Interchangeable Rectocele Paddles for Bowel Evacuation Support
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current devices for addressing rectoceles, such as pessaries and expanding paddles, are either static and ineffective in manipulating prolapsing organs or complex and difficult to operate during bowel movements, failing to provide optimal relief for women experiencing rectocele-related bowel movement issues.
Innovation Solution
A rectocele device with a handle and interchangeable static paddles that can be locked in place to provide pressure against the rectocele, allowing for efficient bowel evacuation, featuring a peg system for secure attachment and easy replacement of paddles to accommodate individual needs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Duration of action of stationary object
If static pessaries are used to provide extended support, then rectocele relief is maintained over time, but the device cannot be manipulated to push prolapsing organs back into place
Solution Approach 1:
The paddle device transitions from a static pessary to a dynamic device that can be manipulated by the user. The paddle can be inserted, positioned, and manipulated during bowel movements to push the rectocele back into place, then removed. This dynamic approach combines the support function of static pessaries with the manipulability needed to actively address prolapse during critical moments.
Solution Approach 2:
The device is segmented into a handle and a separate paddle component that can be inserted independently. This segmentation allows the paddle to be positioned precisely in the vagina while the handle remains outside for manipulation, enabling the user to push the rectocele back into place without needing to manipulate the entire device through the anal sphincter.
2Force
If expanding paddles are used to enlarge the vaginal cavity, then pressure can be applied to the rectocele, but the design complexity and active expansion operation during bowel movement increases
Solution Approach 1:
The expansion mechanism is extracted from the device, eliminating the need for complex linkage or balloon expansion systems. Instead, a simple rigid paddle of appropriate size is used that can be directly inserted and manipulated to apply pressure to the rectocele, reducing device complexity while maintaining the necessary force application capability.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of expanding a device to achieve the desired pressure and cavity enlargement, the approach is inverted by using a pre-sized paddle that provides immediate pressure when inserted. The paddle is designed to be the correct size from the beginning, eliminating the need for expansion operations during bowel movements.
3Ease of operation
If unitary spoon-like instruments are used to assist bowel movement, then temporary relief is provided during defecation, but the device cannot provide extended support and must be withdrawn after use
Solution Approach 1:
The paddle device serves multiple functions: it can be used temporarily during bowel movements to push the rectocele back into place, and it can also be left in place for extended periods to provide continuous support and prevention. The same basic device structure serves both immediate relief and long-term management, making it universally applicable to different user needs.
Data Source
AI summary
A rectocele device having a rectocele handle with a first paddle removably affixed to a rectocele paddle connector at a paddle connector end. A second paddle is configured to replace the first paddle after the first paddle is removed from the rectocele paddle connector. The first paddle is configured and sized to fit within a human vagina wherein the first paddle is only removable from the handle distal end when the first paddle is not deployed in the human vagina. The first paddle is shaped differently from the second paddle. The first or second paddle is inserted in a human vagina (by a woman using the rectocele device) wherein the first or second paddle can be leveraged against a rectocele via the rectocele handle thereby pushing the rectocele bulge back into the colon so that the woman can evacuate a bowel more efficiently.