Non-extensible Storage Container for Anatomical Channel Closure
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Solution Overview
Problem
Medical devices for shutting off anatomical channels often cause tissue erosion due to pressure and fail to effectively manage stress incontinence, particularly during increased abdominal pressure events like coughing or sneezing.
Innovation Solution
A medical device with a non-extensible storage container wall, which maintains a consistent volume under increased pressure, using a reinforced material with an elastic modulus of at least 1,000 N/mm2, and an auxiliary fluid system to enhance the compression force on the tissue during stress events.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the pressure of working fluid in the hollow chamber is increased to maintain reliable shutting-off of the anatomical channel, then the reliability of channel closure is improved, but the harmful effect of tissue erosion increases
Solution Approach 1:
The storage container is pre-filled with working fluid and positioned adjacent to the hollow chamber before stress events occur. When abdominal pressure increases, the pre-positioned fluid in the storage container automatically flows into the hollow chamber through the fluid connection, providing immediate additional compression force to the band part without requiring active pumping or user intervention.
Solution Approach 2:
The storage container acts as an intermediary reservoir that stores working fluid and transfers it to the hollow chamber when needed. This intermediary system allows the device to respond dynamically to stress events by providing additional fluid volume, thereby maintaining reliable channel closure during coughing, sneezing, or other abdominal pressure increases without requiring continuous high pressure that would cause tissue erosion.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the storage container wall is made flexible to allow volume change during stress events, then the adaptability to pressure changes is improved, but the manufacturing precision and control of pressure become more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The storage container is constructed with a flexible wall made of biocompatible elastomeric material that can expand and contract in response to pressure changes. This flexible wall allows the storage container to adapt its volume dynamically when abdominal pressure increases, while still maintaining sufficient structural integrity for manufacturing and pressure control.
Solution Approach 2:
The storage container wall is made from composite or blended elastomeric materials that combine flexibility with controlled mechanical properties. These materials provide the necessary elasticity to respond to pressure changes while maintaining predictable pressure characteristics and manufacturability, balancing adaptability with control.
3Adaptability or versatility
If an elastic expansion body is used to increase volume during stress events, then the adaptability to stress events is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The storage container and the hollow chamber are merged into a single integrated working fluid receiving space through fluid connection. This combination eliminates the need for separate expansion bodies or complex mechanical actuation systems, as the flexible storage container itself provides the volume change capability when pressure increases, simplifying the overall device structure while maintaining adaptability to stress events.
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
Minimizes tissue erosion and effectively maintains anatomical channel closure during stress events by controlling pressure and volume changes, reducing fluid exchange and energy consumption.
Implementation Method 1
The wall of the storage container (22) is designed to be at least substantially non-extensible. The storage container (22) is implantable in the body, in particular in the abdominal space, wherein the internal pressure in the body acts on the storage container (22).
Implementation Method 2
a pump unit which serves to convey the working fluid, wherein the through-opening can be made smaller by introducing the working fluid into the hollow chamber
Implementation Method 3
the pressure of the working fluid in the hollow chamber is generally chosen such that the erosion of body tissue can be kept to a minimum while, at the same time, reliable shutting-off of the anatomical channel is still achieved
Data Source
AI summary
A medical device for shutting off a body channel is provided including a band section that can be placed around the body tissue surrounding a body channel and can be closed to form a ring enclosing a passage opening for the body tissue, and has a cavity which makes up one part of a working fluid receiving chamber of the device, for receiving working fluid, and a pump unit for conveying the working fluid. The passage opening is made smaller by introducing the working fluid into the cavity. The arrangement also includes a storage container that has a flexible wall which delimits a storage chamber, wherein to apply an additional force to the body tissue guided through the passage opening, the volume of the storage chamber is made smaller by increasing an ambient pressure acting on the storage container, and the wall of the storage container is at least substantially non-extensible.