Expandable Flange Sleeve for Surgical Port Retention

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing surgical ports used in robotic surgeries face challenges such as retraction into subcutaneous layers, leading to tissue trauma and reduced working space, and require larger incisions when secondary ports with retention balloons are used, increasing pain, infection, and hernia risks.

Innovation Solution

A reversibly radially expandable sleeve with flanges and a locking mechanism is designed to secure surgical ports within surgical cavities, maintaining optimal working space and preventing retraction.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If surgical ports are inserted deep within surgical cavities to prevent retraction, then port retention is improved, but forward working space for surgery is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveport retentionVSAvoidforward working space

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSVolume of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The invention transitions from axial retention (inserting ports deeper along the insertion axis) to radial retention (deploying flanges perpendicular to the insertion axis). The flanges expand radially outward to engage tissue, providing retention force in a different dimensional direction that does not consume additional axial working space within the surgical cavity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Solution Approach 2:

The sleeve structure transitions from a compressed low-profile state during insertion to an expanded retention state after deployment. The flanges are initially collapsed along the sleeve body to minimize insertion diameter, then radially expand after reaching the target position to engage tissue and prevent retraction, providing dynamic adaptation to different spatial requirements.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Reliability

If secondary ports with retention balloons are used to retain surgical ports, then port retention is improved, but incision size must be increased

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveport retentionVSAvoidincision size

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLength of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The sleeve structure is designed to be nested within or around the surgical port, with flanges that can be collapsed during insertion to fit through standard-sized incisions. After deployment, the flanges expand radially to provide retention without requiring the incision to be enlarged to accommodate a separate secondary port with balloon.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention combines the retention function previously requiring a separate secondary port with balloon into an integrated sleeve structure that attaches to or surrounds the surgical port. This merging eliminates the need for a larger secondary port and larger incision, as the retention mechanism is incorporated into the port assembly itself.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Reliability

If retention balloons are used to retain surgical ports, then port retention is improved, but available working space within surgical cavity is decreased

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveport retentionVSAvoidavailable working space

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSVolume of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The sleeve is constructed from flexible material that can be collapsed to a thin profile during insertion, then expanded radially to provide retention. This flexible shell structure provides effective retention through radial flange deployment rather than through large-volume balloon inflation, preserving more working space within the surgical cavity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

4Reliability

If ridges are added to surgical ports to prevent sliding, then port retention is improved, but tissue retraction capability is insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveport retentionVSAvoidtissue retraction force

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSForce

Solution Approach 1:

The retention mechanism is divided into multiple discrete flanges distributed around the sleeve circumference, rather than relying on a single continuous ridge. Each flange can independently engage tissue, providing both retention prevention and active retraction capability through the radial expansion and contraction of these segmented structures.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentUS20260000882A1Sleeve for retention of a surgical port comprising flanges that are reversibly radially expandable

Publication Date: 2026.01.01 UNIVERSITY HOSPITALS OF CLEVELAND CLEVELAND

AI summary

A sleeve for retention of a surgical port is disclosed. The sleeve comprises a first sleeve portion, a second sleeve portion, a plurality of flanges, and a reversible locking mechanism. The second sleeve portion is disposed around the first sleeve portion and is reversibly slidable distally from a first position to a second position along the first sleeve portion. The plurality of flanges is disposed in a radial sequence around the first sleeve portion. The flanges are radially collapsed along the first sleeve portion when the second sleeve portion is in the first position and are radially expanded when the second sleeve portion is in the second position. The first sleeve portion is configured for placement of a surgical port therethrough and to be fixedly secured to the surgical port therealong. Additional sleeves are also disclosed.