm rather than squeezing it as that reservoir tip is currently only beneficial for masturbation or “cumming” on your partner. This could be incredibly beneficial for partners who wish to conceive as they could actually inseminate their partner, and very affirming for a number of trans men.
Hey Alex, I was thinking, why don’t you put the components of a heating pad into the prosthetic to give it more warmth? For instance, whatever makes an electric heating pad work put that into the shaft of the prosthetic and with a button you could turn the heat on and off. Just an idea.
As silicone holds body heat incredibly well, it just doesn’t need it. In fact the opposite is true. Due to the heat generated by the electronics a heat sink may be necessary.
Bro could you make the deluxe 6” ? 5” seems kinda small, If I’m paying 1k+ I’d like to be atleast slightly above average. Read that the average American man is 5.5” roughly. But thank you for your hard work on this project for sure gonna be donating ????
Is it necessary to insert fags into the vagina? That’s really humiliating. I don’t even know how to put a tampon in, plus since my hysterectomy I get infected right away, which I wouldn’t be interested in buying anymore. I wanted to but it’s also a vibrator, which is unnatural and when the battery runs out it leaves you halfway there. If you’re having sex for 5 hours, you’re not yourself because it turns off, that’s for precocious guys, I take too long.
If a “realistic” prosthesis is not going to allow me to act normally because I have to say “wait, I have to prepare my penis” every time I have sex, it is too flashy. The only thing that normalizes it is that we all have smartwatches now and well, a watch is worn by anyone so that would not draw attention but then it would be: “hey, your penis vibrates. -Yeah, it’s fake, I’m trans.” Excuse me? Normal? That’s bullshit to go around explaining and interrupting any act before anything else. If you go out to a party and something might happen or not, do you have to go around with it in your pocket all the time saying, “Wait, I’m a trans, my penis needs a tampon inserted in my vagina. I would never have sex there myself to avoid that big event and then I get an infection if I even touch the tip of a finger. Honestly? When you talked about “realistic and natural” I imagined something without worries and that you could really act with NORMALITY.
I am not interested by the way but I can wait to see the final result. I do not consider myself a man with labels (trans) and I do not go proclaiming it to the four winds and that, without a doubt, a prosthesis like any other, vibratory, that needs preparation for each situation (which normality null) and safe with a cup where you can urinate on me (it always happens to me).
No, you don’t have to insert the optional tampon controller. It is optional. And no, you don’t have to use the optional vibrator. It is also optional. All in all though, it does not sound like this is the right product for you.
What about employing technology much like ALEXA? where al that is required is telling this thing what to do and having it listen – I’m not sure how much more natural it could get.
Commands like (I’m getting hard) or (I’m going to cum), sorry for the graphic language, could possibly work? But I am not sure how it could “listen” when all that noise is going on lol and if your partner says the same thing it may lead to premature ejaculation but there could be an agreement to utilize a different word for the prosthetic?
Honestly though, so far you seem to be the ONLY one concerned about offering a truly operational product for trans men. It’s a challenge, and I have often found myself wishing I had the funds to do the things I feel would be true quality products that add to the quality of our lives – but alas I do not have the funds.
What if we could just put a language sensor nearby, on the wall, on a headboard or somewhere it could listen uninterrupted? Just a though.
Yes, that would be amazing :) At this stage, we’ve stripped the idea back to something more analogue as we were finding that going the electronics route was just too tricky in terms of making everything fit into such a contained space and still being able to actuate a natural erection, but I’m hopeful that at some point in the not too distant future, this might be possible to crack :)
It’s been a while since the last update any ideas on when this product will be released like a year 2 years or more?
Honestly, nothing is progressing smoothly, so it’s still very hard to say at this point. I really wish I had a more definitive answer for you!
I see alot of people asking for a vibrating function but could I propose a sucking type of function instead? It would also mimic a “stroking type feeling” making sex feel more natural