Fecal Impaction Removal Device with Asymmetric Spoon Rim

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional methods for removing fecal impaction, such as using tablespoons, pose a risk of injury to surrounding tissues and organs due to inadequate precision and stability, and are not effective in quickly and safely dislodging and removing impacted stool.

Innovation Solution

A fecal impaction removal device with a spoon-shaped design featuring a rounded or indented edge, a conical head with increased wall thickness, and a handle system that allows for controlled insertion and scraping, along with a flushing line and guide channel for observation and additional tool access, reduces tissue trauma and enhances removal efficiency.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If conventional tablespoons are used to mechanically assist in breaking up impaction, then the removal of stool impaction can be achieved, but the risk of injury to tissue and organs increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveremoval efficiencyVSAvoidtissue injury risk
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The spoon rim is designed with different edge surface shapes (upwardly rounded or downwardly indented) at different locations to provide locally optimized cutting actions. The upwardly rounded edge provides a gentle cutting action for softer stool, while the downwardly indented edge provides a sharper cutting action for harder stool, thereby reducing tissue injury risk while maintaining removal efficiency

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The specially designed spoon rim with controlled edge surfaces acts as an intermediary between the mechanical force applied and the stool impaction. The rounded or indented edge surfaces intermediate the force application to reduce direct trauma to surrounding tissues while still effectively breaking up the impaction

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Object-affected harmful factors

If the spoon rim has a rounded upwards edge surface for gentle action, then tissue trauma is reduced, but the ability to cut extremely hardened feces is diminished

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetissue traumaVSAvoidcutting ability
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The spoon rim can be designed with asymmetric edge surfaces, where one side has an upwardly rounded edge for gentle action and the other side has a downwardly indented edge for sharp cutting. This asymmetry allows the single spoon to provide both gentle and sharp cutting actions depending on the orientation and type of stool impaction encountered

Inventive Principle:
Principle #4Asymmetry

3Reliability

If the conical head region has increased wall thickness for mechanical stability, then insertion and scraping forces are better controlled, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemechanical stabilityVSAvoidconstruction complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The spoon section is designed with non-uniform wall thickness, where the conical head region has increased wall thickness (more than 50%, preferably more than 100% greater than the sidewall section) to provide mechanical stability during insertion and scraping, while other regions maintain thinner walls to reduce overall device complexity and material usage

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentEP3624709B1Fecal impaction removal device
Publication Date: 2021.09.29 SCHAUER GEORG
  • EP3624709B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2

AI summary

The invention relates to a fecal impaction removal device (10) for removing fecal impactions, comprising a handle region (11) and a scoop region (20). According to the invention, the scoop region (20) has a three-dimensionally cone-shaped, preferably rounded head region (22) at the front end, a bowl-shaped region (24) adjoining said head region and merging into the handle region (11) via a neck (21).