Laparoscopic Retrieval Bag Unrolling Mechanism

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing retrieval bags used in laparoscopic surgery often face difficulties in reliable and simple unrolling, especially in tight spaces, which can lead to incomplete unrolling and hinder access to the main bag opening.

Innovation Solution

A flexible unrolling pulling means is attached to the bag bottom, accessible from the outside, and is longer than the distance between its fixing point and the main bag opening. This pulling means is rolled up with the bag to ensure that its free end protrudes from the bag roll, allowing for easy unrolling by pulling on the free end.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Volume of moving object

If the retrieval bag is rolled up from the main bag opening perpendicular to the spring wire ellipse, then a compact bag roll is formed, but the unrolling process becomes complex and unreliable in tight spaces

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebag roll volumeVSAvoidunrolling operation
Core Design Contradiction:
Volume of moving objectVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of rolling the bag from the main opening perpendicular to the spring wire (conventional approach), the invention rolls the bag from the bottom edge parallel to the spring wire ellipse. This inversion of the rolling direction and approach simplifies the unrolling process by eliminating the need for the bag to rotate around the spring wire loop, making it reliable even in tight surgical spaces.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

2Device complexity

If the spring wire acts as both a closure and an opener, then device complexity is reduced, but reliability decreases due to potential errors in dual-function operation

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvespring wire function integrationVSAvoidunrolling reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The invention separates the functions of the spring wire and the unrolling mechanism. The spring wire ellipse serves solely as a closure element that can be deformed for insertion, while the unrolling is achieved by rolling the bag from the bottom edge parallel to the spring wire. This segmentation eliminates the complexity and reliability issues of the dual-function spring wire approach.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Volume of moving object

If the bag is rolled up tightly to minimize volume, then insertion into the abdominal cavity is facilitated, but access to the main bag opening may be hindered during unrolling

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebag roll volumeVSAvoidaccess to main bag opening
Core Design Contradiction:
Volume of moving objectVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The bag is pre-oriented during rolling so that the bottom edge (where the spring wire ellipse is attached) becomes the leading edge when inserted into the abdominal cavity. This preliminary arrangement ensures that when the bag is unrolled, the main bag opening is already positioned and accessible at the distal end, eliminating the need to rotate or manipulate the bag during unrolling.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP4566548A1Mining bags and laparoscopic assembly
Publication Date: 2025.06.11 BOWA ELECTRONICS
  • EP4566548A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4566548A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4566548A1 patent drawingFigure 2~3

AI summary

The invention relates to a retrieval bag (10) with a main bag opening (101) and a flexible bag wall (102) extending from the main bag opening (101) over a bag length, said flexible bag wall forming a bag bottom (103) opposite the main bag opening (101). The invention is characterized by a flexible unrolling pulling means (20) which is accessible from the outside of the bag and fixed to the bag bottom (103), said flexible unrolling pulling means being longer than a distance between its fixation point on the bag bottom (103) and the main bag opening (101). The invention further relates to a laparoscopic arrangement (14) comprising such a retrieval bag.