Research

Research Using the FirmTech TechRing and MaxPR

By Ann Justin

Research Using the FirmTech TechRing and MaxPR - FirmTech Inc

Research Using the TechRing by FirmTech is Transforming Men’s Sexual Medicine

FirmTech is in the vanguard of data driven sexual health care and research, The company’s innovative and smart wearables are modernizing the diagnosis, management and preventive care of sexual health and Erectile Dysfunction (ED). Those who are treating ED in men should distinguish between men struggling to attain an erection and those who get hard but have difficulty sustaining it.  Contrary to received belief, fading erections of aging (venous leak) and concomitant performance anxiety are the most common causes of ED in healthy men who complain of ED. Cardiovascular disease and diabetes are secondary causes.  These fading erections can often be treated simply and effectively with the FirmTech erection rings. 

How Does the Maximum Performance Ring Compare with Tadalafil in Sustaining Erections?

Using the Maximum Performance Ring (MaxPR) with seventeen men, the time to flaccidity after orgasm was measured without  the ring, with ring, and with tadalafil (10mg) alone, and the ring and tadalafil(10mg) together  What we found is presented below. 

There are several significant findings in this simple study:

  • Rings were more effective than a leading erection pill. They should be considered as first line therapy.
  • Rings represent a non-pill solution for many men.
  • For the ultimate performance, men should consider combining rings and a pill.

Of course, more research with larger numbers and sub-groups should be performed.

The following are the significant findings presented recently at the International Society for Sexual Medicine Congress and the European Society of Sexual Medicine using the TechRing.

Advancements in Erection Measurement

Dr. Elliot Justin presented a study out of Baylor University that demonstrated the TechRing's exceptional capability to measure nocturnal and sex erections number,  duration and firmness. 

The Study: Erection Duration, Frequency and Firmness

The study involved 745 participants from 25 to 75 years of age and analyzed 6,875 erections. This is the largest data collection of men’s erectile health ever performed. Data was collected under real life circumstances at home.

Conclusions about men’s health and therapy recommendations have been based on smaller data sets performed in the early 2000s using uncomfortable technology in a lab setting on men who were seeing urologists for sexual dysfunction.  Research 2004 

 Methodology:

We collected data from all TechRing users between August 2023 and February 2024. To maintain user privacy, the  information was de-identified and anonymized to maintain user privacy. FirmTech's proprietary algorithm converted the recorded data from the two sensors into detailed graphical reports accessible via our app.

Findings:

  • Our dataset included information from 795 participants, with an average age of 50 years and a mean BMI of 27.03 kg/m2.
  • The prevalence of diabetes was 10.7%, and 11.4% of participants were current smokers.
  • In recordings under 1 hour, erections had a median duration of 12.1 minutes, with a firmness rating of 8.6/10.
  • For recordings exceeding 1 hour, the median erection duration was 30.5 minutes, with a firmness rating of 7.25/10.

These findings provide an unprecedented perspective on male erection characteristics in real-world conditions, facilitated by wearable technology. Our data is from both healthy and unhealthy men, unlike the data from urologists, which are primarily from unhealthy men who are at a doctor’s office with problems.  Such insights are instrumental in promoting healthier lives and redefining strategies for addressing erectile dysfunction.

Doctors expected that as the incidence of ED increases with age, 10% per decade, that the number of nocturnal erections and their firmness would also decrease correspondingly.  However, the TechRing data showed that neither decrease significantly for men, the majority of whom are still achieving sufficient erections during sleep. The problem in ED for aging men is less likely due to less arterial flow of blood going into the penis, but rather to the venous leak of aging that every man experiences. Rings therefore should be considered first line treatment. They keep blood in the penis to stave off fading erection and consequently foster confidence and address performance anxiety.

 Another Significant Discovery with the TechRing: All-Night Safety

The second important study dispelled long standing myths about the safe use of erection rings. Over 2,700 monitoring sessions verified the TechRing's safety, demonstrating it can be worn comfortably for over four hours, with minimal reports of complications.

This research extends beyond the clinical realm—it signifies a transformation in sexual health. As we continue exploring the intersection of technology and wellbeing, we value our leading role in this progressive field.

Updated research list • October 2026

Published Research

1. Wearable Penile Devices: The TechRing    View published paper

• Authors: Gal Saffati, Daniela Orozco Rendon, Riley Daily, Mohit Khera, John P. Mulhall

• Published in: Translational Andrology and Urology

2. Trends, Safety and Efficacy of Wearable Male Sexual Devices.  View published paper

• Author: Dr. Charles Loeb

• Published in: Sexual Medicine Reviews

3. The Intersection of Artificial Intelligence, Wearable Devices, and Sexual Medicine.  View published paper

• Author: Dr. Amy Pearlman

• Published in: Current Urology Reports

4. Penile Constriction Devices Preference Study.  View published paper

• Researchers: Daniela Orozco Rendon, Gal Saffati, Christine Whitehead, Caroline Zuckerman, Amy Hom, Riley Daily, Mohit Khera, Philip J. Cheng

• Finding: Participants preferred the FirmTech device over Eddie by Giddy for ease of use, comfort, stretch, and adjustability.

