Measurement of Penile Sensitivity by Digital Vibrometer, MMD-1000A(R)

Park, Hyun Jun; Kim, Jung Man; Park, Bu Kyung; Park, Nam Cheol

Abstract

PURPOSE
The measurement of penile sensitivity is a noninvasive and economical screening method to detect various neurologic disorders including premature ejaculation. We measured the normal range of penile sensitivity using a conventional analogue vibrometer and a new type of digital vibrometer and compared the clinical utility of the two instruments.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
The vibration threshold of 50 males who had normal erectile function and ejaculation was measured 3 times with both an analogue and a digital vibrometer. The sites of measurement included the plantar side of the 2nd finger, a distal site on the calf, the penile shaft, and glans. The confidence interval was analyzed by the Kernel density estimation method.
RESULTS
The ranges measured by the digital vibrometer were narrower than those measured by the analogue instrument. The normal ranges in the 90% confidence interval by the digital vibrometer were 1.03~.16, 2.49~10.13, 1.54~3.41, 1.61~3.53, 1.91~3.80, 1.55~4.03 Hz/mv in finger tip, calf, right penile shaft, left penile shaft, right glans penis, and left glans penis, respectively. The normal ranges in the 95% confidence interval by digital vibrometer were 1.07~2.15, 3.23~9.50, 1.58~3.33, 1.65~3.48, 1.93~3.38, 1.83~3.73 Hz/mv in finger tip, calf, right penile shaft, left penile shaft, right glans penis, and left glans penis, respectively. The results from the digital vibrometer were more consistent than those by the analogue vibrometer.
CONCLUSIONS
The digital vibrometer, MMD-1000A(R) can substitute for the analogue type and has the advantages of greater convenience and more precise measurement of penile sensitivity.