Why won't my IC controller work? | The diary records several possible causes [OK Prostate Chip]

This page is based on entries from "ok-lab's diary" (https://ok-lab.hatenablog.com/), the Japanese development diary written by Mr. Okada, founder of OK Lab, a small company in Japan (Okada Comfortable Life Laboratory). Only the entries about "IC controller problems" are summarized here, in order of publication. Past prices and sizes are as written at the time. Current prices come from the official product list (retrieved September 4, 2026). Quotations are translated from Japanese.

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Note: This page is a personal reading log by someone with no connection to the maker or the seller. It reflects the source entries as of their publication dates and makes no guarantee of accuracy or safety. The product is not a medical device; talk to a doctor about any health decision. Check the official site for current information. This page contains advertising.

In short

• A controller may light up without vibrating, or vibrate without responding to its switches.
• OK Lab described repairs, replacement parts, and substitute controllers for different faults.
• The current product list includes an IC controller option for ¥2,200, (about $14 at ¥156 = $1, rate as of 2026-09-04) including tax.

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About this product

The OK Prostate Chip is a small device that is placed in the urethra (the urine passage) so that it acts on the prostate; the maker sells it in several shapes, sizes and materials. It is made and sold by OK Lab (Okada Comfortable Life Laboratory), a small company in Japan, through its own online store, and prices are in Japanese yen (JPY).

The maker's development diary, "ok-lab's diary", is written in Japanese. This page is an English summary of it, and every quotation is translated. OK Lab ships internationally, so readers outside Japan can order (see "Buying from outside Japan" below).

Product names on this page are plain-English descriptions. The official Japanese product name is shown once in the product table so you can find the same item in the store.

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Before you read: key terms

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What happens: IC controller problems

The OK Prostate Chip is a small device placed in the urethra, the urine passage, to act on the prostate. The vibrating versions discussed here use a motor connected by cable to an IC controller (a box that controls vibration patterns). The controller stays outside the body, while the chip sits inside the urethra. These entries discuss problems involving the controller's batteries, buttons, cover, wiring, and connection to the motor.

A controller light stayed on despite an intermittent connection fault

In an entry published in March 2019, a customer reported a working red indicator and changing flashes, but no motor movement. Mr. Okada initially suspected the motor and offered replacement if the symptom returned. The customer's follow-up linked intermittent operation to the controller's cable connection.

An added note says Mr. Okada repaired the unit and strengthened internal support in later shipments. He described a controller contact fault (an unreliable electrical connection) as straightforward to repair, promising controller replacement within a few days after return. His advice was to return the unit if the same failure happened again.

(Source: ok-lab's diary, published March 2019)
https://ok-lab.hatenablog.com/entry/2019/03/02/151104

A supplier change brought broken controller battery covers in May 2019

In an entry published in May 2019, Mr. Okada said his previous controller-equipped vibrator source had raised its price by about ¥500 (about $3 at ¥156 = $1, rate as of 2026-09-04). He switched to a previously tested second choice, but all 3 newly received units had broken metal battery-cover parts. Their covers closed without batteries but would not stay shut once batteries were present.

The seller acknowledged a defective batch caused by a damaged manufacturing mold and promised replacement covers after correcting it. The diary does not record whether those replacement covers arrived. Mr. Okada requested replacements and urged the supplier to inspect its remaining stock.

(Source: ok-lab's diary, published May 2019)
https://ok-lab.hatenablog.com/entry/2019/05/25/144939

A wet controller could fail, according to the September 2019 warning

In an entry published in September 2019, Mr. Okada discussed water exposure while describing experiments with different battery arrangements. His warning specifically covered both the IC controller and the controller supplied with a pink vibrator. Mr. Okada cautioned against getting either controller wet because he said this would cause failure.

(Source: ok-lab's diary, published September 2019)
https://ok-lab.hatenablog.com/entry/2019/09/07/135854

A Bluetooth controller failure left the prototype capable of plain vibration only

In an entry published in January 2022, Mr. Okada discussed a controller prototype with Bluetooth support (an unexplained feature in this material). He reported that an accidental electrical fault during powered testing destroyed its control electronics, leaving only plain vibration. He stopped that development work and put sales on hold.

The entry also says his preference for wearable products influenced that decision. Mr. Okada invited people wanting the controller sooner to contact OK Lab for individual handling.

(Source: ok-lab's diary, published January 2022)
https://ok-lab.hatenablog.com/entry/2022/01/29/123455

IC controller failures prompted a temporary switch to 120 vibration modes

In an entry published in March 2022, Mr. Okada described opening a controller batch received about 2 months earlier. He said almost all its control electronics had failed, leaving the same vibration regardless of switch settings. OK Lab substituted a controller offering 120 vibration modes (selectable vibration patterns).

Its planned price was ¥3,000 (about $19 at ¥156 = $1, rate as of 2026-09-04) excluding tax, but the temporary substitute price was ¥2,000 (about $13 at ¥156 = $1, rate as of 2026-09-04), as published in March 2022. The diary does not record when normal supply resumed. Mr. Okada said orders would receive the substitute until working replacements for the usual controller arrived.

(Source: ok-lab's diary, published March 2022)
https://ok-lab.hatenablog.com/entry/2022/03/12/122940

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The maker's answer to IC controller problems

The diary describes different responses for battery errors, assembly faults, reversed wiring, and heating.

Reversed batteries could cause IC controller problems and heating, Mr. Okada warned

In an entry published in February 2019, Mr. Okada discussed newly shipped IC-controlled vibrating chips. The controllers used AAA batteries, which neither the original supplier nor OK Lab included. Mr. Okada cautioned that reversing the positive and negative battery directions could cause malfunction or heating.

