Skirted Hernia Repair Device Reinforcement Members

The patent applies preliminary action by pre-positioning reinforcement members at specific locations on the device before implantation. These reinforcement members are placed to prevent inversion during the surgical procedure, ensuring the device maintains its correct orientation when the surgeon attempts to secure it to the tissue. This preliminary structural preparation resolves the contradiction by making the device easier to secure while maintaining its reliability benefits.

The patent applies local quality by placing reinforcement members at specific strategic locations on the skirt mesh layer rather than uniformly throughout the entire device. These localized reinforcement elements provide stability precisely where needed to prevent inversion during handling and securing, while leaving the rest of the mesh layer flexible and adaptable for tissue integration. This localized approach resolves the contradiction between flexibility and stability.

The patent applies segmentation by dividing the reinforcement function into discrete, separate reinforcement members rather than creating a single complex reinforcement structure. These individual reinforcement members can be independently positioned and secured to the skirt mesh layer, providing stability while maintaining relatively simple device architecture. The segmentation approach resolves the contradiction by achieving stability without excessive complexity.