Segmented Filament Joining for Thin Hernia Prosthesis
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing surgical prostheses for hernia repair are thick, rigid, and heavy due to an intermediate mesh, making them difficult to insert through a trocar and causing excessive inflammatory reactions and discomfort due to the large quantity of material.
Innovation Solution
A surgical prosthesis with a mesh joined to a barrier sheet via filaments spaced less than 5 mm apart, with each filament having multiple attachment points, providing flexibility and reduced mass, allowing easier handling and insertion, and minimizing inflammatory reactions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If an intermediate mesh is used to join the mesh to the barrier sheet, then the joining strength is improved, but the prosthesis becomes thick, rigid, and heavy
Solution Approach 1:
The intermediate mesh is segmented into multiple individual filaments spaced apart from each other. These filaments are distributed across the mesh surface, providing cumulative joining strength while maintaining flexibility and reducing overall mass compared to a solid intermediate mesh layer.
Solution Approach 2:
The thick, rigid intermediate mesh is replaced with thin filament structures that maintain the necessary mechanical strength for joining while allowing the prosthesis to remain flexible and thin for minimally invasive insertion through a trocar.
2Stability of the object's composition
If an intermediate mesh is used to join the mesh to the barrier sheet, then the structural stability is improved, but the ease of insertion through trocar deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The solid intermediate mesh is divided into discrete filaments spaced 1-5 mm apart, creating a segmented structure that maintains structural stability through distributed attachment points while allowing the material to flex and conform during minimally invasive insertion procedures.
Solution Approach 2:
The rigid intermediate mesh is replaced with a dynamic filament structure that can flex and adapt during insertion through the trocar, yet maintains structural stability once implanted. The filaments allow the prosthesis to transition from a flexible insertion state to a stable implanted state.
3Strength
If a large quantity of prosthetic material is used, then the reinforcement strength is improved, but the inflammatory response increases
Solution Approach 1:
The large continuous mesh is segmented into individual filaments spaced apart from each other. This segmentation reduces the total surface area in contact with host tissue while maintaining reinforcement strength through the distributed filament structure, thereby reducing the inflammatory response and scar tissue formation.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of using a uniform thick mesh throughout, the invention uses locally distributed filaments with specific spacing (1-5 mm apart). This creates areas of contact and areas of non-contact with tissue, optimizing reinforcement where needed while minimizing inflammatory response in other areas.
4Strength
If the mesh is made thick and rigid for strength, then the structural integrity is improved, but the flexibility and ease of handling deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The thick rigid mesh is segmented into individual filaments that are flexible and easy to handle during insertion. The segmented filament structure maintains structural integrity through the collective strength of multiple filaments while allowing flexibility for minimally invasive placement through a trocar.
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 prosthesis is thinner, lighter, and more resilient, enabling easier implantation and reducing inflammatory reactions, thus improving patient comfort and reducing abdominal wall rigidity.
Implementation Method 1
fused to the sheet
Implementation Method 2
fused to the sheet
Data Source
AI summary
A prosthesis for the treatment of hernias and/or laparoceles via an intraperitoneal route, having a mesh of filaments of non-resorbable and biocompatible polymer material having interstices permitting tissue growth and a sheet of polymer material having barrier properties and low adhesion to sensitive organs and tissues. The sheet is superimposed upon and joined to the mesh so as to form a stratified structure. In particular, the sheet is joined to mesh through a plurality of filaments located alongside each other at a spacing of not more than 5 mm. Each filament has a plurality of attachment sites to the mesh which are not more than 15 mm apart, and each length of filament between two successive attachment sites projects from the surface of the mesh facing sheet and is fused to the sheet.