Atraumatic Male Circumcision Holder With Lateral Stabilization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing circumcision devices lack sufficient stability and consistency in holding the foreskin during the procedure, leading to inconsistent incisions and potential damage.
Innovation Solution
The device incorporates lateral stabilization features through tabs and grooves, and locking mechanisms to restrict rotational movement and secure the foreskin holder in place, ensuring stable clamping and consistent incisions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If lateral stabilization features (tabs and grooves) are added to restrict rotational movement, then stability and reliability of foreskin holding is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The foreskin holder is divided into multiple arms (first arm, second arm, third arm, fourth arm) with each arm containing stabilization features. This segmentation allows the complex stabilization function to be distributed across multiple simpler components, where each arm independently provides lateral stabilization through its tab-groove mechanism while contributing to the overall reliability of foreskin holding.
Solution Approach 2:
The tab-groove interface acts as an intermediary mechanism between the foreskin holder arms and the ring component. The lateral tabs on each arm engage with corresponding grooves on the ring component, creating a mechanical intermediary that translates rotational movement restrictions into stable foreskin positioning, thereby improving reliability without requiring direct complex coupling.
2Manufacturing precision
If locking mechanisms are implemented to secure the foreskin holder in place, then manufacturing precision of incisions is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The locking mechanism is designed to secure the foreskin holder to the ring component before the circumcision procedure begins. The lateral tabs engage with the grooves on the ring component in advance, preventing any rotational movement during the procedure. This preliminary locking action ensures that the foreskin holder maintains its position throughout the incision process, thereby achieving consistent incision precision without requiring complex real-time adjustment mechanisms.
3Reliability
If multiple arms with stabilization features are used, then stability of clamping is improved, but ease of manufacture decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The foreskin holder is segmented into multiple independent arms (first arm, second arm, third arm, fourth arm), each equipped with lateral stabilization features. This segmentation allows each arm to be manufactured as a relatively simple component that can be independently formed, then assembled into the complete holder. The repeated use of similar tab-groove features across multiple arms creates manufacturing standardization, which offsets the increased complexity of having multiple arms.
Solution Approach 2:
All four arms of the foreskin holder are designed with identical or similar structures, each containing a lateral tab that engages with a groove on the ring component. This homogeneity in arm design simplifies the manufacturing process by allowing the use of the same molds, tools, and quality control procedures for each arm, thereby reducing overall manufacturing complexity despite the presence of multiple stabilization features.
Data Source
AI summary
A device for performing a male circumcision includes a ring component and a foreskin holder. The ring component includes a ring portion and a shaft defining a longitudinal axis and extending proximally from the ring portion. The foreskin holder couples to the ring component and is configured to move axially along the shaft and includes a ring portion, wherein distal movement of the foreskin holder clamps a foreskin between the ring portions. In some embodiments, the shaft includes a longitudinal groove and the foreskin holder includes a lateral tab that engages with the longitudinal groove to inhibit lateral movement of the foreskin holder with respect to the ring component. In some embodiments, the shaft includes a laterally-projecting lip and the foreskin holder includes an arm that engages with the laterally-extending lip to lock the axial position of the foreskin holder.