From The Leopard, by Jo Nesbo:
First devised and created in the Belgian Congo. A smooth metallic ball, slightly smaller than a tennis ball in circumference with tiny apertures along its contours. Made of gold, coltan, and steel, the ball is a minor feat of engineering. An additional small opening reveals a looped wire. The ball is placed in the victim's mouth. When the wire is pulled, 24 tiny antenna jut out from the ball, causing it to lodge itself in the mouth. At this point, though not overly painful, the victim cannot remove the ball, nor can another extract it for them. With a second pull of the wire, 24 needles erupt outwards from the extended antennae in 24 directions, causing severe damage to throat, cheek, tongue, palate, nasal cavity, etc....the victim will usually bleed out slowly in excruciating pain. How was this used for torture? It usually involved 2 victims. One who who was forced to swallow the ball, and the second who was forced to watch the effects. That second person would usually begin talking quickly.
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This device was mostly used in 16th century Spain. The victim would be placed in a harness atop a pyramid-shaped seat with a sharp point. The victim would then be slowly lowered onto the device, which would protrude into their genitals, often ripping them open. Death would occur from tears in muscle tissue that would become infected, or the victim would simply be impaled.