Inflatable Tissue Receiving Bag for Contained Morcellation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing tissue morcellation methods during surgeries like hysterectomy and myomectomy pose a risk of spreading occult cancer cells, particularly in cases of unsuspected uterine sarcoma, necessitating the development of a safe and effective tissue-receiving bag for containing and morcellating tissue within the bag to prevent cellular material dissemination.

Innovation Solution

A tissue-receiving bag with separate instrument openings, including a morcellator opening and a flexible tube with a free end for instrument insertion, allowing instruments to be inserted and withdrawn without touching the body, and a closure mechanism to prevent tissue leakage, combined with an inflatable design for unobstructed surgery.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If a single opening is used for both tissue insertion and instrument access, then device complexity is reduced, but the risk of cellular material spread increases due to inability to separate tissue handling and morcellation functions

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenumber of openingsVSAvoidcellular material spread
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The bag is divided into multiple separate openings: a first opening for tissue insertion and closure, and a second opening for instrument access. This segmentation allows independent control of tissue handling and morcellation functions, preventing cellular material from contaminating the external environment while maintaining relatively simple device structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Manufacturing precision

If the bag is made rigid to maintain shape during surgery, then surgical precision is improved, but the ease of insertion through small incisions deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesurgical precisionVSAvoidease of insertion
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The bag is designed as a flexible, inflatable structure that can be collapsed into a compact state for easy insertion through small incisions, then inflated during surgery to maintain its shape and provide a stable working environment. This dynamic transformation allows the bag to adapt to different surgical phases, combining ease of insertion with surgical precision.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Ease of operation

If instruments are inserted directly into the body cavity without a contained bag, then ease of operation is improved, but the risk of contaminating the body cavity with cellular material increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinstrument accessVSAvoidcontamination risk
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The bag serves as an intermediary containment structure between the instrument and the body cavity. Instruments access the tissue through the bag's second opening, allowing morcellation to occur within the confined bag space. This intermediary structure prevents cellular material from escaping into the body cavity while maintaining convenient instrument access for the surgeon.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

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 bag effectively contains and morcellates tissue within the bag, minimizing the risk of cellular material spread and ensuring safe removal by preventing contamination during and after surgery.

Implementation Method 1

The bag can be inflated inside the cavity when the closure is in place

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectGas inflation:

Data Source

PatentEP3267910B1Tissue receiving bag and set for surgery comprising a tissue receiving bag
Publication Date: 2025.08.27 TAVIGNY
  • EP3267910B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3267910B1 patent drawingFigure 3A~3C
  • EP3267910B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

The invention relates to a tissue receiving bag (1) for use in surgery, especially laparoscopic surgery, wherein the bag comprises at least one tissue receiving opening (2) for receiving tissue (T) and/or an instrument opening (3), especially a morcellator opening, wherein the bag comprises at least one further opening (4) into the bag, wherein a flexible tube (5) extends from said further opening having a free end (6) comprising an insertion opening (7) for inserting an instrument (8) into the bag, wherein the bag preferably is inflatable.