Gender-Specific Hernia Mesh With Barrier for Nerve-Sparing Repair
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing inguinal hernia repair meshes cause significant chronic pain and sexual dysfunction disparities between male and female patients due to inadequate accommodation of pelvic anatomy and inflammatory responses, with no current mesh products addressing these differences.
Innovation Solution
Development of gender-specific meshes with protective barriers to minimize inflammatory responses and tissue adhesion, designed to accommodate the unique anatomical differences between males and females, including tailored keyholes and anti-adhesive layers for critical structures.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If synthetic mesh is used for inguinal hernia repair, then hernia recurrence risk is significantly reduced, but chronic pain and sexual dysfunction complications increase
Solution Approach 1:
The mesh product incorporates different zones with distinct properties: an anti-adhesive barrier zone (coating or membrane) is applied only to specific areas where nerves and critical structures are located, while other areas maintain standard mesh characteristics for hernia repair. This localized differentiation allows the mesh to prevent adhesion and chronic pain in sensitive regions without compromising overall repair reliability
Solution Approach 2:
An anti-adhesive barrier (such as a coating layer or membrane) is introduced as an intermediary between the mesh and surrounding tissues, particularly nerves and critical structures. This barrier prevents direct contact and adhesion between the mesh and sensitive tissues, thereby reducing chronic pain and sexual dysfunction while maintaining the mesh's structural integrity for hernia repair
2Ease of manufacture
If standard mesh design is used, then manufacturing simplicity is maintained, but anatomical differences between male and female patients are not accommodated
Solution Approach 1:
The mesh product is segmented into gender-specific designs with different dimensions, shapes, and barrier placements tailored to male and female anatomy. Male mesh may feature larger dimensions and different barrier positioning to accommodate the inguinal canal and spermatic cord, while female mesh is designed with appropriate dimensions for the inguinal region and round ligament, allowing each gender to receive anatomically appropriate repair without complicating the overall manufacturing process
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the mesh are assigned different properties: gender-specific dimensional variations, shaped cutouts or keyholes positioned according to anatomical landmarks, and anti-adhesive barriers placed in gender-specific locations. This localized customization accommodates anatomical differences while maintaining a unified manufacturing approach
3Reliability
If mesh contacts critical structures directly, then effective hernia repair is achieved, but tissue adhesion and inflammatory responses worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The mesh incorporates an anti-adhesive barrier (coating or membrane) applied selectively to areas where critical structures such as nerves are located. This localized barrier prevents harmful adhesion and inflammatory responses in sensitive regions while allowing the mesh to maintain direct contact with tissues in areas where effective hernia repair is needed, thus balancing repair effectiveness with reduced tissue adhesion
Data Source
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AI summary
Disclosed herein are gender-specific implantable mesh for inguinal hernia repair in a patient, comprising: a fabric layer comprising a side defining a surface area wherein the fabric layer is configured to enable tissue adhesion to said mesh; an anti-adhesive barrier comprising a shape configured to prevent direct contact between the fabric layer and both a spermatic cord and a genital nerve upon implantation, wherein the shape covers a part of the surface area on the side of the fabric layer, the part being less than 25%, and wherein the shape is oblique to a horizontally-oriented centerline and a vertically-oriented centerline; and a keyhole configured to fit the genital nerve and the spermatic cord of the patient therethrough without constriction, wherein the keyhole is oblique and inferior to a horizontally-oriented centerline and medial to a vertically-oriented centerline.