Amniotic Cavity Access Sheath for Minimally Invasive Fetal Surgery

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Solution Overview

Problem

Intrauterine surgeries to correct congenital defects face high premature birth rates due to placental abruption and uterine contraction, with existing methods causing trauma to the uterus and exposing the fetus to risk, especially for complex defects requiring dissection and removal from the uterus.

Innovation Solution

A medical device and method for creating trans-maternal amniotic cavity access via the vaginal cervical canal or abdominal wall, using a vaginal speculum, cervical dilator, fetal membrane puncture instrument, and composite sheath to establish a minimally invasive surgical pathway, ensuring fetal safety and reducing trauma.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If traditional intrauterine surgery is performed by dissecting the uterus and removing the fetus, then the surgical access is sufficient for complex defect correction, but the trauma to the uterus and placenta increases, causing severe uterine contraction and placental abruption

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesurgical accessVSAvoiduterine trauma and placental damage

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces an intermediary access pathway through the mother's abdominal wall and uterine wall to reach the amniotic cavity, avoiding direct uterine dissection. This intermediary route allows surgical instruments to enter the uterus without cutting through uterine tissue, thereby preventing placental abruption and severe uterine contraction while still enabling complex fetal defect correction

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the mechanical dissection method with a puncture-based access system. Instead of using surgical blades to cut and dissect the uterus, the system uses a needle-like puncture device to create a small access channel through the abdominal and uterine walls, significantly reducing mechanical trauma to the uterus and placenta

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Ease of operation

If the fetus is completely or partially removed from the uterus for surgery, then the defect can be fully exposed and treated, but the fetus loses the protection of the uterus and amniotic fluid, risking potential damage

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedefect exposureVSAvoidfetal risk

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a nested structure where the amniotic cavity serves as the innermost protective environment for the fetus, the uterus provides the middle layer of protection, and the maternal abdomen forms the outer layer. The surgical access pathway is designed to penetrate through these nested layers without disrupting the fetal position, allowing the fetus to remain nested within its protective environments throughout the surgery

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces an intermediary access channel that allows surgical instruments to reach the fetus without requiring the fetus to leave its protective environment. This intermediary pathway enables full exposure and treatment of fetal defects while the fetus remains safely nested within the uterus and amniotic fluid

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Object-affected harmful factors

If laparoscopic surgery is used to reduce abdominal and uterine trauma, then maternal trauma is minimized, but the fetus floats in the uterus making it difficult to reveal the defect or deformity

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvematernal traumaVSAvoiddefect visibility

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces an intermediary access system that combines the benefits of both approaches: a puncture pathway through the abdominal wall (like laparoscopy) that minimizes maternal trauma, combined with an internal amniotic cavity access component that allows for proper positioning and exposure of fetal defects. This dual-component intermediary system resolves the contradiction between minimal trauma and adequate defect visibility

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent segments the surgical access system into two functional components: an external puncture access device that minimizes maternal trauma, and an internal positioning component that enables proper fetal defect exposure. This segmentation allows each component to optimize its specific function while working together to resolve the contradiction between trauma reduction and defect visibility

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentUS12558023B2Device for establishing an amniotic cavity access through a mother and method thereof

Publication Date: 2026.02.24 XIAMEN BONAI MOLD DESIGN CO LTD

AI summary

A device for making an amniotic cavity access through a mother and method thereof is disclosed, which includes a transvaginal fetal membrane puncture assembly configured to construct the amniotic cavity access through a natural orifice of a maternal vagina, a trans maternal abdominal wall uterine fetal member puncture assembly configured to construct the amniotic cavity access through the maternal abdominal wall and/or a belly button, and an amniotic cavity combined sheath configured to form the amniotic cavity access for placing a fetus positioning surgical robotic arm and/or surgical instruments, thereby providing a safe operation channel for the implementation of an intrauterine fetal minimally invasive surgery.