Hemorrhoid Ligation Device With Suction Tissue Engagement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Internal hemorrhoids are difficult to treat and existing methods often cause patient discomfort.
Innovation Solution
A device with an elongate housing and handle for insertion into the rectum, featuring a tissue grasping and ligating mechanism with movable arms and a ligating band that constricts around the hemorrhoidal tissue, along with a source of negative fluid pressure for tissue engagement, allowing for precise and minimally invasive treatment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional treatment methods are used for internal hemorrhoids, then treatment can be achieved, but patient discomfort increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces conventional mechanical grasping tools with a ligating band system that uses controlled constriction and release. The ligating band is deployed through the elongate member and constricts around the hemorrhoidal tissue, cutting off blood supply and causing gradual tissue necrosis and detachment, thereby reducing immediate patient discomfort compared to direct mechanical manipulation
Solution Approach 2:
The ligating band acts as an intermediary between the device and the hemorrhoidal tissue. Instead of direct contact and manipulation of the hemorrhoids by the physician's hand or conventional forceps, the ligating band serves as a mediator that performs the constriction and tissue detachment function, reducing trauma and discomfort to the patient
2Reliability
If a ligating band is used to constrict hemorrhoidal tissue, then treatment effectiveness improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The device is segmented into distinct functional components: the elongate housing for insertion, the inner elongate member for delivering the ligating band, and the ligating band itself. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently - the housing for comfortable insertion, the member for precise delivery, and the band for effective constriction - while reducing overall device complexity through modular design
Solution Approach 2:
The elongate member serves multiple functions: it acts as a delivery mechanism for the ligating band, provides a channel for the band to be pushed through the hemorrhoidal tissue, and serves as a handle for the physician to manipulate the device. This multi-functionality reduces the number of separate components needed, thereby reducing device complexity while maintaining treatment effectiveness
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The device effectively treats internal hemorrhoids by grasping and ligating the hemorrhoidal tissue, reducing discomfort during the procedure and facilitating healing, while allowing for easy deployment and removal of the ligating band.
Implementation Method 1
a source of negative fluid pressure fluidly coupled to a proximal end of the lumen to apply suction to the distal end of the elongate member
Data Source
AI summary
A device for treating hemorrhoids includes a housing sized and shaped for insertion to a target site within a rectum. The device also includes an inner member received within the housing such that the member may move longitudinally relative to the housing. In addition, the device includes a ligating mechanism at a distal end of the member which includes grasping arms movable between a receiving configuration in which distal ends of the arms are separated from one another and a grasping configuration in which the distal ends are drawn together to grasp tissue. The mechanism includes a ligating band received around the arms that is movable distally off of the arms to constrict around tissue grasped by the arms.