FinallyBionic wrote:This is a good question GT: How the reservoir is filled with a preconnected implant? Isn't it possible for the manufacturer to pre-fill it a day or two before the procedure? The surgeon would already have an idea about the estimated size of the implant and reservoir.
I think that for as much as we know. We don't know everything. Pre filled is a possibility. Since its all assembled then they know how much saline that particular implant takes.
I think that the logistics of how many implants are out in the market waiting to be used plays into it. If you stop & think about just the number of implants that would need to be stocked in inventory across the country. You come up with a lot of money. No matter how profitable we think their market is. Somewhere in each company is a group of accountants watching this floating inventory that isn't producing any income just sitting.
Just me guessing on this. Tissue expanders are used in reconstructive surgery & lap band devices have a port under the skin where they can inject fluid into the device to change its shape. Likely that pre filled IPP's could have one of those. But then you'd have a lump that could potentially be felt thru the thin groin skin. Plus, you could argue that its just another potential leak spot.
I knew a woman 30 years ago that was a drug representative. At that time she made around $100K a year. She did not attend any sugeries. Bring her income to 2022 & throw some more at it to cover the sugeries attended. My sugeon claims around 150 implants a year. Best I can tell there is only 1 other urologist in my market that does implants. Pretend there is only 1 rep & he/she attends all of the potential 300 surgeries around here. Just to cover the reps adds up to alot of money per implant.
