Elastic Rod IUD with Thread Locking for Stable Uterine Positioning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing intrauterine devices (IUDs) face high expulsion rates and discomfort due to open-ended designs that cause displacement and pressure on the uterine walls, leading to potential perforation and infection risks during insertion and use.
Innovation Solution
A rod-shaped IUD made of elastic material with a thread locking mechanism that allows for easy insertion and formation into a continuous loop shape, preventing displacement and ensuring optimal positioning within the uterus without causing damage or discomfort.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If an open-ended ring spiral is inserted into the uterus, then insertion is easier without dilation and anesthesia, but the open ends cause displacement and pressure points on the endometrium leading to high expulsion rates
Solution Approach 1:
The IUD is divided into two functional parts: a rod-shaped base body made of elastic material that can be inserted in a linear form, and a thread locking mechanism that connects the ends. This segmentation allows easy insertion of the rod while the thread mechanism ensures reliable closing to prevent displacement and expulsion.
Solution Approach 2:
The thread is pre-attached to one end of the rod-shaped base body and guided through a feed-through opening at the other end during manufacturing. This preliminary preparation enables the ends to be easily connected after insertion by simply pulling the thread, forming a closed ring without requiring additional tools or procedures.
2Reliability
If an extracorporeal ring spiral is inserted immediately after birth or through gynecological intervention, then the closed ring shape provides stable positioning, but dilation and anesthesia are required causing strain and infection risk
Solution Approach 1:
The IUD is designed as a rod-shaped base body that can be inserted in an open linear form through the cervix without dilation, and then closed into a ring shape using the thread locking mechanism. This segmentation eliminates the need for dilation and anesthesia while achieving stable closed-ring positioning.
Solution Approach 2:
The thread acts as an intermediary element that enables the transformation from an open rod shape during insertion to a closed ring shape for stable positioning. This intermediary mechanism allows the IUD to achieve the stability of a closed ring without requiring invasive insertion procedures.
3Manufacturing precision
If a rolled-up ring spiral is inserted using an insertion device, then central positioning is achieved, but the device cannot be opened for easy removal
Solution Approach 1:
The thread is pre-attached to one end and guided through the feed-through opening at the other end during manufacturing, creating a built-in locking mechanism. This preliminary action enables both precise positioning during insertion and easy removal by simply pulling the thread to open the ring, eliminating the need for specialized removal devices.
4Ease of operation
If the thread is made longer to allow removal, then removal becomes easier, but the risk of thread displacement and perforation increases
Solution Approach 1:
The thread has different functional zones: a short portion inside the uterus that forms the locking mechanism with the base body, and a longer external portion that extends through the cervix and vagina for easy grasping and removal. This local differentiation ensures sufficient length for removal while minimizing the internal portion that could cause displacement or perforation.
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 solution enables painless and anesthesia-free insertion, reduces expulsion rates, and minimizes the risk of injury and discomfort, providing a safer and more effective long-term contraceptive option.
Implementation Method 1
a rod-shaped base body made of elastic material that can be pushed through a tubular insertion device during insertion and bent into a substantially circular shape
Data Source
Figure 1a~1c
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
By virtue of the shape and elasticity and also the tensioning of the ring, the ring coil always adopts an optimal position in the uterine cavity, even when the physician has not inserted it optimally. After a partial insertion of the system using a small tube, a loop forms the ring, which is closed by the buttonhole. In contrast to the small rigid tube used to insert it, the loop is more pliable than the small tube in every direction, with the result that it can be inserted even in cases where there is a very pronounced anteflexion or retroflexion. A larger amount of alloy or hormone can be applied to the coil, since the length of the ring is always longer than a small rod. The original straight coil is formed by a tip encased by elastic material and, during the partial insertion, permits the rotation movements of the system. A condom fitted on the tip additionally reduces the number of saprophytes entrained from the mouth of the womb to a foreign site, such as the uterine cavity.