Adam sensor: a novel nocturnal penile tumescence wearable device - technology overview & applications

Abstract

We present a novel, low-cost interconnected wearable device, called ADAM sensor, that measures the Nocturnal Penile Tumescence (NPT) in male patients suffering from Erectile Dysfunction (ED) and the new clinical and research applications that emerge from this technology. Given the consistent, and autonomic nature of nocturnal erections, NPT testing and monitoring can be a valuable clinical and research tool in the diagnosis and progress monitoring of ED. Rigiscan, the device currently used to measure NPTs, is bulky, uncomfortable and disrupts sleep. It was developed 30 years ago and it's not compatible with modern IT hardware and is usually physician-owned and lent to patients overnight or testing is carried out in a sleep clinic, resulting in a very high cost. Consequently, NPT measurement is rarely performed anymore in clinical practice. This is a technical note presenting a novel NPT measuring sensor, which is a ring-like device that users wear around their penis and detects changes in penile tumescence throughout the night. The data is continuously transmitted via bluetooth to the user's mobile phone and analysed by a dedicated mobile app, which reports three key metrics i) Number of erection episodes; ii) Total erection time and iii) Tumescence Activity Units. The advantages of the device are that it is easy to use, does not disrupt users sleep, low cost and the data analysis is continuously improving since it is performed in the cloud. This allows each patient to have their own sensor and continuously monitor NPTs over an extended period of time thus creating new applications of NPT testing, both for research and clinical purposes. The ADAM sensor is a novel, low cost, easy to use and non-obstructing device that can re-establish NPT monitoring as a useful clinical and research tool. None