Prosthetic Implant Delivery Device Using Surface Active Agents
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Solution Overview
Problem
The insertion of silicone breast implants requires larger incisions and manual manipulation, which can cause damage to the implants, lead to longer surgical times, and result in visible scars and potentially problematic capsule growth due to tissue trauma.
Innovation Solution
A flexible sleeve with a tapered end is used to facilitate the insertion of silicone implants through a small incision, utilizing surface active and lubricious coatings to reduce friction and prevent direct hand manipulation, allowing for a 'touchless' insertion and antimicrobial benefits.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If traditional hand manipulation is used to insert silicone implants, then the implant can be placed into the surgical pocket, but the surgical time increases to 10-20 minutes per implant and the risk of implant damage increases
Solution Approach 1:
A delivery device serves as an intermediary tool between the surgeon and the implant. The device includes a shaft with a proximal end inserted through the incision and a distal end positioned within the surgical pocket, allowing the implant to be delivered without direct hand manipulation. This mediator approach reduces surgical time while maintaining implant integrity by eliminating the need for manual handling.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces manual mechanical manipulation with a mechanical delivery device system. Instead of using hand forces to manipulate and insert the implant, the surgeon operates the delivery device which mechanically transports the implant through the incision and into the surgical pocket, reducing both time and damage risk.
2Ease of operation
If larger incisions are made to accommodate manual implant manipulation, then the implant can be inserted, but visible scars and cosmetic outcomes worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The delivery device acts as a mediator that enables implant insertion through small incisions. The shaft of the device can be introduced through a minimally invasive incision and extended into the surgical pocket, allowing the implant to be delivered without requiring large incisions for direct hand manipulation, thus reducing visible scarring.
Solution Approach 2:
The delivery device extends the surgical approach into a third dimension by inserting the shaft through the incision and positioning it within the surgical pocket. This dimensional extension allows the implant to be delivered through a small incision rather than requiring direct manual manipulation through a large incision, preserving cosmetic outcomes.
3Ease of operation
If direct hand manipulation is used during implant placement, then the implant can be positioned, but tissue trauma and capsule growth risk increase
Solution Approach 1:
The delivery device serves as a non-contact intermediary that positions the implant without direct hand manipulation. The shaft and distal end of the device can be used to guide and position the implant within the surgical pocket while minimizing tissue contact and trauma, thereby reducing the risk of excessive capsule growth.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces direct manual mechanical manipulation with a controlled mechanical delivery system. The delivery device provides precise control for implant positioning while minimizing uncontrolled tissue contact and trauma that would occur with direct hand manipulation, thus reducing harmful biological responses.
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
This method reduces surgical time, minimizes incision size, decreases the risk of implant damage, and lowers the risk of infection by using antimicrobial coatings, while providing a more efficient and less invasive procedure.
Implementation Method 1
utilizing surface active and lubricious coatings to reduce friction
Implementation Method 2
providing antimicrobial benefits
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus for use in a surgical procedure for delivering a prosthetic implant comprises a flexible sleeve configured with a first end and a second end, the flexible sleeve being tapered such that a width of a region at the second end is relatively smaller than a width of a region at the first end, and an interior surface of the flexible sleeve that form an interior cavity, the interior cavity being sized to receive the prosthetic implant; one or more surface active coatings are applied to the interior cavity. The flexible sleeve is manipulatable such that when the prosthetic implant is positioned within the interior cavity, a manually applicable directional pressure in the direction of the second end causes the prosthetic implant to extrude from the second end.