Nested Tissue Bag System for Minimizing Uterine Tissue Seeding
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for amputating and morcellating a female uterus face challenges in minimizing the 'seeding' of cancerous tissue, particularly due to the limitations of conventional tissue bags that allow potential containment issues during resection and morcellation.
Innovation Solution
The method involves using two tissue bags, where a first bag contains the uterus during amputation and is then placed within a second bag for morcellation, with a separate aperture for instrument introduction to enhance containment, and insufflation for improved access and visualization during morcellation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a single tissue bag is used for both amputation and morcellation, then the device complexity is reduced, but the containment reliability deteriorates due to potential tissue seeding during resection
Solution Approach 1:
The single tissue bag is divided into two separate tissue bags: a first tissue bag for amputation and a second tissue bag for morcellation. This segmentation allows each bag to be optimized for its specific function, with the first bag providing containment during resection and the second bag providing containment during morcellation, thereby improving overall containment reliability without requiring a single complex multi-functional bag
Solution Approach 2:
The first tissue bag is placed inside the second tissue bag, creating a nested configuration. The first bag containing the uterus during amputation is then inserted into the second bag before morcellation begins. This nesting arrangement ensures that tissue fragments generated during morcellation are contained within the second bag, while the first bag remains intact to provide additional containment layers, effectively preventing tissue seeding
2Ease of operation
If the laparoscopic instrument is introduced through the main opening of the tissue bag, then the ease of operation is improved, but the containment reliability deteriorates as the bag must remain partially open during resection
Solution Approach 1:
A second aperture is added to the first tissue bag at a location different from the main opening. This creates an additional dimensional access point for instrument introduction. The laparoscopic amputation instrument can be introduced through this second aperture while the main opening remains closed and secured, allowing resection to proceed with the bag fully contained. This resolves the contradiction by providing an alternative access route that maintains containment integrity
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
This approach minimizes tissue seeding during both amputation and morcellation by maintaining effective containment of the uterus, reducing the risk of tissue spread and facilitating safer, more controlled procedures.
Implementation Method 1
insufflation for improved access and visualization during morcellation
Data Source
AI summary
A method of amputating and morcellating a uterus (10) includes introducing a first tissue bag (1) into the abdomen of the patient, and placing the first tissue bag over the uterus. A laparoscopic surgical instrument (11) is introduced into the first tissue bag, and the uterus (10) is amputated using the laparoscopic surgical instrument. The first tissue bag (1) is closed around the amputated uterus, and the first tissue bag containing the amputated uterus is placed into a second tissue bag (20). A morcellating instrument is introduced into the second tissue bag (20) and the uterus is morcellated within the second tissue bag. Once the uterus (10) has been morcellated, the second tissue bag (20) containing the morcellated uterus is removed from the abdomen of the patient.