Surgical Instrument with Flexible Loop for Vaginal Implantation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current surgical methods for treating anal and urinary incontinence are plagued by poor long-term success rates, complications such as fibrosis and infection, and involve complex and invasive procedures that increase patient trauma and recovery time.
Innovation Solution
A surgical instrument with an elongated main part and a flexible, adjustable elongated member that can change from a straight to a loop conformation, allowing for minimally invasive access through the vaginal wall to implant a restriction device that controls faecal and urinary passageways, reducing infection risk and trauma by accessing the rectum or urethra through a vaginal incision.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If surgical access is obtained through external incisions (abdominal or perineal), then the surgeon can directly access the rectum or urethra, but patient trauma increases and recovery time is extended
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces the vagina as an intermediary pathway to access the rectum and urethra. By utilizing the natural vaginal canal as a route, the surgeon can reach the target organs without making external incisions through the abdomen or perineum, thereby reducing patient trauma while maintaining surgical accessibility
Solution Approach 2:
The patent shifts the surgical approach from the traditional external (abdominal/perineal) dimension to an internal (vaginal) dimension. This dimensional change allows access to the rectum and urethra through a different anatomical plane, avoiding the need for external incisions and reducing associated trauma
2Ease of operation
If traditional surgical methods are used to access the rectum or urethra, then direct implantation is possible, but infection risk increases due to exposure to external environments
Solution Approach 1:
The vagina serves as a sterile intermediary pathway that protects the implantation site from external contamination. By accessing the rectum and urethra through the vaginal canal rather than external incisions, the surgical field remains more protected from environmental pathogens, reducing infection risk
Solution Approach 2:
The patient's own vaginal anatomy is utilized as a self-protective barrier. The natural vaginal environment and its physiological defenses help protect the surgical site during implantation, reducing the need for additional protective measures against infection
3Ease of operation
If manual pumping of hydraulic reservoirs is used, then sphincter control is achieved, but fibrosis formation around the reservoir causes malfunction over time
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the hydraulic reservoir and pumping mechanism from the surgical site entirely. By eliminating these components, the source of fibrosis formation is extracted from the system, preventing the progressive malfunction that would otherwise occur due to scar tissue encasement of the reservoir
Solution Approach 2:
The surgical approach utilizes the patient's own anatomical structures and physiological mechanisms to achieve sphincter control without implanting foreign reservoirs or pumps. This eliminates the foreign body reaction that leads to fibrosis while maintaining the desired functional outcome
4Ease of operation
If complex surgical procedures are performed through external incisions, then complete access to implantation sites is achieved, but operation complexity and recovery time increase
Solution Approach 1:
By using the vagina as an intermediary access route, the surgeon can reach the rectum and urethra through a single, natural anatomical corridor. This eliminates the need for multiple external incisions and complex dissection planes, simplifying the overall surgical procedure while maintaining complete access to implantation sites
Solution Approach 2:
The vaginal approach serves multiple functions simultaneously: it provides access to both the rectum and urethra, allows for implantation of restriction devices, and avoids the need for separate external incisions. This multi-functionality through a single pathway reduces procedural complexity compared to traditional methods requiring multiple access points
Data Source
AI summary
There is provided a surgical instrument that simplifies surgery for implantation surgery for treating anal incontinence in women. The disclosed surgical instrument is intended to be inserted through an incision in the vagina and is used for dissecting tissue as well as positioning the implant. The instrument comprises a main part of the instrument, an elongated member with a flexible tip and can change conformation from a straight conformation to a loop conformation that can reach around a portion of the rectum.