Segmented Surgical Sponge with Stitches for Laparoscopic Retrieval
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional surgical sponges have limitations such as poor absorption of surgical fluids, disintegration when wet, tangling with surgical instruments, and difficulty in deployment and retrieval through cannulas during laparoscopic surgery.
Innovation Solution
The surgical sponge features an elongate, flattened shape with multiple compressed layers and stitches to maintain its structure, allowing it to absorb fluids effectively while remaining intact when wet, and is designed for easy deployment and retrieval through cannulas with a ratio of width to thickness of at least 5:1 and a tapered end for easier handling.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If conventional surgical sponges are used, then they can absorb surgical fluids, but they disintegrate when wet and do not stay intact
Solution Approach 1:
The surgical sponge combines hydrophilic foam material with hydrophobic coating material to create a composite structure. The hydrophilic foam absorbs surgical fluids while the hydrophobic coating prevents saturation and maintains structural integrity, resolving the contradiction between fluid absorption and structural stability when wet.
Solution Approach 2:
The sponge incorporates superabsorbent polymer particles that change their absorption parameters based on fluid exposure. These particles can absorb hundreds of times their weight in fluid while maintaining gel structure, allowing the sponge to absorb fluids effectively without disintegrating, thus resolving the contradiction between absorption capacity and structural integrity.
2Adaptability or versatility
If conventional surgical sponges are used, then they can perform surgical functions, but they are cumbersome and get tangled with surgical instruments
Solution Approach 1:
The surgical sponge is divided into multiple interconnected spherical beads or granules rather than a single large mass. This segmentation allows the sponge to conform to surgical sites, reduces tangling with instruments, and improves ease of handling while maintaining surgical functionality through the collective absorption capacity of all beads.
Solution Approach 2:
The sponge incorporates flexible hydrophobic coating films around each hydrophilic bead, creating a flexible composite structure. These thin flexible coatings prevent the beads from sticking together and tangling with surgical instruments, while still allowing fluid absorption, thus resolving the contradiction between functionality and ease of operation.
3Quantity of substance
If conventional surgical sponges are used, then they can absorb fluids, but they are difficult to deploy and retrieve through cannulas in laparoscopic surgery
Solution Approach 1:
The sponge is segmented into small spherical beads that can easily pass through narrow cannulas used in laparoscopic surgery. Each bead maintains fluid absorption capability while the small size and spherical shape facilitate easy deployment through tight spaces and retrieval, resolving the contradiction between absorption capacity and ease of deployment.
Solution Approach 2:
The sponge transitions from a traditional two-dimensional flat sheet structure to a three-dimensional segmented spherical bead structure. This dimensional change allows the sponge to pass through narrow cannulas in laparoscopic procedures while maintaining high fluid absorption capacity through the volumetric structure of multiple beads.
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 improved design enhances absorption, maintains structural integrity when wet, and facilitates easier handling and retrieval during surgical procedures, addressing the shortcomings of conventional sponges.
Implementation Method 1
better absorption of surgical fluids is desired
Implementation Method 2
enhances absorption
Data Source
AI summary
A surgical sponge including sponge material configured in an elongate sponge having at least two layers and a flattened shape characterized by a generally flat upper surface, a generally flat lower surface. The sponge has a thickness that is substantially less than a width of the sponge, a reduced dimension end of the elongate sponge having an end length and reducing in dimension distally along the end length. Stitches are located along the length of the sponge to maintain the flattened shape of the sponge.