Bell-Shaped Vaginal Support Device With Outflow Holes

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current surgical methods for treating bladder prolapse have low and variable success rates, are invasive, and do not prevent recurrence, while non-surgical options are inadequate for moderate to severe cases.

Innovation Solution

A bell-shaped device with a reinforcement ring at the open end and gripping means at the closed end, featuring outflow holes to prevent secretion stagnation, providing prolonged support and easy placement/removal, made from biocompatible materials like silicone elastomers.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If surgical procedures are used to treat bladder prolapse, then the prolapse can be corrected, but the treatment is invasive and has low and variable success rates with risk of recurrence

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesuccess rate of prolapse correctionVSAvoidinvasiveness and surgical risks
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The bell-shaped support device acts as an intermediary between the vaginal wall and the bladder, providing mechanical support without direct surgical intervention. The device includes a bell-shaped body with a closed end and an open end, where the open end is positioned against the vaginal wall to provide support while the closed end prevents complete obstruction

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The bell-shaped body incorporates through-holes in its wall structure, allowing vaginal secretions to pass through freely. This porous design prevents stagnation of secretions while maintaining the structural integrity and support function of the device, addressing the contradiction between providing continuous support and allowing physiological fluid passage

Inventive Principle:
Principle #31Porous materials

2Duration of action of moving object

If a bell-shaped device is used to support the vaginal wall, then prolonged support can be provided, but secretion stagnation may occur inside the device

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveduration of vaginal wall supportVSAvoidsecretion stagnation
Core Design Contradiction:
Duration of action of moving objectVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The bell-shaped body is designed with through-holes distributed along its structure, creating a porous configuration that allows vaginal secretions to permeate through the device walls. This prevents accumulation and stagnation of secretions inside the bell-shaped cavity while maintaining the device's ability to provide prolonged mechanical support for extended wear periods

Inventive Principle:
Principle #31Porous materials

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of using complex active pumping or drainage mechanisms to prevent secretion accumulation, the invention employs a passive structural solution through the porous wall design with through-holes, allowing natural gravitational and pressure-driven flow of secretions through the device

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Reliability

If the open end of the bell-shaped device is positioned against the vaginal wall, then effective support can be provided, but the device may be difficult to place and remove

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveeffectiveness of vaginal wall supportVSAvoidease of placement and removal
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The device incorporates a flexible gripping element at its distal end that can deform elastically during insertion and removal operations. This dynamic flexibility allows the device to be easily introduced into and extracted from the vaginal cavity, while the bell-shaped body with open end positioned against the vaginal wall maintains stable mechanical support during wear

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP3187156B1Device for supporting the vaginal wall
Publication Date: 2018.11.21 ROLANDI LAURA MARIA
  • EP3187156B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3187156B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4

AI summary

The present invention relates to a device (10) for supporting the vaginal wall, particularly indicated in the case of prolapse of the bladder within the vaginal canal, comprising a bell-shaped body (11) provided with a reinforcement ring (12) placed at the open end (11a) of the bell-shaped body, the bell-shaped body being constrained to gripping means (13) placed at the closed end (11b) of the bell-shaped body, wherein, at the closed end, the bell-shaped body comprises a plurality of outflow through holes (14) of vaginal secretions obtained in the thickness of the bell-shaped body.