Adjustable Implantable Prosthesis With Segmented Anchors For Fistula Drainage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current treatments for anal fistulas, such as using setons or plugs, often fail to effectively divert contamination or waste matter away from the fistula, leading to ongoing drainage issues and incomplete healing.
Innovation Solution
An implantable prosthesis made of biocompatible material with channels and adjustable features is designed to extend along the fistula tract, featuring anchors at both ends and a tapered channel configuration to facilitate drainage and tissue integration, allowing for gradual closure and healing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a seton is inserted to maintain the fistula open for drainage, then drainage is maintained, but contamination or waste matter may not necessarily exit via the anal sphincter
Solution Approach 1:
The prosthesis is divided into multiple functional segments: a first end with a first anchor for the primary opening, a second end with a second anchor for the secondary opening, and a body with a channel extending between them. This segmentation allows the prosthesis to simultaneously maintain drainage while directing contamination through the channel to exit via the anal sphincter, resolving the contradiction between drainage reliability and contamination control.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If an anal fistula plug is used to close the fistula, then contamination is directed away from the fistula, but drainage may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The prosthesis incorporates a channel with varying inner dimensions along its length, creating different local qualities. The channel has a first inner dimension at the first end and a second inner dimension at the second end, with the second dimension being larger. This local variation allows the channel to effectively divert contamination while maintaining adequate drainage capacity throughout the fistula tract.
3Ease of manufacture
If a prosthesis with fixed dimensions is implanted, then manufacturing is simplified, but adaptability to different fistula tract lengths is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The prosthesis incorporates an adjustable length mechanism that allows the distance between the first and second ends to be varied after manufacturing. This dynamic feature enables the prosthesis to adapt to different fistula tract lengths while maintaining a standardized manufacturing process, resolving the contradiction between ease of manufacture and adaptability.
Data Source
AI summary
An implantable prosthesis is provided for repairing a fistula, such as an anal fistula. The prosthesis or fistula repair device may include a body with a shape configured for placement in the fistula. The prosthesis may also include an anchor or base that is located at one or both ends of the body to facilitate anchoring the prosthesis in position. The prosthesis may include one or more channels to create one or more pathways for drainage and/or irrigation of the fistula. The channel may have a relatively uniform dimension along its length or a tapered shape that increases along its length. The prosthesis may have an adjustable length for accommodating fistula tracts of varying lengths. The prosthesis may include elongated body segments that provide a wicking or capillary function to facilitate drainage of the fistula tract.