Flexible Polymer Surgical Delivery Device for Customizable Implant Placement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current surgical delivery devices lack flexibility and sterility in delivering implants, particularly in customizing shapes and sizes to fit various surgical applications and patient anatomies, which can lead to inefficiencies and increased patient trauma.
Innovation Solution
A surgical delivery device made of flexible polymer sheets that can be customized at the time of use to form tubular sleeves or tapered guide conduits, allowing for separation into multiple portions and handling without direct contact with the interior, facilitating delivery through small openings with optional compression of implants.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a rigid delivery device is used, then structural stability is maintained, but adaptability to different surgical applications and patient anatomies is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The delivery device transitions from a rigid pre-formed structure to a dynamic, customizable configuration. The device includes a body and a plurality of segments that can be selectively connected or disconnected to change the overall shape and configuration of the delivery device, allowing it to adapt to different surgical applications while maintaining structural integrity when configured.
Solution Approach 2:
The delivery device is divided into multiple segments that can be selectively connected or disconnected. Each segment can be independently configured and connected to form different delivery device shapes, enabling customization for various implant sizes and surgical pocket configurations while maintaining stability through selective connection.
2Ease of operation
If a large surgical opening is used for implant delivery, then ease of implant insertion is improved, but patient trauma increases
Solution Approach 1:
The delivery device enables dynamic adjustment of the surgical opening size through the configurable connection of segments. The device can be configured to deliver implants through smaller openings by arranging segments in configurations that create appropriately sized delivery channels, reducing patient trauma while maintaining ease of implant insertion.
Solution Approach 2:
The delivery device allows changing the geometric parameters of the delivery opening by selectively connecting or disconnecting segments. This enables the surgical opening size to be adjusted to match the implant size and surgical pocket requirements, facilitating ease of delivery while minimizing patient trauma through precise size matching.
3Ease of operation
If direct contact with the interior of the delivery device is allowed, then ease of manipulation is improved, but sterility is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
Handles are provided as intermediary structures that extend from the delivery device body, allowing the surgeon to grasp and manipulate the device without direct contact with the interior or lateral edges. The handles serve as a sterile barrier, enabling ease of manipulation while maintaining sterility by preventing contamination of the device interior.
Solution Approach 2:
The delivery device is designed as a single-use, disposable item that is sterilized and discarded after use. This eliminates the need for cleaning and re-sterilization during the procedure, maintaining sterility while allowing full manipulation capability. The disposable nature ensures that any contact during manipulation does not compromise sterility since the device is discarded after a single use.
4Adaptability or versatility
If multiple delivery devices are used for different implants, then adaptability to various implant sizes is improved, but device complexity and sterilization requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The delivery device is designed as a universal, multi-functional device that can deliver various implant sizes by reconfiguring the segment connections. A single device body can be configured to deliver different implant types and sizes through selective segment arrangement, eliminating the need for multiple specialized devices and reducing sterilization requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The delivery device uses segmented construction that allows reconfiguration for different delivery scenarios. The same segment set can be connected in different arrangements to create delivery configurations suitable for various implant sizes, providing versatility in a single device rather than requiring multiple specialized devices.
Data Source
AI summary
A device for delivering an implant to a surgical location of a patient is provided. In some embodiments, an example device includes a polymer body having first and second tapered sections and a sealed cavity defined by the polymer body. The polymer body is separable between the first and second tapered sections.