Research Using the FirmTech TechRing and MaxPR

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 twenty one 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.

Published Research

The Intersection of Artificial Intelligence, Wearable Devices, and Sexual Medicine

•  Author: Dr. Amy Pearlman
• Source: Current Urology Reports

Penile Constriction Devices Preference Study

• Sources: PubMed
• Findings: FirmTech device preferred over Eddie by Giddy for ease of use, comfort, stretch, and adjustability.
• Researchers: Daniela Orozco Rendon, BS; Gal Saffati, MD; Christine Whitehead, BSN, RN; Caroline Zuckerman, BS, RN; Amy Hom, BS; Riley Daily, MS; Mohit Khera, MD, MPH, MBA; Philip J. Cheng, MD

Presented Research

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

• Presenter: Gal Saffati
• Event: Sexual Medicine Society of North America, October 2024

Does Having Erectile Dysfunction Impact the Preference Between Penile Constriction Devices? 

• Presenter: Daniela Orozco Rendon
• Highlight: Preference for FirmTech's TechRing over other devices

The Future of Wearable Technology in FSD Evaluation and Management.  

• Presenter: Dr. Kelli Gross
• Findings: We demonstrated that our device will be able to document clitoral blood flow during arousal.

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

• Presenter: Dr. Kelli Gross
• Findings: Reveals shorter nocturnal erections in men with self-reported ED
• Additionally, the number and duration of erections have no correlation with subjective SHIM scores, current standard for evaluation of ED.

Preferences in Heterosexual vs. Homosexual Men

• Presenter: Daniela Orozco Rendon
• Highlight: Homosexual men prefer FirmTech for stretch and ease of use

Research Completed - Presentation Pending

Erectile Duration: PDE5 vs. MaxPR vs. Both

• Researcher: Dr. Amy Pearlman
• Finding: Trend indicates superiority of our ring among 24 subjects

Penile Hemodynamics and Erectile Function Score

• Researcher: Dr. Kelli Gross
• Focus: Comparison using Doppler vs. TechRing

Research Underway

FirmTech for Sexual Health

• Researcher: Dr. Danielle Velez
• Aim: Diagnose psychogenic erectile dysfunction

Pre- and Post-Radical Prostatectomy Evaluation

• Researcher: Dr. John Mulhall
• Tool: Smart wearable penile constriction ring

Penis Pumps for ED Treatment

• Researcher: Dr. John Mulhall
• Participants: 55 subjects; recruiting underway

Real-time Monitoring during TRT and PDEi5

• Researchers: Dr. Mohit Khera, Daniela Orozco Rendon, Gal Saffati

Erectile Fitness Coital Recording

• Researchers: Dr. John Mulhall, Gal Saffati

Timestamped Recordings Comparison

• Researchers: Dr. Mohit Khera, Gal Saffati
• Tools: Whoop, TechRing by FirmTech, Glucose Monitor

Impact on Couple Satisfaction

• Researchers: Dr. Kim Resnick, Dr. Elliot Justin

Stay informed as we strive for further advancements, delivering innovations that enhance lives universally.

Supporting research

• https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/genitals-are-window-health-sex-vital-sign-2024a1000iv1 The Genitals Are a Window into Health: Sex as a Vital Sign.  Rachel S. Rubin. MD
• https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8161068/  Erectile Dysfunction Is a Hallmark of Cardiovascular Disease: Unavoidable Matter of Fact or Opportunity to Improve Men’s Health?
• https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31104857/ Erectile Dysfunction Predicts Cardiovascular Events as an Independent Risk Factor: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
• https://academic.oup.com/eurheartj/article/34/27/2034/440049?login=false Erectile dysfunction in the cardiovascular patient
• https://www.ucsfhealth.org/conditions/erectile-dysfunction Erectile Dysfunction UCSF
• https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7994652/ Association between Nocturnal Frequency and Erectile Function in Eugonadal Men with Benign Prostatic Obstruction: A Cross Sectional Study
• https://www.bmj.com/content/315/7123/1641 Sex and death: are they related? Findings from the Caerphilly cohort study
• https://www.ajconline.org/article/S0002-9149(09)02324-8/abstract Sexual Activity, Erectile Dysfunction, and Incident Cardiovascular Events
• https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23153075/ Erectile dysfunction diagnosis and treatment as a means to improve medication adherence and optimize comorbidity management
• https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6958982/ Consecutive nightly measurements are needed for accurate evaluation of nocturnal erectile capacity when the first-night laboratory recording is abnormal