Sling Implant Segmentation for Adjustable Tension
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing medical assemblies for incontinence repair face challenges in removing sleeves from implants without altering sling tension or location, and provide inadequate visual and tactile feedback for adjusting the implant, leading to inappropriate placement and treatment outcomes.
Innovation Solution
A medical assembly comprising an implant with a first and second sleeve, and elongate members that allow non-binding release of the sleeves, along with a tab for improved visual and tactile feedback, enabling precise adjustment and placement of the implant.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a single piece or connected sleeve is used to enclose the implant, then the implant is protected during delivery, but the sleeve prevents proper stretching and positioning adjustment of the implant
Solution Approach 1:
The sleeve is divided into multiple separate sleeves (first sleeve and second sleeve) that can be independently removed from the implant. This segmentation allows the implant to be protected during delivery when enclosed, and then enables proper stretching and positioning adjustment after selective removal of the sleeves, resolving the contradiction between protection and adjustability.
2Reliability
If the sleeve contacts the sling over a large surface area, then the implant is well protected, but frictional resistance increases and may reposition or disturb the sling location and tension
Solution Approach 1:
By dividing the protective covering into separate sleeves that can be selectively removed, the contact surface area between the sleeve and implant is effectively reduced during the critical adjustment phase. This allows minimal frictional resistance during removal while maintaining protection during delivery, thus preserving sling placement precision.
3Ease of operation
If the sleeve is used to deliver the implant, then delivery is facilitated, but the sleeve may inadvertently stretch or loosen the sling resulting in inappropriate placement
Solution Approach 1:
The sleeves are designed to be removed after delivery but before final positioning adjustment. This preliminary removal action eliminates the source of inadvertent stretching or loosening that would occur during the critical adjustment phase, while still maintaining the delivery facilitation benefit during the initial implantation phase.
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention discloses a medical assembly including an implant, a first sleeve (104), a second sleeve (106) and an elongate member. The implant has a first portion, a second portion and a mid portion. The first portion of the implant is configured to be enclosed by the first sleeve and the second portion of the implant is configured to be enclosed by the second sleeve. A first (110), second (112) and third (114) elongate members and a tab (108) coupled to the implant. The elongate member is configured to couple the implant with the first sleeve and the second sleeve and is configured to respectively extend from the first portion to the mid portion of the implant and past the mid portion such that the elongate member exits the implant through the mid portion and forms a loop near the mid portion.