• Source: PubMed

5. Clinical Efficacy of a Wearable Penile Constriction Device (Performance Ring) for Erectile Maintenance in Men With Incomplete Response to PDE5 Inhibitors and Intracavernous Injection.   View published paper

• Authors: Yoshikazu Sato, Kazuki Takekawa, Junji Ishizaki, Keitaro Watanabe, Musashi Tobe, Kazunori Haga, Kosuke Uchida, Ichiya Honma, Megumi Hirobe, Takashi Shimizu, Hisao Nakajima, Keigo Akagashi

• Published in: The Journal of Sexual Medicine, Volume 23, Issue 10, October 2026 (qdag314); published September 30, 2026

• DOI: 10.1093/jsxmed/qdag314

Presented Research

1. Erection Duration, Frequency and Firmness: A Descriptive Analysis from a Population-Based Study Using a Wearable Penile Ring

• Presenter: Gal Saffati

• Event: SMSNA, October 2024

2. Safety of an Elastomer-Based Hook-and-Loop “Smart” Penile Constriction Device Worn Overnight: Is It Okay to Fall Asleep With This Ring?

• Presenter: Amy Pearlman

• Event: AUA 2024

3. The Future of Wearable Technology in FSD Evaluation and Management

• Presenter: Dr. Kelli Gross

• Finding: The device was able to document clitoral blood flow during arousal.

4. Novel Penile Tumescence Monitoring Device Objectively Demonstrates Shorter-Lasting Spontaneous (Nocturnal) Erections in Men With Erectile Dysfunction

• Presenter: Dr. Kelli Gross

• Finding: Shorter nocturnal erections in men with self-reported ED; the number and duration of erections did not correlate with subjective SHIM scores.

• Event: SMSNA 2024

5. Preferences in Heterosexual vs. Homosexual Men

• Presenter: Daniela Orozco Rendon

• Highlight: Homosexual men preferred FirmTech for stretch and ease of use.

• Event: SMSNA 2023

6. Erectile Duration: PDE5 vs. MaxPR vs. Both

• Researcher: Dr. Amy Pearlman

• Presenter: Dr. Elliot Justin

• Finding: Trend toward superiority of the ring among 24 subjects.

• Event: ISSM 2024

7. Clinical Experience With a Penile Constriction Device (Performance Ring) for Erectile Maintenance

• Researcher: Dr. Yoshi Sato

• Event: JSMM (Japanese Society for Sexual Medicine), 2025

Accepted for Presentation — SMSNA 2026

1. Comparison of TechRing and RigiScan

• Researchers: Dr. Mohammed Nabil Amin, Dr. Kelli Gross, Dr. Elliot Justin

• Study: Simultaneous recordings comparing the FirmTech TechRing with RigiScan for measuring nocturnal erectile activity.

• Presentation: SMSNA 2026, Orlando — Saturday, October 10, 3:36 PM

2. Penis Pumps for ED Treatment

• Researcher: Dr. John Mulhall

• Participants: 55 subjects

• Study: Evaluation of the efficacy of vacuum erection devices (penis pumps) for erectile dysfunction, with results measured using the TechRing.

• Presentation: SMSNA 2026, Orlando — Saturday, October 10, 3:51 PM

Research Underway or Planned

1.Botox vs. Saline Therapy Efficacy Monitored by the TechRing

  • Status: Proposal phase / clinical trial.
  • Research lead listed: Greta; new PI being sought.
  • Plan: Crossover design; power analysis and IRB work planned.

2. Comparison of Penile Hemodynamics and Erectile Function Score from FirmTech TechRing

  • PI: Dr. Kelli Gross.
  •  Status: In progress; prospective clinical trial comparing TechRing data with Doppler/SHIM measures.
  • Next step: Data analysis; abstract targeted for AUA/SMSNA 2026.

3. Interplay of Sleep, Glucose and Erections

  • Researchers: Beatriz Hernandez, Dr. Mohit Khera, Gal Saffati.
  • Status: In progress; recruiting, with 10 patients enrolled in the Master List.
  • Planned presentation targets include WMSM 2026 and AUA/ISSM 2027.

4. Correlation of Nocturnal and Coital Penile Rigidity With Self-Reported Erectile Function and Subclinical Coronary Atherosclerosis in Men Over 40

  •  Lead: Beatriz Hernandez; collaborators listed include Dr. Mohit Khera, Jay Lawrens, and Dr. Martin Miner.
  • Status: IRB accepted; multicenter coordination underway.

5. Erectile Activity After Radical Prostatectomy

  • PI: Dr. John Mulhall / Dr. Yoshi Sato.
  • Status: In progress; MSK IRB process noted.
  • Study uses a smart wearable penile constriction ring to evaluate erectile activity after radical prostatectomy.

6. TechRing for Outcomes After Radical Prostatectomy

  • Status: Enrolling.
  • Follow-up assigned to Dr. Elliot Justin.

7. TechRing Validation of Outcomes After Neuro-Sheet Application During Radical Prostatectomy

  • Status: IRB process; awaiting approval.

8. Venous Embolization for Venous Leak

  • Status: IRB process.
  • Follow-up assigned to Dr. Elliot Justin.

9. Premature Ejaculation: Management and Treatment With TechRing

  • Researcher listed: Velez.
  • Status: In progress; prospective clinical trial.

10. Real-Time Non-Invasive Monitoring of Erectile Function for Hispanic Men Receiving Testosterone Therapy

  • Researchers: Dr. Mohit Khera, Daniela Orozco Rendon, Gal Saffati.
  • Status: In progress / recruitment phase; prospective clinical trial.
  • • Funding listed: Boston Scientific.

11. Real-Time Non-Invasive Monitoring of Erectile Function for Men Receiving TRT and PDE5 Inhibitors

  • Researchers: Dr. Mohit Khera, Daniela Orozco Rendon, Gal Saffati.
  • Status: In progress / recruitment phase; prospective clinical trial.
  • Funding listed: Boston Scientific.

12. Seasonal Variation in Erectile Function

  • Researcher: Iman Sadri.
  • Status: Just beginning to look into data; retrospective study.



Supporting research

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