Selective Laser Vaporization of Polypropylene Mesh Implants
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Solution Overview
Problem
The common complication of vaginal mesh erosion in patients undergoing transvaginal polypropylene synthetic slings for stress urinary incontinence and pelvic organ prolapse repair poses challenges in surgical excision, often causing damage to healthy tissue and prolonged recovery due to the tedious process of cutting and realigning mesh from interwoven tissue.
Innovation Solution
A laser system utilizing a red diode laser with a wavelength between 600-1300 nm is used to selectively vaporize polypropylene mesh and suture materials within the body, minimizing thermal damage to surrounding healthy tissue by preferentially absorbing laser light, allowing for precise cutting or removal without significant heat transfer to adjacent tissue.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If a sharp instrument is used to cut mesh from interwoven tissue, then the mesh can be removed, but surrounding healthy tissue is damaged
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical cutting system (sharp instruments) with a laser-based system. The laser energy is absorbed by the polypropylene mesh, causing localized vaporization and melting without mechanical contact, thereby eliminating damage to surrounding healthy tissue while enabling complete mesh removal
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes the specific optical parameter (laser wavelength) that matches the absorption characteristics of polypropylene mesh. By selecting a wavelength that is strongly absorbed by the mesh but not by surrounding tissue, the system achieves selective heating and vaporization of the mesh while leaving healthy tissue unaffected
2Manufacturing precision
If laser light is used to vaporize mesh material, then selective removal is achieved, but thermal damage may occur to surrounding tissue
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by creating a highly localized heating zone within the mesh material itself. The laser energy is confined to the mesh strands through selective absorption, creating a steep temperature gradient where the mesh reaches vaporization temperature while surrounding tissue remains at or near body temperature
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses pulsed laser delivery to deliver energy in short bursts, allowing the heat to be confined to the mesh material before it can conduct to surrounding tissue. The pulse duration is optimized to vaporize the mesh while minimizing thermal diffusion to adjacent healthy tissue
3Ease of repair
If mesh is cut and realigned during surgical revision, then mesh can be removed, but the process is tedious and requires extensive recovery
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the tedious mechanical process of cutting and realigning mesh with a laser-based vaporization system. The laser automatically follows the mesh structure, vaporizing it strand by strand or area by area, eliminating the need for manual cutting and realignment steps
Solution Approach 2:
The laser system inherently follows the mesh structure through its optical properties and absorption characteristics. The mesh material itself guides the laser energy along its strands, enabling automatic removal without requiring precise manual manipulation or realignment steps
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 method effectively vaporizes mesh and suture materials while maintaining the integrity of surrounding tissue, reducing recovery time and minimizing pain by using selective photothermolysis to destroy the mesh or suture with minimal thermal impact on adjacent healthy tissue.
Implementation Method 1
A laser and a controllable lens may be provided. The laser is activated to output the laser light, and the controllable lens may be focused on the mesh or suture material so that the controllable lens focuses the laser light from the laser onto a portion of the mesh or suture material.
Implementation Method 2
The mesh or suture implant is vaporized by exposure to the laser light while tissue exposed to the laser light is not damaged (e.g., heated to a temperature higher than a predetermined threshold) by the laser light.
Implementation Method 3
a method to vaporize a mesh or suture material... The mesh or suture implant is vaporized by exposure to the laser light
Data Source
AI summary
A system may include a laser configured to output laser light with a wavelength between 600-780 nm, and a radiation delivery device. The radiation delivery device may be configured to output the laser light to a mesh or suture implant so that the mesh or suture implant is exposed to the laser light. The mesh or suture implant is attached to a patient and surrounded at least partially by tissue of the patient. The mesh or suture implant is vaporized by exposure to the laser light while tissue exposed to the laser light is not damaged by the laser light.