Balloon Neck Thickness for Stable Radial Orifice Expansion
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current balloons used to treat phimosis often fail to maintain a consistent position under the foreskin and do not provide uniform inflation, leading to inconsistent treatment outcomes.
Innovation Solution
A balloon design with a neck having a greater wall thickness than the head, allowing for preferential radial expansion of the head while minimizing longitudinal expansion, ensuring even pressure application and maintaining the balloon's position during inflation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If the balloon is inflated with uniform wall thickness, then the balloon expands uniformly in all directions, but the balloon may slip out of the orifice and the expansion is not controlled
Solution Approach 1:
The balloon incorporates varying wall thicknesses in different regions: the neck has greater wall thickness to minimize expansion and maintain position, the body has intermediate thickness, and the head has lesser thickness to allow maximum expansion for applying pressure to the orifice. This local differentiation resolves the contradiction by enabling uniform radial expansion where needed while preventing unwanted expansion in other regions.
2Device complexity
If the head wall thickness is uniform, then the balloon structure is simple, but the balloon expands in both radial and longitudinal directions causing inconsistent pressure application
Solution Approach 1:
The head region is designed with non-uniform wall thickness, being thinnest at the distal end and progressively thicker toward the neck. This gradient structure ensures that during inflation, the head expands preferentially in the radial direction rather than longitudinally, providing consistent and controlled pressure application to the orifice while maintaining relatively simple manufacturing processes.
3Ease of manufacture
If the neck wall thickness is small, then the balloon is easier to insert and less material is required, but the neck expands during inflation causing the balloon to slip out
Solution Approach 1:
The neck is designed with greater wall thickness compared to other regions specifically to prevent expansion during inflation. This thicker neck acts as an anchor that maintains the balloon's position within the orifice, preventing slippage. The increased material usage in this critical region is justified by the essential function of position stability required for effective treatment.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The balloon design ensures uniform expansion of the head, preventing slipping and providing consistent treatment by applying even pressure, thereby improving treatment efficacy for phimosis.
Implementation Method 1
when the balloon is inflated the head expands in a radial direction greater than in the longitudinal direction and a diameter of the body remains approximately constant during inflation
Data Source
AI summary
A balloon is disclosed for expanding an orifice. The balloon comprises a hollow body having a head. The body is closed at a distal end and open at a proximal end. The head extends from the distal end. The balloon also comprises a hollow neck positioned between the open proximal end and the distal end of the body. In the balloon, a wall thickness of the neck is greater than a wall thickness of the head. In a variation, the balloon can be configured such that, when the balloon is inflated, the head expands in a radial direction greater than in the longitudinal direction and a diameter of the body remains approximately constant during inflation. Also disclosed is a system for expanding an orifice. The system includes such a balloon and an inflation device for inflating the balloon. Also disclosed is a kit comprising the system and a container. Further, disclosed is a mould and a method for forming the balloon.