Specimen Retrieval Bag Vacuum Sealing for Small-Incision Removal
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing minimally invasive surgical procedures face challenges when removing large tissue specimens, as they often require enlarging incisions or morcellating the specimen, which can lead to complications such as bag rupture and the risk of cancer cell spread.
Innovation Solution
A method and bag system for tissue specimen removal that involves introducing a bag with a hermetic seal and port, positioning the specimen inside, evacuating gas through the port to compress the specimen, and withdrawing the bag without enlarging the incision, using a suction device and optional spring elements to facilitate insertion and sealing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the access incision is enlarged to allow passage of large tissue specimens, then the specimen can be removed intact, but the trauma to the patient increases
Solution Approach 1:
The tissue specimen is placed inside a collapsible bag that can be compressed to reduce its volume. The bag itself is inserted through a small incision in a collapsed state, expanded to receive the specimen, then recollapsed for removal. This nesting approach allows the specimen to be removed intact through a small incision without requiring the incision to be enlarged.
Solution Approach 2:
The volume parameter of the bag containing the specimen is dynamically changed by evacuating gas from the bag. This transforms the bag from an expanded state (when receiving the specimen) to a compressed state (when removing it through the incision), enabling the specimen to pass through a small opening without enlargement.
2Ease of operation
If the tissue specimen is cut or morcellated into smaller pieces for removal, then the specimen can be extracted through the original incision, but the risk of bag rupture and cancer cell spread increases
Solution Approach 1:
The bag is prepared in advance with a hermetic seal and gas evacuation system before the specimen is placed inside. This preliminary preparation ensures that the bag can maintain a vacuum state and prevent specimen leakage or bag rupture during the removal process, eliminating the need for morcellation.
Solution Approach 2:
Gas is evacuated from the bag using vacuum pressure to compress the specimen and reduce bag volume for removal. The pneumatic system maintains negative pressure within the bag, preventing specimen leakage and ensuring intact containment during extraction through the incision.
3Productivity
If a sucker is inserted through the bag opening to evacuate gas, then the bag can be compressed for removal, but creating and sustaining a sufficient seal becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The gas evacuation port and hermetic seal mechanism are merged into an integrated system where the port is surrounded by a sealing structure that combines the suction function and sealing function in one component. This eliminates the need for separate binding materials and simplifies the sealing process while maintaining effective vacuum evacuation.
4Reliability
If binding material is added around the bag and sucker to create a seal, then proper vacuuming can occur, but the procedure becomes more complicated
Solution Approach 1:
The bag includes an integrated sealing structure that automatically creates the hermetic seal when the port is engaged with the suction device. The sealing mechanism is self-contained and does not require external binding materials or additional procedural steps, simplifying the overall process while maintaining reliable vacuum evacuation.
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
Enables safe and efficient removal of large tissue specimens through small incisions, reducing trauma and minimizing the risk of cancer cell spread by maintaining a hermetic seal and controlled vacuuming.
Implementation Method 1
removing gas from the interior of the bag through the port while the tissue specimen is contained in the interior of the bag
Implementation Method 2
a sucker is inserted into the opening of the specimen bag to suck out liquid and air from the bag
Implementation Method 3
The spring element may be made from an elastic metal or alloy
Data Source
AI summary
A method for removing a tissue specimen from a patient includes introducing a bag at least partially into a cavity in the body of the patient, the bag comprising an open end and a port, positioning a tissue specimen to be removed from the patient into an interior of the bag by passing the tissue specimen through the open end of the bag, sealing the open end of the bag, removing gas from the interior of the bag through the port while the tissue specimen is contained in the interior of the bag, and entirely withdrawing the bag containing the tissue specimen from the cavity. The bag may include a closure device configured to hermetically seal the open end of the bag, and the port may include a one-way gas valve configured to prevent or retard gas from entering the interior of the bag through the port.