Expandable Pneumo-occluder Seal for Hysterectomy
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Solution Overview
Problem
Hysterectomies pose a unique challenge due to loss of pneumoperitoneum during colpotomy, leading to increased procedural difficulty, infection risk, and longer surgery times, as air escapes through the vaginal incision, compromising the surgical space and instrument access.
Innovation Solution
A pneumo-occluder with an expandable sealing port is designed to fit into the vagina, maintaining pneumoperitoneum by inflating a bladder-like structure that actively seals against the vaginal walls, allowing instruments to pass through a flexible and adjustable port compatible with various surgical tools.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a conventional trocar is used to maintain pneumoperitoneum during hysterectomy, then instrument access to the abdominal cavity is provided, but pneumoperitoneum is lost through the colpotomy incision causing surgical space collapse and increased procedural difficulty
Solution Approach 1:
The device segments the sealing function into two distinct components: an outer expandable bladder that seals against the vaginal wall to prevent gas escape, and an inner flexible port that seals around instruments. This segmentation allows each component to specialize in one sealing function, resolving the contradiction by maintaining pneumoperitoneum reliability while accommodating instrument passage.
Solution Approach 2:
The device employs dynamic sealing mechanisms where the outer bladder can be inflated or deflated to adjust the seal strength against the vaginal wall, and the inner port flexes dynamically to conform to different instrument shapes and sizes. This dynamic adaptability maintains reliable pneumoperitoneum sealing while easelessly accommodating various surgical instruments.
2Area of stationary object
If the abdominal cavity is inflated to create surgical space, then visibility and accessibility to internal organs are improved, but gas leakage through the vaginal incision causes loss of pneumoperitoneum and increased procedure time
Solution Approach 1:
The device is inserted and the outer bladder is inflated to create the primary seal against the vaginal wall before the colpotomy incision is made. This preliminary sealing action prevents gas leakage from the outset, maintaining pneumoperitoneum throughout the procedure and eliminating time losses associated with repeated insufflation or procedural interruptions.
Solution Approach 2:
The dual-sealing mechanism ensures continuous maintenance of pneumoperitoneum throughout the entire surgical procedure. The outer bladder provides continuous sealing at the vaginal wall, while the inner port provides continuous sealing around instruments, ensuring uninterrupted surgical space and visibility without time losses.
3Reliability
If a rigid seal is used to prevent gas leakage, then pneumoperitoneum is maintained, but instrument passage through the seal becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The device uses flexible materials for both sealing components: the outer bladder is made of flexible material that can expand and conform to the vaginal wall while maintaining seal integrity, and the inner port is made of flexible material that can deform around instruments of various shapes and sizes. This flexibility resolves the contradiction by maintaining gas seal integrity while facilitating easy instrument passage.
Solution Approach 2:
The device changes the physical parameters of the sealing structures by inflating the outer bladder to increase its sealing force against the vaginal wall, and by allowing the inner port to change its shape and size dynamically as instruments pass through. These parameter changes maintain reliable gas sealing while accommodating instrument passage.
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 effectively maintains pneumoperitoneum during and after colpotomy, ensuring stable surgical conditions by preventing gas leakage and allowing for the safe passage of instruments, thereby reducing procedural risks and times.
Implementation Method 1
an outer expandable member coupled to the central support member and configured to expand to create a seal with the annular orifice
Implementation Method 2
the flexible opening member conforms and seals against the outer surface of the device or the instrument to prevent fluidic communication between opposing sides of the flexible opening
Data Source
AI summary
A surgical apparatus for insertion into an annular orifice of an animal body (e.g., vaginal orifice) to provide cavity access to a cavity while maintaining pneumoperitoneum that includes an expandable member, like an outer bladder or balloon like structure (similar to a pessary), surrounding a central structural member, that typically would be ring shaped and a flexible opening or penetrable port, similar to an elastomeric duck bill valve, affixed within an interior of said central structural member, through which an instrument or device may be inserted to provide surgical access to the cavity. The penetrable port may be of an active or passive configuration where, in the active configuration, it can be expanded to conform to the instruments. In the passive form, the penetrable port is comprised of an elastomeric or similar material that is fixed in shape and conformably flexes and seals to the instrument maintaining pneumoperitoneum.