Expandable Sling Implant Minimizing Tissue Disruption

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current surgical methods for treating pelvic conditions such as urinary incontinence and prolapse often require invasive procedures and result in lengthy operation times, with a need for a minimally invasive yet effective implantable mesh that can address muscle and ligament weakness.

Innovation Solution

A surgically implantable sling with selective collapsibility and expandability features, utilizing a mesh material with an expanding member that deploys from a small incision, providing a bulking effect near the urethra to prevent migration and reduce tissue disruption during implantation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If traditional surgical methods are used to treat pelvic conditions, then effective treatment of incontinence and prolapse is achieved, but invasive procedures and lengthy operation times are required

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetreatment effectivenessVSAvoidoperation time

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The implant is divided into multiple segments including end portions with anchors and a support portion, allowing modular insertion through small incisions while maintaining overall structural integrity for effective treatment

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The implant is pre-formed with anchor portions and support portions in a compressed state, allowing rapid deployment through small incisions without requiring extensive intraoperative shaping or assembly, thereby reducing operation time

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Reliability

If traditional surgical methods are used to treat pelvic conditions, then effective treatment is achieved, but invasive procedures with extensive dissection are required

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetreatment effectivenessVSAvoidtissue disruption

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The support portion is constructed as a flexible mesh that can be inserted through small incisions in a compressed state and then expanded to provide the necessary bulking effect, minimizing tissue disruption while maintaining treatment effectiveness

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

Solution Approach 2:

The implant components are designed to nest within each other during insertion, with the support portion and end portions collapsed together, allowing minimally invasive delivery through small incisions without extensive dissection

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

3Ease of operation

If an implantable mesh is used to treat incontinence and prolapse, then minimally invasive treatment is achieved, but implant migration may occur without adequate bulking effect

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveminimally invasive insertionVSAvoidimplant stability

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The implant transitions from a compressed static state during insertion to an expanded dynamic state after deployment, with the support portion expanding to provide bulking effect that prevents migration while maintaining the minimally invasive insertion approach

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The anchors and support portion are combined into a single integrated implant structure, where the anchors provide initial fixation and the expanded support portion provides additional bulking effect that collectively prevent implant migration

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentUS10130455B2Expandable implant system

Publication Date: 2018.11.20 BOSTON SCIENTIFIC SCIMED INC

AI summary

Various embodiments of a sling implant system are provided. Embodiments of the implants can include one or more collapsibility and expandability features or portions adapted to improve introduction and deployment of the implant within the patient. The implants can be folded, collapsed or otherwise reduced in size or construct to fit within a delivery tool or catheter for later expandability upon deployment of the implant.