Polymeric Rivet Joining for Pelvic Implants

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current surgical implants for pelvic health, such as those used to treat prolapse and incontinence, often rely on insecure connections made with glues or sutures, which can lead to biological rejection or infection, and require cumbersome assembly by surgeons during procedures.

Innovation Solution

The use of a polymeric rivet to join implant materials, allowing for secure attachment of biologic and synthetic materials without knots, reducing inflammatory responses and enabling pre-assembled implants that minimize surgical preparation time.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If glues or sutures are used to secure implant pieces together, then the implant can be assembled, but the connection is insecure and may cause biological rejection or infection

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveconnection securityVSAvoidbiological rejection and infection risk

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent removes sutures and glues from the implant assembly process, replacing them with a pre-assembled monolithic structure where all components are integrally formed without traditional fastening elements that cause biological rejection or infection

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent merges multiple implant pieces into a single monolithic structure where components are integrally formed together during manufacturing, eliminating the need for separate fastening elements and creating a unified implant that reduces biological rejection risk

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Ease of operation

If implants are assembled by surgeons during surgery, then customization is possible, but it consumes unnecessary surgical time and is cumbersome

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesurgical assembly convenienceVSAvoidsurgical preparation time

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent performs the assembly action in advance during manufacturing, creating pre-assembled implants that are ready for immediate implantation, thereby eliminating the time-consuming assembly step during surgery

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The implant is designed to be self-assembled during manufacturing through integral formation processes, making the assembly operation automatic and eliminating the need for manual surgical assembly

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Strength

If traditional fastening methods are used to join implant materials, then pieces can be connected, but the connection lacks consistency and strength

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveattachment forceVSAvoidconnection consistency

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces mechanical fastening systems (sutures, glues, clips) with an integral formation process where implant components are monolithically formed together, providing consistent and strong connections through the manufacturing process itself rather than post-assembly fastening

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Data Source

PatentUS7722527B2Surgical implants and related methods

Publication Date: 2010.05.25 ENDO OPERATIONS LTD

AI summary

The invention relates to implantable surgical articles, particularly those useful for pelvic health, and related methods of making and using the articles, wherein the implantable articles include a rivet to attach materials together.