Pelvic Floor Sling With Interfitting Support Arm
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current treatments for stress urinary incontinence often require labor-intensive mechanical fixation devices and suturing for biologic materials in pelvic floor sling implants, which are costly and time-consuming.
Innovation Solution
A pelvic floor sling assembly without mechanical fixation devices, featuring a sling with through-apertures and support arms that interfit to secure the assembly, made from biologic or synthetic materials, allowing for simplified implantation and reduced production costs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If mechanical fixation devices and sutures are used to attach biologic materials in pelvic floor sling implants, then the structural integrity and reliability of the implant is improved, but the manufacturing complexity, production cost, and surgical time increase
Solution Approach 1:
The support arm and sling are merged into a single integrated component where the support arm is formed as an extension of the sling material itself. This eliminates the need for separate mechanical fixation devices and sutures, while maintaining structural integrity through the continuous material construction.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention extracts and removes the mechanical fixation devices and sutures from the implant system. By eliminating these separate components, the design simplifies the overall structure while relying on the inherent properties of the biologic material to provide both support and attachment functionality.
2Reliability
If mechanical fixation devices and sutures are used in pelvic floor sling implants, then the reliability of the implant is improved, but the production cost and surgical time increase
Solution Approach 1:
By combining the support arm and sling into one integrated component, the invention eliminates multiple assembly steps including device attachment and suturing. This single-piece construction reduces surgical time while maintaining reliability through the continuous material structure that provides both support and secure attachment.
Solution Approach 2:
The integrated support arm-sling structure can be manufactured as modular components that self-assemble during implantation. The support arm portion can be separately formed and then attached to the sling through simple interconnection methods, reducing assembly complexity and time compared to traditional fixation methods.
3Stability of the object's composition
If mechanical fixation devices are used in pelvic floor sling implants, then the structural stability is improved, but the ease of manufacture and production cost are worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The invention merges the support arm and sling into a single biologic material structure that can be manufactured as one continuous piece. This eliminates the need to assemble multiple components with fixation devices, simplifying manufacturing processes while maintaining structural stability through the inherent strength and continuity of the biologic material.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the physical parameters of the biologic material to provide both flexibility for conforming to anatomical structures and sufficient strength for structural support. By optimizing material properties such as tensile strength, elasticity, and degradation rate, the single-piece design achieves structural stability without requiring additional fixation devices.
Data Source
AI summary
The invention generally relates to surgically implantable supportive slings. More specifically, in various embodiments, the invention is directed to sling assemblies for pelvic floor repair that utilize one or more materials, attached without a mechanical fixation device, and related methods of use and fabrication.