Lip Implant with Suture Eyelets for Minimal Trauma Insertion
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current cosmetic implants and surgical methods for their insertion cause significant trauma to the lip tissue, leading to side effects like redness, swelling, bruising, and implant damage, resulting in dissatisfaction and often requiring corrective surgeries.
Innovation Solution
A lip implant design featuring small eyelets on either end of a rod, allowing for minimal cavity creation and insertion via sutures, reducing tissue damage and improving implant positioning, with a dual-durometer silicone composition for strength and flexibility, and a surgical method using only two small incisions and a minimal cavity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a long tunnel is created and multiple instruments are used to pass through the lip, then the implant can be inserted, but significant trauma is caused to the lip tissue
Solution Approach 1:
The implant is divided into a soft cosmetic portion and a separate rigid rod portion with eyelets. The rod serves as a handling instrument that can be inserted through small incisions, while the soft portion is pulled along behind it. This segmentation allows minimal tissue trauma during insertion while maintaining implant functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The rigid rod with eyelets acts as an intermediary tool to facilitate implant insertion. The rod can be manipulated through small incisions using standard surgical instruments, and the soft cosmetic portion is then pulled along the rod into position. This intermediary approach avoids the need for complex tunnel creation and multiple instruments.
2Ease of operation
If a clamp with teeth is used to pull the implant through the tunnel, then the implant can be positioned, but the implant ends break off and teeth marks are left on the implant
Solution Approach 1:
The rigid rod serves as a smooth intermediary tool for implant positioning. Unlike clamps with teeth, the rod has a smooth surface that prevents damage to the implant ends while still providing sufficient grip through the eyelets. This eliminates implant breakage and prevents teeth marks, maintaining implant integrity throughout the procedure.
Solution Approach 2:
The traditional mechanical clamp system with teeth is replaced by a smooth rod insertion system. The rod's smooth surface substitutes for the clamp's toothed grip, providing a damage-free method of implant positioning that preserves both the implant and surrounding tissue integrity.
3Ease of operation
If multiple instruments and a long tunnel are used for implant insertion, then the implant can be inserted, but the surgical procedure becomes complex and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The rod and soft cosmetic portion are merged into a single integrated implant unit. The rod serves dual purposes: as a structural component of the implant and as a handling instrument for insertion. This merging eliminates the need for separate insertion tools and simplifies the surgical procedure while maintaining implant functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The rigid rod portion of the implant serves multiple functions: it provides structural support, acts as a handling instrument for insertion through small incisions, and serves as a guide for positioning the soft cosmetic portion. This multi-functionality reduces the number of separate instruments needed and simplifies the overall surgical procedure.
Data Source
AI summary
The embodied invention is a lip implant that includes small eyelets on either end of a small diameter rod located inside, and extends beyond, the cosmetic volume of the implant. Sutures connected to eyelets on the rod ends, allow the implant to be pulled into a minimal lip cavity that is created for the implant. The implant is readily positioned by using the sutures. Only two small incisions are needed as well as the creation of a small cavity needed for the implant. The use of the embodied invention is also extended to vein implants to enhance the appearance of veins on arms, legs, or to other surfaces.