Self-Expandable Hernia Implant with Resilient Ring
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional thoracoscopic repair methods for congenital diaphragmatic hernias face challenges with suture tension on large defects, requiring demanding skills and increasing the risk of recurrence, especially due to the complexity of suturing and potential injury to underlying viscera.
Innovation Solution
A self-expandable surgical implant with a folding pocket and a resilient ring that stabilizes the implant when placed in the abdominal side, allowing for easier suturing and minimizing visceral injury, featuring a central suture for traction and a mesh design that facilitates secure attachment to the diaphragmatic rim.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If primary closure with tight sutures is used, then the risk of recurrence is reduced, but the risk of injury to underlying viscera increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a patch as an intermediary element between the suture and the underlying viscera. The patch distributes the suture tension across a larger area, preventing concentrated forces that could injure the viscera while maintaining closure effectiveness. The patch acts as a mediator that allows tight suturing without direct transmission of harmful forces to the organs.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the physical parameters of the repair by introducing a patch with specific mechanical properties (flexibility, tensile strength, porosity). This allows the suture tension to be distributed over a larger area, reducing the stress concentration on any single point of the viscera while maintaining the overall closure integrity.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If patches are used, then the risk of visceral injury is reduced, but the surgical skill requirement increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patch is pre-formed with specific dimensions, shape, and mechanical properties before surgery. This preliminary preparation eliminates the need for the surgeon to manually shape or condition the patch during the procedure, reducing the skill requirement while maintaining the protective function against visceral injury.
Solution Approach 2:
The patch's physical parameters (size, shape, material properties) are optimized in advance to provide the necessary support and protection. This pre-optimization reduces the complexity of intraoperative adjustments and lowers the skill threshold for successful implantation.
3Productivity
If self-expandable mesh is used, then surgical time is reduced, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The mesh is designed with self-expandable characteristics, transitioning from a compressed delivery state to an expanded functional state after implantation. This dynamic behavior allows the mesh to be delivered through a small incision and then automatically expand to its functional configuration, reducing surgical time while the self-expansion mechanism accounts for the increased device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The mesh is delivered in a compressed or folded state within a delivery system, similar to a nested doll structure. This nesting allows the large-surface-area mesh to be delivered through a small incision and then deployed to its full size, reducing surgical time while the nested delivery mechanism contributes to the overall device complexity.
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 self-expandable mesh reduces surgical time, improves the quality of suturing, and decreases the risk of visceral injury, making the procedure safer and more efficient, particularly for large defects, while providing a stable and secure closure.
Implementation Method 1
A resilient ring is received within the peripheral pocket and is configured to apply tension to the body
Data Source
AI summary
A self-expandable double-sided surgical implant including a peripheral pocket receiving an expansion ring. The surgical implant may be used for the correction of congenital diaphragmatic hernias.