Orifice Expansion Balloon With Thickened Neck for Stable Positioning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current balloons used to treat phimosis often fail to maintain a consistent position under the foreskin and do not provide uniform inflation, leading to inconsistent treatment and potential ejection during use.
Innovation Solution
A balloon design with a neck thickness greater than the head thickness, allowing for uniform radial expansion of the head while minimizing longitudinal expansion, ensuring even pressure application and maintaining the balloon's position under the foreskin.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the balloon is inflated uniformly in all directions, then the inflation is simple to control, but the balloon may slip out of the orifice and the pressure distribution becomes inconsistent
Solution Approach 1:
The balloon employs non-uniform wall thickness distribution, with the neck having greater thickness than the head. This local quality differentiation causes the head to expand preferentially in the radial direction while the neck remains relatively stable, ensuring the balloon maintains its position under the foreskin while achieving consistent treatment pressure
2Ease of operation
If the balloon expands in the longitudinal direction, then the balloon can be inserted easily, but the balloon may be ejected from under the foreskin during inflation
Solution Approach 1:
The differentiated wall thickness design (thinner head, thicker neck) directs expansion primarily in the radial direction rather than longitudinally. This ensures the balloon expands to apply treatment pressure without ejecting from under the foreskin, while the thinner head still allows for easy initial insertion
3Reliability
If the neck wall thickness is increased to prevent expansion, then the position stability improves, but the material usage increases
Solution Approach 1:
The balloon uses non-uniform wall thickness distribution where the neck has greater thickness for stability while the head has thinner walls for controlled expansion. This localized material allocation optimizes both position stability and material efficiency, avoiding unnecessary material usage in regions where expansion is desired
4Ease of manufacture
If the head wall thickness is uniform, then the manufacturing is simpler, but the pressure distribution during expansion becomes inconsistent
Solution Approach 1:
The head portion employs non-uniform wall thickness with the distal end having greater thickness than the remainder. This local differentiation ensures uniform radial expansion and consistent pressure distribution across the treatment area, while the manufacturing process remains relatively straightforward through molded construction
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 balloon design ensures consistent treatment by preventing slipping and provides even pressure distribution, enhancing treatment efficacy and reliability.
Implementation Method 1
when the balloon is inflated the head expands in a radial direction greater than in the longitudinal direction
Implementation Method 2
A wall thickness of the neck is greater than a wall thickness of the head. An advantage of having a wall thickness of the neck being greater than a wall thickness of the head is that the neck may not expand, or there may be substantially minimised expansion of the neck, when the balloon is inflated
Data Source
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AI summary
A balloon is disclosed for expanding an orifice. The balloon comprises a hollow body having a head. The body is closed at a distal end and open at a proximal end. The head extends from the distal end. The balloon also comprises a hollow neck positioned between the open proximal end and the distal end of the body. In the balloon, a wall thickness of the neck is greater than a wall thickness of the head. In a variation, the balloon can be configured such that, when the balloon is inflated, the head expands in a radial direction greater than in the longitudinal direction and a diameter of the body remains approximately constant during inflation. Also disclosed is a system for expanding an orifice. The system includes such a balloon and an inflation device for inflating the balloon. Also disclosed is a kit comprising the system and a container. Further, disclosed is a mould and a method for forming the balloon.