Patient-Customized Pessary 3D Printing for Anatomical Fit
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional pessaries are not personalized, leading to fit issues and difficulties in administering drugs directly into the vagina, which can cause inflammation and irregular drug administration.
Innovation Solution
A method using a 3D printer to produce patient-customized pessaries by deriving the vaginal shape through balloon-probe expansion and pressure sensing or ultrasonic imaging, modeling the pessary shape to fit the individual's anatomy, and incorporating features like secretion holes for drug delivery and lubrication.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If conventional standardized pessaries are used, then manufacturing simplicity is maintained, but fit precision and patient comfort deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by transitioning from standardized pessary designs to customized designs based on individual patient anatomical parameters. The 3D printing technology enables variation in size, shape, and structural parameters to match each patient's specific vaginal anatomy, thereby improving fit precision while the automated digital workflow keeps manufacturing complexity manageable
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses copying by creating a digital 3D model (copy) of the patient's actual vaginal anatomy through scanning or molding. This digital replica serves as the basis for designing and manufacturing the customized pessary, allowing precise replication of anatomical features without requiring complex manual manufacturing processes
2Ease of operation
If finger insertion is used for drug administration, then direct drug delivery is achieved, but hygiene risk and patient comfort worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the drug administration function from the manual finger insertion process and integrates it directly into the pessary device itself. The pessary incorporates reservoirs or channels that deliver medication directly to the treatment site through the device structure, eliminating the need for finger insertion and its associated hygiene risks
Solution Approach 2:
The pessary acts as an intermediary device between the drug source and the treatment site. Instead of direct finger insertion, the pessary's built-in drug delivery system serves as a sterile intermediary that transports medication to the vaginal tissues, reducing contamination risk while maintaining effective drug administration
3Manufacturing precision
If multiple pessary trials are conducted to find the right size, then customization need is identified, but treatment time and patient burden increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by performing anatomical scanning and 3D modeling of the patient's vaginal structure before pessary manufacturing. This advance measurement and digital planning allows the optimal pessary design to be determined beforehand, eliminating the need for multiple trial fittings and significantly reducing the time required to achieve the correct fit
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 method ensures a precise fit, allowing stable support for pelvic organs and periodic drug delivery, reducing inflammation risks and improving treatment efficacy.
Implementation Method 1
a2) injecting fluid into the probe unit inserted into the vagina to expand the probe unit
Implementation Method 2
a3) measuring a pressure value for each position by a plurality of pressure sensors provided on an outer circumferential surface of the probe unit
Implementation Method 3
iii) deriving a shape of the probe unit by irradiating an ultrasonic wave on the probe unit
Implementation Method 4
c) producing the pessary in the 3D-modeled shape by a 3D printer
Data Source
AI summary
Proposed are a method for producing a patient-customized pessary using a 3D printer and a patient-customized pessary produced thereby and, more specifically, a method for producing a patient-customized pessary using a 3D printer, for forming a pessary so as to correspond to the shape of a patient's vagina, and a patient-customized pessary produced thereby. The method for producing a patient-customized pessary using a 3D printer, comprises a) deriving the shape of a patient's vagina; b) 3D-modeling the shape of a pessary corresponding to the derived shape of the patient's vagina; and c) producing the pessary in the 3D-modeled shape by means of a 3D printer.