Sealed Breast Volume Tray Using Fluid Displacement Measurement

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current methods for measuring breast volume during surgery are inexact, failing to accurately verify the required implant size and ensuring post-operative breast symmetry with patients' pre-operative requirements, lacking objective verification and consistency.

Innovation Solution

A device and method utilizing a cup-shaped template with a sealing element and fluid displacement to measure breast volume accurately, allowing for pre and post-operative size determination and verification, featuring a cup portion with openings for fluid and air tubes, and a graded container for volume measurement.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If prior art methods use elastic balloons and fluid injection to measure breast volume during surgery, then the measurement process can be performed intraoperatively, but the measurement precision is inexact and fails to accurately verify implant size

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebreast volume measurement accuracyVSAvoidobjective verification of implant size

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the mechanical elastic balloon system with a water displacement system using a graduated container. This substitution eliminates the inexactness of elastic material expansion and provides precise volumetric measurement through direct fluid displacement, allowing accurate verification of implant size against preoperative expectations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates a physical copy of the breast volume by displacing water into a graduated container, which serves as a measurable replica. This water copy provides an objective, quantifiable representation of the breast volume that can be accurately measured and compared to predetermined size criteria.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

2Loss of time

If prior art methods measure implant volume during surgery, then the measurement can be performed at the time of operation, but the results do not conform to patient's pre-operative prerequisites

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemeasurement timing efficiencyVSAvoidconformity to pre-operative size requirements

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of timeVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements preliminary action by having patients complete detailed questionnaires specifying their desired postoperative breast size before surgery. This preoperative planning establishes clear size targets that are then objectively verified using the water displacement method during surgery, ensuring that the actual outcome conforms to the patient's predetermined requirements.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Ease of operation

If extant devices are used to measure prosthesis volume, then the measurement process is simplified, but objective verification of post-operative breast symmetry is not provided

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemeasurement simplicityVSAvoidobjective verification capability

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent creates a universal measurement system using a graduated container that can objectively measure and compare both breasts. This single device serves multiple functions: measuring individual breast volumes, comparing symmetry between breasts, and verifying conformity to predetermined size criteria, thereby providing comprehensive objective verification while maintaining operational simplicity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

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

Provides accurate and objective measurement of breast volume, ensuring the desired post-operative size is achieved and allowing for monitoring of breast size changes, offering a consistent and reliable method for surgeons and patients.

Implementation Method 1

A device and method using a cup-shaped template with a sealing element to measure breast volume by displacing fluid, allowing for accurate determination of implant size and verification of post-operative breast size, utilizing a graded cup to read fluid levels for precise measurements.

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectFluid displacement: Archimedes' Principle (Buoyancy)

Data Source

PatentUS11801110B2Tray for breast volume measurement

Publication Date: 2023.10.31 ABDELKADER RASHA MOHAMED

AI summary

This disclosure relates generally to a device for measuring the volume of a female breast. The disclosure is more particularly comprising of a cup-like template of variable size to embrace a breast to be measured and having an interior wall located in proximity to a breast to be measured and the cup-like template further comprises openings permit passage of excess fluid out of the space between said interior wall and the patient's breast as fluid is injected into said space, a sealing means all around periphery thereof for contact with a patient's skin of the breast to be measured, connector means in said template for passage of a fluid into the space formed between said interior wall and the breast to be measured when the template is sealed against the patient's skin by said sealing means, and a container for measuring the volume of fluid.