Debra Durst, MD on Instagram: "Penis pump vs. Vacuum Erection Device — what’s the difference? I get asked this all the time. Mechanically, they’re the same. A cylinder goes over the penis, a vacuum draws blood in, and a ring can be used to maintain the erection. Clinically, here’s the difference: A Vacuum Erection Device (VED) is an FDA-approved medical device used to treat erectile dysfunction and for penile rehabilitation after prostate surgery. A natural erection is nerve- and nitric-oxide–dr