Rollable Sleeve Uterine Manipulator for Stable Colpotomy
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional uterine manipulators used in hysterectomy procedures lack the ability to securely position the uterus during colpotomy, leading to challenges in facilitating the separation and removal of the uterus due to limited flexibility and stability.
Innovation Solution
A uterine manipulator system featuring an elongated shaft, a colpotomy cup, a distal shaft with a rollable sleeve that can inflate and expand, providing enhanced flexibility and stability by securing itself within the uterus through inflation with fluid, allowing for precise positioning and manipulation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a conventional rigid uterine manipulator is used, then the structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but the flexibility and ability to securely position the uterus is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The manipulator incorporates a rollable sleeve that can transition between coiled and uncoiled states, allowing the device to dynamically adapt its length and shape. This dynamic structure enables the manipulator to navigate the cervical canal effectively while providing secure positioning capability, resolving the contradiction between flexibility and structural simplicity.
Solution Approach 2:
The rollable sleeve is constructed as a flexible thin-walled structure that can be compressed into a compact coil for insertion and then expanded to provide structural support and secure positioning. This flexible shell design allows the manipulator to achieve both flexibility during insertion and stability during use, without requiring a complex rigid structure.
2Reliability
If the rollable sleeve is made sufficiently elastic to expand, then the securing capability within the uterus is improved, but the device complexity and manufacturing difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The rollable sleeve utilizes changes in physical parameters (elasticity, expandability) of a single polymeric material to achieve secure positioning. By selecting a polymer with appropriate elastic properties, the sleeve can be inflated or expanded within the uterus to conform to tissue contours and provide secure anchoring, while maintaining manufacturing simplicity through the use of a single material type.
3Reliability
If the rollable sleeve is inflated with fluid, then the stability and positioning accuracy are improved, but the risk of fluid leakage and infection increases
Solution Approach 1:
The rollable sleeve is designed as a flexible thin-walled structure that can be inflated with fluid to provide stable positioning. The flexible shell contains the inflation fluid while maintaining the ability to conform to uterine contours, achieving positioning stability without requiring complex rigid containment structures that could create infection risks.
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
The system ensures secure positioning of the uterus, facilitating precise surgical procedures by maintaining stability and flexibility, thereby improving the efficiency and accuracy of colpotomy operations.
Implementation Method 1
The rollable sleeve may be sufficiently elastic to expand away from the distal shaft when the rollable sleeve receives inflation fluid within a pocket defined by an inner surface of rollable sleeve
Data Source
AI summary
A uterine manipulator includes an elongated shaft, a colpotomy cup supported on the elongated shaft, a distal shaft extending distally from the colpotomy cup to a distal tip, and a rollable sleeve supported on the distal tip.