Specimen Removal Pouch Gas Venting Hydrophobic Porous Valve
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Solution Overview
Problem
During minimally invasive surgical procedures, it is challenging to remove specimens via small incisions or cannulas when air is trapped within the collection pouch, leading to increased volume and risk of pouch rupture, which can result in specimen spillage and potential infection or cancer cell dissemination.
Innovation Solution
A specimen removal pouch with a gas vent, made from hydrophobic materials or porous elements, is designed to release trapped air, reducing the pouch's volume and facilitating its removal through small openings, while maintaining the integrity of the specimen and preventing fluid leakage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If air is trapped within the collection pouch during minimally invasive surgery, then the pouch volume increases, but this makes the pouch difficult to remove through small incisions and increases the risk of rupture
Solution Approach 1:
The pouch incorporates a hydrophobic porous valve that allows gas to pass through while preventing fluid leakage. The porous structure enables selective permeability based on surface tension differences between gas and liquid phases, allowing the pouch to vent trapped air during removal while maintaining specimen containment
Solution Approach 2:
The invention extracts the harmful element (trapped gas) from the pouch system by providing a dedicated gas venting pathway. The hydrophobic valve selectively removes gas while retaining fluid, reducing pouch volume and facilitating easy removal through small incisions without compromising specimen integrity
2Ease of operation
If the pouch volume is reduced by removing trapped air, then the ease of removal through small incisions is improved, but the structural integrity must be maintained to prevent specimen spillage
Solution Approach 1:
The hydrophobic porous valve material provides selective permeability where the pore structure allows gas molecules to pass through while the hydrophobic surface tension properties prevent liquid specimen from leaking. This maintains pouch integrity during the gas venting process
Solution Approach 2:
The pouch incorporates a localized hydrophobic porous valve at the gas venting location, while the rest of the pouch maintains its standard fluid-impermeable properties. This local modification enables gas venting without compromising the overall containment integrity of the pouch
3Ease of operation
If a gas venting mechanism is added to the pouch, then the ease of removal is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The gas venting function is achieved through a simple hydrophobic porous valve rather than a complex mechanical system. The passive operation based on surface tension differences eliminates the need for pumps, valves, or control mechanisms, maintaining pouch simplicity while enabling gas venting
Solution Approach 2:
The hydrophobic porous valve operates automatically based on the physical properties of the materials involved. Gas is vented passively when the pouch is manipulated for removal, without requiring external power sources, control systems, or active intervention, thus avoiding added 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 gas venting mechanism effectively reduces the pouch's size, minimizing the risk of rupture and specimen spillage, thereby enhancing the safety and efficacy of specimen removal during minimally invasive surgeries.
Implementation Method 1
The gas vent includes a hydrophobic material for removing gas from the interior portion of the pouch
Implementation Method 2
The gas vent may include a hydrophobic material and/or may be porous
Data Source
AI summary
A removal pouch that is utilized for removing body tissue from the interior of the body as part of a minimally invasive surgical procedure. The specimen removal pouch includes an elongated body and a gas vent. The elongated body has an interior portion to collect specimen from a body cavity of a patient. The gas vent is configured to allow passage of gas from the interior portion of the elongated body to an external environment during removal of the pouch from within the body cavity of a patient.