Vaginal Dilator Handle With Twist Lock And Flexible Thin-Wall Insert
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional vaginal dilators lack a secure grip due to the absence of handles, result in discomfort from exposed ridges, and have limited flexibility and ergonomic issues, making them difficult to use effectively for treating vaginismus.
Innovation Solution
A dilator system featuring a handle with a twist and lock engagement mechanism, providing a smooth surface contact and varying sizes and stiffness, with a flexible skeletal structure covered in soft polymeric material for maximum comfort and usability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If conventional vaginal inserts are made with thick rubber or silicone to provide flexibility, then the inserts become flexible enough for use, but they become heavy and stiff, and too thick to nest for shipping
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a thin-walled cylindrical insert structure made of flexible material that can be collapsed into a flat configuration for shipping. The thin wall design reduces weight while maintaining sufficient flexibility for the intended medical use, resolving the contradiction between achieving flexibility and avoiding excessive weight and bulk.
Solution Approach 2:
The insert is designed to collapse into a flat configuration that can be nested within packaging or storage spaces. This nesting capability allows the flexible insert to be compact for shipping and storage while maintaining its flexible properties when deployed, addressing the contradiction between flexibility and shipping efficiency.
2Strength
If conventional inserts are made with thick walls to maintain structural integrity, then the inserts are strong enough to withstand collapse, but the flexibility is severely limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a thin-walled cylindrical structure made of flexible material that maintains structural integrity through the flexibility of the material itself rather than through thick walls. The thin wall design allows the structure to bend and flex as needed while maintaining sufficient strength to withstand collapse during use.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the material parameters by using flexible materials with appropriate durometer stiffness to maintain structural integrity while allowing desired flexibility. By carefully selecting material properties rather than increasing wall thickness, the design achieves both strength and flexibility.
3Adaptability or versatility
If conventional handles have projecting annular ridge portions to accommodate different sized inserts, then the handles can engage various insert sizes, but the exposed ridges act like uncomfortable projections that scrape or bind upon the patient's skin
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the projecting annular ridge portions from the handle design. Instead of using exposed ridges to accommodate different insert sizes, the handle is designed with a smooth surface where the insert engages through a recessed mounting area, eliminating the harmful exposed ridges that cause discomfort while maintaining the ability to engage various insert sizes.
Solution Approach 2:
The handle is designed with a smooth surface quality in the areas that contact the patient's skin, while the insert mounting mechanism is located in a recessed area where the insert engages. This local differentiation allows the handle to provide comfortable contact surfaces while maintaining the functional capability to engage various insert sizes through the recessed mounting structure.
4Device complexity
If conventional products do not provide handles, then the inserts are simpler in design, but they are difficult to grip by the user and communicate pressure to the insert
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the handle and insert into a single integrated unit where the handle provides a gripping surface and the insert is mounted through a recessed area. This merging of components provides both the simplicity of a single-piece design and the functionality of a grippable handle, allowing users to effectively communicate pressure to the insert during use.
Data Source
AI summary
A vaginal dilator is provided having a handle which is removably engageable with a base of any one of a plurality of dilators using complimentary connectors connecting the base of each dilator to the handle. Thereby allowing for adjusting the size of the device. A flexible skeletal body may be included within a cavity of the dilator.