Segmented Surgical Drain with Alphanumeric Labels for Removal Verification

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Solution Overview

Problem

Surgical drains often tear during removal, risking foreign objects being left inside the body, which can cause infections due to their perforated design for enhanced fluid flow, making it difficult to ensure complete removal.

Innovation Solution

A surgical drain with a first end featuring a plurality of alphanumerically labeled segments, allowing for precise sizing and confirmation of removal by matching terminal labels, ensuring no part is left inside the organism.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If surgical drain is perforated to enhance fluid flow, then fluid drainage efficiency is improved, but the drain becomes more prone to tearing during removal

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefluid drainage efficiencyVSAvoiddrain integrity during removal

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The drain is divided into multiple segments with alphanumeric labels, allowing verification of complete removal by checking that all segments are accounted for outside the body

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The alphanumeric labeling system provides feedback mechanism to confirm complete drain removal by matching the terminal label with the recorded label before insertion

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

2Productivity

If surgical drain is removed by pulling, then fluid removal function is completed, but foreign objects may be left inside the body

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefluid removal efficiencyVSAvoidrisk of retained foreign objects

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The terminal alphanumeric label is recorded before drain insertion, enabling verification of complete removal before the removal process begins

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The labeling system provides feedback confirmation that the entire drain has been removed by matching the terminal label with the recorded label

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

3Productivity

If surgical drain is heavily perforated for enhanced fluid flow, then drainage performance is improved, but difficulty in detecting complete removal increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefluid flow enhancementVSAvoidverification of complete removal

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDifficulty of detecting and measuring

Solution Approach 1:

The drain is segmented into labeled sections, making it easy to verify complete removal by confirming all segments are outside the body

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Alphanumeric labels provide visual identification to track and confirm complete drain removal

Inventive Principle:

Principle #32Color changes

Data Source

PatentUS8398613B1Method and apparatus for draining fluid from an organism

Publication Date: 2013.03.19 HAHN MICHAEL R

AI summary

A surgical drain and method for using the same. The surgical drain comprises a first end, which may be sized for placement within an organism. The first end features a plurality of segments, each labeled with an alphanumeric character. The first end may be cut at a line between two of the segments. The alphanumeric character at the terminal end of the first end after cutting is recorded prior to placing the drain within the organism. When removing the drain, the recorded alphanumeric character is compared with the character at a terminal end of the first end of the surgical drain. Thus, a treating professional can ensure that no portion of the surgical drain is left within the wound, preventing infection due to a foreign object left within the organism.