Drain-Compatible Tissue Expander With Integrated Removable Catheter
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current breast reconstruction methods using tissue expanders often lead to seroma formation, which can be painful and require additional surgical interventions for drainage, increasing the risk of infection and complications.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a drainage system into the tissue expander with a removable drain tube and suture tab structure that allows for flexible attachment and easy removal, reducing the need for separate drainage procedures and minimizing post-operative complications.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a tissue expander is used for breast reconstruction, then the chest tissues can be gradually expanded to create space for long-term prosthesis, but seroma formation occurs which requires additional surgical interventions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the tissue expander and drainage system into a single integrated device. The drainage catheter is positioned within the expander shell, allowing simultaneous tissue expansion and seroma drainage without requiring separate surgical procedures. This merging eliminates the need for additional surgical interventions that would otherwise be required to address seroma formation.
Solution Approach 2:
The drainage system is pre-positioned within the expander shell before implantation. The catheter is already in place to drain seroma fluid as it accumulates during the tissue expansion process, preventing seroma buildup rather than addressing it after formation. This preliminary positioning of the drainage capability prevents the harmful effect before it can develop.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If separate drainage procedures are performed to address seroma, then fluid can be removed, but the risk of infection and other complications increases
Solution Approach 1:
By integrating the drainage catheter with the expander shell, the system eliminates the need for separate surgical drainage procedures. The catheter remains in place throughout the expansion process, providing continuous drainage without requiring additional surgical incisions or interventions that would increase infection risk.
Solution Approach 2:
The drainage system operates continuously throughout the tissue expansion process. The catheter is positioned to drain seroma fluid as it accumulates, providing ongoing protection against seroma-related complications without interruption or need for repeated surgical interventions.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If a drainage system is integrated into the tissue expander, then seroma can be drained immediately upon implantation, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The drainage catheter is integrated within the expander shell structure, combining two functional systems into one device. The catheter is positioned inside the shell and exits through the same port used for fluid injection, eliminating the need for separate drainage procedures while maintaining relatively simple overall device architecture.
4Object-affected harmful factors
If a drain tube is permanently attached to the tissue expander, then drainage is effective, but removal or adjustment of the drain becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The drainage catheter is designed to be removable from the expander shell. The catheter can be extracted through the same port used for fluid injection, allowing easy removal or adjustment without requiring additional surgical procedures. This extraction capability maintains drainage effectiveness during use while enabling simple removal when no longer needed.
Data Source
AI summary
A drain-compatible soft tissue expander can incorporate a drainage structure that allows fluid to be removed from the body of a living subject. The soft tissue expander can include an expandable shell and a drainage structure that can, for example, assist in mitigating or eliminating seromas. The drainage structure can be coupled to the shell at a plurality of locations and be removable therefrom without damaging the expandable shell.