The Development History of Xialla

Twenty years ago, the idea for Xialla emerged from a need for a better option for venous leak and related erectile difficulties. What began as a homemade prototype has become a patented medical device with published clinical evaluations and a network of urologist partners. This article is the company history; for the personal inventor account, see Nigel Shaw's journey and motivation.

Inspiration from a fellow inventor

The journey was encouraged by a friend, Bruce Murison — the inventor of the original We-Vibe, the first U-shaped insertable wearable vibrator. A former Nortel employee, Bruce developed that product in his garage using homemade silicone molds and electronics. His example showed that determined product development could create a new category of intimacy devices.

That example supported the decision to pursue a more effective mechanical option for men who needed reliable support for erectile firmness when venous outflow was the limiting problem.

From garage prototype to refined design

The earliest Xialla prototypes were made with string and elastic bands. Development advanced through homemade methods, including injection molds built from hardware-store parts, a syringe for silicone injection, and a C-clamp to compress the mold.

The original design used a waist band that went around the body, down behind the buttocks, and up between the legs to connect to the penile loop. Users stepped into it, and nine sizes were required (three ring sizes combined with three band sizes). That version worked mechanically but highlighted the need for greater comfort and simpler sizing.

A later breakthrough was a new mechanism for restraining the ring. That change, together with the name Xialla and the availability of xialla.com, allowed a redesign of both the product and the brand.

Building the business

When commercialization began, involvement with investors and entrepreneurs led to the formation of Exia Biomedical Inc. Too much control was relinquished, and that startup was closed.

In fall 2019, Xialla Inc. was incorporated. The new ring-restraining mechanism and brand name allowed a clean separation from previous intellectual-property restrictions and a stronger foundation for growth.

Manufacturing support came from a contact introduced by Bruce Murison: First Technologies Company, owned by Tim Wong in China. That partnership has been central to producing the current device.

Choosing the medical-device path

From the start, the deliberate choice was to pursue medical-device registration rather than the faster adult-retail market, in order to keep medical credibility and focus on a therapeutic indication.

That path involved:

• FDA registration as a Class II device under the applicable provision for this device type.
• Patents for the anchoring design (U.S. Design Patent D965162).
• Clinical evaluations with Dr. Anthony Bella (14 of 21 patients reporting improved erectile function in a 2016 series; salvage in 6 of 11 men with confirmed veno-occlusive dysfunction in a subsequent series), later summarized in peer-reviewed publication.
• A perspective article in the International Journal of Impotence Research (Yafi, Hammad, and Elterman, 2024). See Xialla Featured in the International Journal of Impotence Research.

Strategic partnerships

Those milestones supported a network of urologist partner providers. Physicians refer or prescribe Xialla; patients order from the website. Xialla handles customer care, warranty support, size adjustments, and fulfillment, so doctors are not required to stock inventory or manage after-sales support. See the Physician Partner Program.

How the current design works

Today's Xialla is a soft, medical-grade silicone constriction ring with an anchoring strap and adhesive pad. The design intent is to reduce venous outflow while remaining stable during movement. Related Knowledge Center articles cover:

• Blood retention and venous leak.
• Skin tension and stretch-sensitive nerves and foreskin retraction and glans exposure.
• Girth and firmness, shaft exposure, ejaculatory sensation after prostate surgery, skin slack and direct contact, and scrotal support.

An overview is at Physiological Effects of Xialla. Maximum continuous wear is 30 minutes; remove before sleeping; remove immediately if numbness, coldness, discoloration, or pain occurs. See using a constriction device safely.

Where things stand

The company history is one of persistence through a failed first corporate structure, a deliberate medical-device path, and continued product refinement. The focus remains on a practical mechanical option for men whose erectile dysfunction involves venous leak.

For questions about the device or the Knowledge Center material, write to hello@xialla.com. Discuss with a clinician whether a constriction device fits your situation.

References

• Yafi FA, Hammad MAM, Elterman D. Xialla: a novel medical device for addressing erectile dysfunction associated with veno-occlusive dysfunction. Int J Impot Res. 2024;36:551–552.
• Bella AJ, et al. Clinical evaluation of an anchored constriction device (presented World Meeting on Sexual Medicine, 2016); series sizes as summarized in Yafi et al., 2024.