We’re great fans of medGadget and have featured a few medical innovations such as the handheld excimer laser, and the t-shirt that measures the wearer’s vital signs.

Alas, there’s one medical gadget featured today that wasn’t such a success story for one man though. It’s a penile implant for men who are unable to obtain an erection naturally.

It’s firm, but flexible and the idea is that you straighten it up when you need your little guy hard on for a few minutes or so, and then afterwards fold it back up and light up a cigarette.

For one unfortunate gentleman from the US, his Dura II implant has been stuck in the “on” position for the last 10 years.

The poor chap had the steel and plastic implant fitted in 1996, a couple of years before the wonder drug Viagra hit the market. Soon after the operation it became apparent that the implant was faulty somehow, leaving him with a permanent erection and unable to wear swimming trunks, ride a bicycle and turning him into a virtual recluse.

The company which manufactured the implant when bankrupt shortly after Viagra became available. I guess many men asked themselves the question; “Do I want my penis spliced open, and then stitched back together again, or should I take a tablet to achieve the same effect?”

At 68 years old, the gentleman in question is just too frail to have the implant removed; however he has been awarded $400,000, which will hopefully cheer him up somewhat!

Found via medGadget.