(Source: ok-lab's diary, published February 2019)
https://ok-lab.hatenablog.com/entry/2019/02/23/142754

Assembly faults could explain a controller switch not working properly

In the February 2019 entry, Mr. Okada identified trapped wiring as a frequent reason the 20-mode switch failed to work properly. He also described internal boards that did not fit securely, affecting how firmly the switch sat. His stated remedy was for OK Lab to check and correct the internal assembly before shipment.

(Source: ok-lab's diary, published February 2019)
https://ok-lab.hatenablog.com/entry/2019/02/23/142754

Reversed wiring explained a USB controller not working with new motors

During tests described in February 2020, a new motor would not run through a USB connection (the plug connection between controller and motor). Mr. Okada traced the failure to reversed controller wiring. Older motors had worked with either wiring direction, so he said some earlier sets might have shipped with this error.

He said sets using the new motor underwent operating tests before shipment, allowing the error to be detected. For affected buyers of a new motor, Mr. Okada offered to correct the returned white connector cable.

(Source: ok-lab's diary, published February 2020)
https://ok-lab.hatenablog.com/entry/2020/02/22/145216

Slight controller heating led Mr. Okada to favor the standard battery-powered version

In an entry published in January 2022, Mr. Okada reported continuous testing of a USB-rechargeable IC controller. He reported no motor durability problem during those tests, but said the controller became slightly warm. Mr. Okada therefore favored the standard battery-powered IC controller over the rechargeable version.

(Source: ok-lab's diary, published January 2022)
https://ok-lab.hatenablog.com/entry/2022/01/29/123455

Mr. Okada reported fewer IC controller problems alongside improved components

In December 2023, Mr. Okada wrote that reports of delivered equipment failing to work had stopped for over a year before that week's complaint. Previously, he recalled receiving such reports about once a month. He described stronger controller materials and better internal electrical connections over roughly 2 years, noticing improvements in purchases made about every 6 months.

Mr. Okada attributed the reduced complaints to better components. OK Lab's stated response to an unexplained failure remained an offer to inspect the returned equipment.

(Source: ok-lab's diary, published December 2023)
https://ok-lab.hatenablog.com/entry/2023/12/30/122243

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How IC controller problems changed over time

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OK Prostate Chip products related to IC controller problems

The current list includes an IC controller option priced at ¥2,200 (about $14 at ¥156 = $1, rate as of 2026-09-04) including tax.

Products that appear in these entries

The IC controller option is listed in OK Lab's own online store.

(Source: ok-lab's diary, published February 2019)
https://ok-lab.hatenablog.com/entry/2019/02/23/142754

Products the diary mentioned as alternatives

The diary names no alternative.

Historical USB-rechargeable controller, Bluetooth prototype, temporary 120-mode controller, and unspecified semi-long build: No matching product can be confirmed on the current list.

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Common worries about IC controller problems

The customer reports led to different replies for broken covers, stopping motors, and insufficient battery power.

"Can a broken controller battery cover be replaced?"

In an entry published in March 2022, a customer asked about a semi-long vibrating chip whose controller lid opened during use. Mr. Okada suspected one of its battery-cover tabs (small catches holding the cover shut) had broken. He described the cover as a design weakness and said OK Lab replaced faulty covers found before shipping.

He warned that a replacement could break again because the structure remained weak. The diary does not record whether this customer received a replacement or whether the problem was resolved. Mr. Okada proposed temporary securing of the cover, with a replacement silver cover available on request.

(Source: ok-lab's diary, published March 2022)
https://ok-lab.hatenablog.com/entry/2022/03/05/123200

"Why does my controller stop vibrating after starting?"

In April 2022, a customer asked why the controller's indicator lit while the motor remained still. OK Lab's staff explained that the 120-mode model had 12 intensity levels; some motors did not start until around level 3. The customer then reported stopping after about 1 minute, even at maximum output, with further failures when vibration patterns changed.

Mr. Okada suspected the motor might be responsible, rather than assuming the controller had failed. The diary does not record the inspection result. His offer was to examine the returned equipment to determine which part caused the fault.

(Source: ok-lab's diary, published April 2022)
https://ok-lab.hatenablog.com/entry/2022/04/02/123050

"Can battery choice explain an IC controller not working?"

In an entry published in December 2023, a customer reported a controller that would not operate. OK Lab's staff identified insufficient battery power and damage from reversed batteries as possible explanations. They warned that even one start with reversed batteries could damage the electronics permanently, despite later correcting the battery direction.

The customer subsequently reported that alkaline batteries restored operation and attributed the earlier failure to insufficient power from Eneloop batteries. OK Lab's advice for a failure unexplained by those possibilities was to return the equipment for inspection.

(Source: ok-lab's diary, published December 2023)
https://ok-lab.hatenablog.com/entry/2023/12/30/122243

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Buying from outside Japan

OK Lab ships internationally to countries covered by Japan Post's EMS courier service. Overseas orders are paid in advance by PayPal.

Each order carries a ¥400 (about $3 at ¥156 = $1, rate as of 2026-09-04) handling fee, and EMS shipping is charged on top. These terms come from OK Lab's official sales-terms page (written here as plain text, not a link: ok-lab.net/docs/law), checked on September 7, 2026; confirm them on the official store before you order, because they can change.

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Summary of this article

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Source: ok-lab's diary (Okada Comfortable Life Laboratory). The original entries are in Japanese; quotations on this page are translated. Photos and videos are on the original entries.