Rectocele Device with Expandable Sheath for Directional Pressure
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current devices for addressing rectocele, such as spoon-like devices and pessaries, fail to provide directional pressure on the rectovaginal wall during bowel movements, leading to potential damage and ineffective stool evacuation in women with rectocele.
Innovation Solution
A rectocele device with an L-shaped handle and paddle, featuring an expandable sheath that contacts the rectovaginal wall, allowing for directional pressure application via a handle that translates pressure from outside the vagina, ensuring the sheath does not touch the bladder-vaginal wall, facilitating effective stool evacuation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If spoon-like devices are used to press against the rectocele, then the woman can provide pressure to facilitate stool evacuation, but the device cannot sense if the rectocele has slid to the right or left, causing the woman to press harder and potentially damage the posterior rectovaginal wall
Solution Approach 1:
The device incorporates pressure-sensitive sensors that detect the position and contact forces of the rectocele. This feedback mechanism allows the woman to sense when the rectocele has slid to the right or left, enabling her to adjust her pressure application accordingly and avoid damaging the posterior rectovaginal wall while still effectively facilitating stool evacuation.
2Duration of action of stationary object
If pessaries are used to provide extended support to address rectoceles, then the woman can have continuous pressure on the rectovaginal wall, but the device is left in the vagina for extended periods and may cause prolonged foreign object presence
Solution Approach 1:
The device transitions from static prolonged support to dynamic temporary support. The expandable sheath can be inflated and deflated on demand, allowing the woman to use the device only when needed for stool evacuation. This dynamic capability provides effective support during bowel movements while avoiding the need for extended prolonged presence in the vagina, thereby reducing the harmful effects of prolonged foreign object presence.
3Reliability
If the expandable sheath contacts the rectovaginal wall to provide directional pressure, then the device can effectively address rectocele bulge, but the device must be designed to avoid contact with the bladder-vaginal wall
Solution Approach 1:
The device employs an expandable sheath that can be selectively expanded to contact only the rectovaginal wall while avoiding the bladder-vaginal wall. The L-shaped configuration with the bend positioned externally allows the sheath to be directed specifically at the rectocele bulge. This local quality approach provides effective directional pressure on the rectocele while maintaining safety by preventing contact with the bladder-vaginal wall, balancing effectiveness with design simplicity.
Data Source
AI summary
A stool evacuate assist device to address rectocele disorder is described. The device generally comprises a handle and a paddle wherein the handle and the paddle are delineated by a bend in the device. The stool evacuation device further has an expandable sheath located on the paddle that after being inserted in a vagina of a woman and after being expanded in the vagina, the expandable sheath is in contact with a rectovaginal wall of the vagina. The handle is adapted to translate directional pressure on the rectovaginal wall via the expandable sheath when manipulated by the woman. The bend between the handle and the paddle essentially remains outside of the vagina when the expandable sheath is expanded in the vagina.