Barbed Hernia Repair Knit for Smooth Trocar Deployment

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Solution Overview

Problem

Prosthetic fabrics with barbs used in wall-reinforcing prostheses often become entangled or damaged during rolling and unrolling for coelioscopic surgery, making it difficult to deploy them correctly at the implantation site due to their small diameter and unprotected barbs.

Innovation Solution

A biocompatible prosthetic knit with openwork faces and heat-fusible monofilament yarns forming barbs, designed to be rolled up and unrolled effortlessly, using a specific knitting pattern on a warp knitting machine with three guide bars to prevent barb entanglement and ensure easy deployment.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Length of moving object

If the prosthesis is rolled up to fit through a small-diameter trocar, then it can be used for coelioscopic surgery, but the barbs become entangled in the fabric and may be damaged

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetrocar diameterVSAvoidbarb integrity
Core Design Contradiction:
Length of moving objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The prosthesis is pre-rolled into a compact cylindrical shape before insertion, allowing it to pass through the small-diameter trocar without damaging the barbs during the rolling process

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The flexible knit structure acts as a cushioning mechanism that absorbs and distributes the mechanical stresses during insertion and deployment, protecting the barbs from damage while maintaining their anchoring function

Inventive Principle:
Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

2Strength

If the prosthesis includes barbs for tissue anchoring, then it provides effective fixation, but the barbs become entangled during rolling and deployment becomes difficult

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetissue anchoringVSAvoiddeployment ease
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The prosthesis transitions from a compact rolled state during insertion to an expanded deployed state at the implantation site, with the barbs dynamically adjusting their orientation to provide anchoring only when the prosthesis is deployed

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The flexible knit structure allows the prosthesis to be rolled into a compact form for insertion while maintaining the integrity of the barbs, and then easily unrolled and deployed at the implantation site without entanglement

Inventive Principle:
Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

3Strength

If the barbs protrude outwards from the prosthesis face, then they can hook into biological tissues, but they are exposed to damage during transportation and unrolling

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetissue fixationVSAvoidbarb damage risk
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The barbs are pre-formed on the prosthesis in a protected configuration before insertion, allowing them to maintain their tissue-fixation function while being shielded from damage during the insertion and deployment process

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

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 knit allows for easy rolling and unrolling with minimal force, reducing the risk of barb damage and entanglement, facilitating smooth deployment during coelioscopic surgery and effective anchoring in biological tissues.

Implementation Method 1

barbs that protrude outwards from at least said first face and are obtained by melting loops generated by said second yarn

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectMelting: Melting

Data Source

PatentEP2798104B1Barbed prosthetic knit and hernia repair mesh made therefrom as well as process for making said prosthetic knit
Publication Date: 2019.03.06 SOFRADIM PRODUCTION SAS
  • EP2798104B1 patent drawingFigure 1A~3
  • EP2798104B1 patent drawingFigure 4A~5

AI summary

The present invention relates to a prosthetic knit based on at least a first yarn of biocompatible polymer material defining first and second opposite and openwork faces, and on at least a second biocompatible and heat-fusible monofilament yarn, forming barbs that protrude outwards from at least said first face and are obtained by melting loops generated by said second yarn, the chart followed for the knitting of said first and second yarns on a warp knitting machine having three guide bars B1, B2, B3 being the following, according to the ISO 11676 standard: - Bar B1 : 1.0/0.1// - Bar B2: 1.0/7.7/6.6/7.7// - Bar B3: 2.1/5.5/3.4/0.0// said second yarn following the chart of bar B3. The present invention also relates to a process for manufacturing such a knit.