Porcine Tissue Prostate Model for Robotic Surgery Training

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current surgical training models lack a suitable simulation for human prostate anatomy, particularly for robotic surgical training, as no animal tissue accurately replicates human prostate anatomy, making it difficult to practice and quantify skills for prostate surgery effectively.

Innovation Solution

A surgical training model is created using harvested porcine tissue, where a porcine urethra is surrounded by a porcine vagina to simulate the human prostate, with additional tissues simulating the vas deferens, seminal vesicle, and vascular pedicle, integrated into a tissue cassette for robotic and laparoscopic training.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If human cadavers are used for surgical training, then realistic human anatomy is provided, but cost increases and training opportunities are limited

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveanatomical accuracyVSAvoidtraining capacity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent creates a copy of the human prostate anatomy using porcine tissue that has been surgically constructed to replicate human prostate structure. The porcine urethra is surrounded by porcine vaginal tissue to form a simulated human prostate, providing a realistic training model without using actual human cadavers. This allows multiple training sessions on identical anatomical models.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

2Productivity

If harvested porcine prostate tissue is used for surgical training, then animal tissue availability increases, but anatomical accuracy deteriorates due to species differences

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetraining model availabilityVSAvoidanatomical similarity

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the training model into separate anatomical components: porcine urethra tissue, porcine vaginal tissue, and additional porcine tissues for surrounding structures. Each component is harvested separately and then assembled to construct the simulated human prostate anatomy, allowing precise configuration while using available porcine tissues.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses porcine vaginal tissue as an intermediary material to surround the porcine urethra and create the prostate structure. This intermediary approach allows the use of readily available porcine tissues while achieving the desired human prostate anatomy through creative tissue arrangement and construction.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Reliability

If larger animals like gorillas are used for surgical training, then anatomical accuracy improves, but ethical acceptability deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprostate anatomy realismVSAvoidethical concerns

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the source animal from larger species (gorilla) to porcine species, accepting a trade-off in anatomical precision while dramatically improving ethical acceptability. The porcine tissues are then surgically configured to achieve sufficient anatomical accuracy for training purposes, balancing realism with ethical considerations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentUS20240021105A1Surgical training model including a simulated human prostate and associated methods

Publication Date: 2024.01.18 INTUITIVE SURGICAL OPERATIONS INC

AI summary

A surgical training model for simulating human prostate surgery may include a harvested porcine urethra. A harvested porcine vagina surrounds a portion of the harvested porcine urethra to define a simulated human prostate.