Episiotomy Scissors With Guide Member for Medi lateral Incision
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
During vaginal childbirth, the stretching of the vaginal opening can lead to tissue damage and faecal incontinence due to inadequate control over the direction of natural tears, which increases the risk of third-degree tears and damage to the anal sphincter muscle, especially when midline incisions are made without precise instruments.
Innovation Solution
The development of episiotomy scissors with a guide member that aligns the scissors at a 60° angle to the perineal midline, allowing for accurate performance of mediolateral incisions, reducing the risk of third-degree tears and tissue damage by ensuring the incision is made at the correct angle relative to the perineal midline.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a midline incision is made without precise instruments, then the procedure is simpler and faster, but the risk of third-degree tears and damage to the anal sphincter muscle increases
Solution Approach 1:
The guide member acts as an intermediary tool between the practitioner's intent and the actual incision. It provides a physical reference structure that mediates the alignment process, ensuring the incision is made at the correct angle without requiring complex measurement or estimation by the practitioner.
Solution Approach 2:
The guide member is positioned and aligned with the perineal midline before the incision is made. This preliminary alignment action establishes the correct angular reference (60 degrees to the midline) in advance, allowing the practitioner to simply follow the guide's orientation rather than calculating or estimate the angle during the critical cutting phase.
2Ease of operation
If a lateral incision is made at an incorrect angle, then the procedure remains simple, but the incision may be too close to the perineal midline, increasing the risk of tissue damage
Solution Approach 1:
The guide member serves as a physical intermediary that translates the abstract concept of '60 degrees to the midline' into a concrete, tangible reference structure. The practitioner aligns the guide member with the perineal midline, and the guide's geometry automatically provides the correct lateral angle, eliminating the need for angular calculation or estimation.
Solution Approach 2:
The guide member's angular geometry is pre-configured to provide the correct 60-degree orientation relative to the perineal midline. This preliminary design feature embeds the precision requirement into the tool itself, allowing the practitioner to achieve accurate angular positioning through simple alignment rather than complex measurement during the procedure.
3Productivity
If the vaginal opening is highly distended during childbirth, then the baby can pass through, but the tissue around the vaginal opening is displaced, making it difficult to make an accurate lateral incision
Solution Approach 1:
The guide member acts as a stable intermediary reference structure that can be aligned with anatomical landmarks (perineal midline) that remain relatively stable even when the vaginal opening is distended. The guide provides a fixed angular reference that compensates for the displacement and distortion of surrounding tissues during childbirth.
Solution Approach 2:
The guide member is aligned with the perineal midline before the incision is made, establishing the correct angular reference in advance. This preliminary alignment action ensures that even if tissue displacement occurs during the procedure, the incision will maintain the correct lateral angle relative to the midline, as the guide's geometry preserves the angular relationship.
Data Source
AI summary
An episiotomy scissors (2) for use in conducting an episiotomy on a subject is provided, the scissors comprising a pair of pivotably connected scissor members; (4a, 4b) each scissor member comprising a handle (6a, 6b) extending in a proximal direction from the pivot connection and a blade (8a, 8b) extending in a distal direction from the pivot connection; and a guide member (20) mounted to a scissor member and having a guide surface (22a, 22b) extending in a distal direction from the scissor member at an acute angle to the longitudinal axis of the blade of the scissor member.