Anchor Assembly for Urethral Stabilization Against Intra-abdominal Pressure
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current medical devices lack effective solutions for manipulating and stabilizing tissues around the urethra to treat incontinence, particularly in cases of urinary incontinence and Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH), where there is a need for minimally invasive methods to lift, compress, support, or reposition tissues to improve urinary flow and reduce symptoms.
Innovation Solution
A delivery device is used to deploy an anchor assembly within the body, which can reposition, stabilize, or reduce the mobility of the urethra by implanting anchor components both proximally and distally, allowing for precise adjustment and tensioning to maintain the urethra's position against intra-abdominal pressure, and can be configured to alter the urethral lumen size or position.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional surgical methods are used to manipulate and stabilize urethral tissues, then effective treatment of incontinence can be achieved, but the procedure becomes more invasive and complex
Solution Approach 1:
The device is divided into multiple components including a delivery catheter, anchor assemblies with individual anchors, and deployment mechanisms. Each component can be independently manipulated and positioned, allowing complex tissue stabilization through simple, modular actions rather than a single complex surgical procedure
Solution Approach 2:
The anchor assemblies are designed to self-deploy and self-anchor within the tissue once delivered through the catheter. The anchors automatically engage with the urethral tissue and surrounding structures, eliminating the need for complex manual suturing or anchoring procedures by the surgeon
2Device complexity
If minimally invasive methods are used to treat incontinence, then patient recovery is faster and procedure complexity is reduced, but the ability to effectively manipulate and stabilize tissues is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The anchor assemblies are nested within the delivery catheter during insertion, allowing the entire device to pass through the urethra minimally invasively. Once in position, the anchors are deployed outward from the catheter to engage with surrounding tissues, achieving effective stabilization through a simple insertion procedure
Solution Approach 2:
The delivery catheter serves as an intermediary tool that enables the minimally invasive delivery of complex anchor assemblies. The catheter protects the anchors during insertion and provides a controlled mechanism for their deployment, bridging the gap between simple access and complex tissue manipulation
Data Source
AI summary
A system and associated method for manipulating tissues and anatomical or other structures in medical applications for the purpose of treating incontinence. In one aspect, the system includes a delivery device configured to deploy and implant anchor devices for distracting and/or retracting the urethra or tissues proximate thereto, or to maintain a position of a urethra in response to intra-abdominal pressures.