Pubic Arm Attachment Mechanism for Single-Incision Incontinence Implant

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current urinary incontinence treatment devices often require multiple incisions and complex procedures, which can be invasive and may not effectively address the hyper-mobility of the urethra, leading to undesirable urine leakage during provocative events.

Innovation Solution

A urinary incontinence treatment implant with shortened pubic arms and a pubic arm attachment mechanism that allows for implantation through a single incision, eliminating the need for separate skin access sites by using trans-obturator arms and sutures to secure the pubic arms to tissue lateral to the pubic symphysis.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If traditional incontinence treatment devices are used, then urethral support function is provided, but multiple incisions and complex procedures are required

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveimplantation procedureVSAvoidnumber of incisions

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines the pubic arm attachment mechanism with the support body into a single integrated device. The pubic arms are attached to the support body through a common attachment mechanism, allowing all components to be implanted through a single incision site rather than requiring separate incisions for each component, thus simplifying the surgical procedure while maintaining device functionality.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Reliability

If separate incisions are made for pubic arm placement, then pubic arms can be securely attached, but surgical invasiveness increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepubic arm attachmentVSAvoidsurgical invasiveness

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The pubic arms are pre-attached to the support body through the pubic arm attachment mechanism before implantation. This preliminary attachment allows the entire assembly to be inserted through a single incision, eliminating the need for separate incisions to attach the pubic arms, thereby reducing surgical invasiveness while ensuring secure attachment is already in place before implantation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Ease of manufacture

If multiple access sites are used, then complete implant placement is achieved, but patient trauma increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveimplant placement completenessVSAvoidpatient trauma

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the support body and pubic arms into a single implantable unit through the pubic arm attachment mechanism. This integration allows the complete implant to be placed through one incision site, avoiding the need for multiple access sites and thereby reducing patient trauma while ensuring all necessary components are properly positioned.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentUS8864647B2Incontinence treatment device with pubic arm attachment mechanism

Publication Date: 2014.10.21 COLOPLAST AS

AI summary

An implant includes a support body defining a longitudinal axis, two transverse arms, two pubic arms, and a pubic arm attachment mechanism. The two transverse arms are aligned on a common transverse axis of the implant. The two pubic arms include a first pubic arm spaced a distance apart from a second pubic arm and both the first and second pubic arms are parallel to the longitudinal axis. The pubic arm attachment mechanism is attached to an end of each of the first and second pubic arms. Each of the first and second pubic arms has an arm length that is less than a body length of the support body.