Specimen Retrieval Device With Expandable Fold Bag

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current specimen retrieval devices in minimally invasive surgical procedures often require multiple bags of different sizes, leading to inefficiencies and potential delays when selecting the appropriate size for tissue specimen removal, and they may not effectively minimize contact between diseased and healthy tissues during specimen collection.

Innovation Solution

A specimen retrieval device with an adjustable volume specimen bag that can be expanded by a release string, allowing for varying volumes (250 ml to 1500 ml) through the unfolding of multiple folds, minimizing the need for multiple bags and reducing contact risks by incremental volume adjustment.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If multiple bags of different sizes are used for specimen retrieval, then specimens of various sizes can be accommodated, but device complexity and surgical time increase due to bag selection and exchange requirements

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvespecimen size accommodationVSAvoidmultiple bag requirement
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The specimen bag incorporates an expandable structure with multiple folds that can be sequentially unfolded to increase volume. The bag transitions from a compact folded state for insertion to an expanded state for specimen containment, allowing a single bag to adapt to specimens of varying sizes without requiring multiple pre-sized bags

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

A single specimen bag design serves multiple volume requirements through its expandable fold structure. The same bag can accommodate small, medium, or large specimens by selectively unfolding different numbers of folds, eliminating the need for multiple specialized bags of different fixed sizes

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Adaptability or versatility

If multiple bags of different sizes are used for specimen retrieval, then appropriate size selection is possible, but surgical efficiency decreases due to potential delays in bag selection and exchange

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvespecimen size accommodationVSAvoidsurgical efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The specimen bag is pre-configured with multiple folds that can be sequentially unfolded during the procedure. The expandable structure is prepared in advance within the single bag design, allowing rapid volume adjustment without the need to select or exchange bags during surgery

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The dynamic expandable fold structure allows the bag to be quickly adjusted from a compact state to various expanded volumes by simply pulling the release string, eliminating the time-consuming process of selecting and exchanging multiple fixed-size bags during the surgical procedure

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Productivity

If a single expandable bag is used for specimen retrieval, then device complexity and surgical time are reduced, but the ability to accommodate varying specimen sizes is limited

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesurgical efficiencyVSAvoidspecimen size accommodation
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The specimen bag is divided into multiple sequential folds that can be independently controlled. Each fold represents a discrete volume increment, allowing the bag to be expanded in steps to match the size of the specimen being retrieved, from small to large capacities within a single bag structure

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The bag's volume is made dynamically adjustable through the fold structure that can be selectively unfolded. This dynamic design allows the single bag to transform its capacity to accommodate specimens of varying sizes, providing versatility without requiring multiple fixed-size bags

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP3626178B1Specimen retrieval device
Publication Date: 2022.10.26 COVIDIEN LP
  • EP3626178B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3626178B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3626178B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A specimen retrieval device includes a tubular body (410), an inner shaft (418) slidably positioned within a longitudinal bore of the tubular body, and a specimen bag (18) supported on the distal portion of the inner shaft. The specimen bag includes an open end(128), a body, a closed portion (126), and an inner surface (30), the body of the specimen bag including a plurality of folds (132) between the open end and the closed portion, the plurality of folds being movable from a folded state to an unfolded state to increase a volume of the specimen bag. The specimen bag also includes a release string (130) secured to the plurality of folds, the release string movable from a non-actuated position to an actuated position to sequentially release at least one of the plurality of folds from the folded state to the unfolded state to increase the volume of the bag.