Hernia Mesh Patch with Shape Memory Alloy and Adjustable Blades
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Solution Overview
Problem
Surgically implantable mesh patches for hernia repair lack memory to maintain a planar shape, making accurate placement difficult, and often lack secure points for sutures, leading to complications and uneven attachment to the abdominal wall.
Innovation Solution
A surgical apparatus with adjustable blades that can be rotated between a clustered and expanded position to facilitate easier insertion and manipulation of the mesh patch, providing a planar shape and secure suture points to prevent anatomical feature puncture.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If mesh patches are made flexible for insertion, then ease of insertion is improved, but ability to maintain planar shape is worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The mesh patch incorporates a shape memory alloy wire that dynamically changes its properties based on temperature. At insertion temperature (body temperature), the wire is flexible allowing easy insertion. After heating to transformation temperature, the wire becomes rigid and maintains the planar shape. This dynamic property change resolves the contradiction between flexibility for insertion and rigidity for shape maintenance.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the physical parameter of the shape memory alloy wire from austenite phase (rigid) to martensite phase (flexible) through temperature control. During insertion, the wire is in martensite phase for flexibility. After implantation, heating transforms it to austenite phase for rigidity and planar shape maintenance. This parameter change resolves the contradiction between ease of insertion and shape stability.
2Device complexity
If mesh patches lack additional structural elements, then device complexity is reduced, but placement accuracy is worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The patent adds localized structural elements (shape memory alloy wire along the perimeter and internal reinforcement structures) only where needed for placement accuracy and shape maintenance, rather than making the entire mesh complex. This localized addition improves placement accuracy while minimizing overall device complexity.
3Shape
If mesh patches are made bulky to maintain shape, then planar shape maintenance is improved, but ease of insertion is worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The shape memory alloy wire provides the necessary structural support for planar shape maintenance only after transformation to austenite phase. Before transformation (during insertion), the wire remains flexible and non-bulky. This dynamic behavior eliminates the need for bulky structures during insertion while providing shape maintenance capability afterward.
Solution Approach 2:
The mesh is pre-formed into the desired planar shape with the shape memory alloy wire configured to provide support. During insertion, the wire is temporarily flexible. After insertion, heating activates the wire's rigidity to maintain the pre-formed shape. This preliminary shaping combined with post-insertion activation resolves the contradiction between shape maintenance and ease of insertion.
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
Enables faster, more accurate mesh patch placement and reduces patient complications by maintaining a planar shape and providing secure suture points, ensuring uniform attachment to the abdominal wall.
Implementation Method 1
the wire is made of a shape memory alloy that has been transformed from an austenite phase to a martensite phase
Implementation Method 2
heating the wire to a transformation temperature sufficient to transform the wire from the martensite phase to the austenite phase
Data Source
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AI summary
Hernia repair using a mesh patch and a placement tool is described. The placement tool includes a plurality of adjustable blades and a control to move the adjustable blades between a clustered position that allows the blades to be inserted in an opening in a ply of the mesh patch and an expanded position to spread the mesh patch out in a planar fashion. Repair of a hernia includes compressing the mesh patch, inserting the adjustable blades of a placement tool into the opening in the mesh patch, inserting the mesh patch and tool into a patient, moving the adjustable blades from the clustered position to the expanded position, affixing the mesh patch to the patient, moving the adjustable blades from the expanded position to the clustered position, and removing the placement tool from the mesh patch and the patient.