Disposable Fluid-Filled Dilator Kit for Multi-Size Dilation Therapy
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current vaginal dilators are difficult to use, clean, and require multiple purchases for different sizes, leading to inconvenience and potential pain during dilation therapy.
Innovation Solution
A kit comprising disposable members fillable with a fluid, such as water, that can be shaped into different configurations using components like couplers and molds, allowing easy creation of dilators with varying sizes and easy disposal.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If traditional plastic, silicone, or stainless steel dilators are used, then the dilators can maintain their shape and provide structural support, but they are difficult to use, clean, and require multiple purchases for different sizes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the disposable principle by providing pre-filled, single-use dilator devices that are discarded after one use. This eliminates the cleaning and sterilization processes required for traditional reusable dilators, significantly improving ease of operation while reducing the complexity of maintenance and cleaning procedures.
2Productivity
If only one dilator size is provided to the patient, then the initial treatment can begin immediately, but the patient must purchase additional dilators with different sizes multiple times when needed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies universality by providing a single dilator device that can be adjusted to multiple sizes through the addition or removal of internal sizing elements. This allows one device to perform multiple functions across different treatment stages, eliminating the need for patients to purchase multiple separate dilators and ensuring continuous treatment without interruption.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies dynamics by making the dilator size adjustable rather than fixed. The dilator includes mechanisms that allow the size to be dynamically changed during treatment, enabling the same device to adapt to different treatment requirements over time, thereby maintaining treatment continuity without requiring additional purchases.
3Quantity of substance
If reusable dilators are used, then the initial cost is lower, but washing the dilators before and after use is time consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the disposable principle to eliminate the time-consuming washing and sterilization processes associated with reusable dilators. Although each individual dilator is inexpensive, the elimination of cleaning time represents a significant value, and the low cost of disposable units makes this economically viable compared to the time investment required for reusables.
4Manufacturing precision
If traditional dilators are used, then they can provide consistent shape and size, but insertion and removal are difficult and may cause pain or bleeding
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by modifying the physical properties of the dilator, specifically making it flexible and collapsible rather than rigid. This allows the dilator to be compressed to a smaller size for easier, less painful insertion, then expand to the intended shape and size once inside the body, maintaining manufacturing precision while reducing harmful effects during insertion and removal.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies dynamics by making the dilator structure changeable during use. The dilator transitions from a compressed, flexible state during insertion to an expanded, rigid state during use, providing both ease of insertion and shape consistency. This dynamic transformation reduces pain and bleeding while maintaining the necessary structural integrity for effective treatment.
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 kit enables quick and pain-reducing dilation therapy by providing disposable dilators of varying sizes, eliminating the need for cleaning and multiple purchases, and ensuring comfortable use.
Implementation Method 1
placing the first disposable member filled with the first predetermined amount of the fluid in a freezer through the one or more components for a first predetermined amount of time such that the first predetermined amount of the fluid is frozen and the first disposable member filled with the first predetermined amount of the fluid is shaped into a first use configuration
Data Source
AI summary
A kit for creating disposable dilators and a method for dilating using the kit are disclosed. The kit may include a plurality of disposable members fillable with an object and one or more components configured for facilitating shaping the plurality of disposable members into use configurations. Each of the plurality of disposable members may be configured to be shaped into one or more predetermined use configurations.