Specimen Retrieval Bag with Air Evacuation Conduit

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Solution Overview

Problem

Minimally invasive thoracic surgery faces challenges in retrieving large specimens due to restricted access and maneuverability, requiring a balance between containment and rigidity to prevent tissue trauma and cancer cell seeding, while accommodating various patient sizes and specimen sizes.

Innovation Solution

A specimen retrieval device with a deployable bag featuring a conduit for air evacuation, made from compressible open cell material, and textured surfaces, allowing for easy deployment and closure to facilitate the removal of large specimens through small access ports while minimizing tissue damage and cancer cell seeding.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a strong containment bag is used to prevent tearing or rupture, then specimen containment reliability is improved, but device rigidity increases making manipulation and removal more difficult

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontainment reliabilityVSAvoidmanipulation ease

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The retrieval bag is constructed from flexible material that can be collapsed into a compact configuration for insertion through small ports, then expanded to provide a containment envelope for specimen retrieval. The flexible nature allows easy manipulation while maintaining containment integrity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

2Object-affected harmful factors

If the instrumentation is designed to be inserted through a small access incision, then tissue trauma is reduced, but the ability to accommodate large specimens and various patient sizes is limited

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetissue traumaVSAvoidspecimen accommodation capacity

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The retrieval bag is designed to be nested within a delivery catheter or applicator device. The bag collapses into a compact form that fits within the catheter, allowing insertion through small ports. Once deployed, the bag expands to accommodate large specimens while the catheter provides structural support for maneuverability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Solution Approach 2:

The retrieval bag transitions from a collapsed static state during insertion to an expanded dynamic state during specimen retrieval. This dynamic transformation allows the device to adapt to different specimen sizes and patient anatomies while maintaining access through small ports.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

3Ease of operation

If the containment bag is made highly flexible for easy manipulation, then ease of operation is improved, but the risk of bag tearing or rupture increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemanipulation easeVSAvoidcontainment integrity

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The retrieval bag is constructed from composite materials that combine flexibility for manipulation with tensile strength for containment integrity. The material properties are engineered to provide both ease of handling and resistance to tearing or rupture during specimen retrieval.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

Data Source

PatentEP2436315B1Specimen retrieval device

Publication Date: 2020.03.04 COVIDIEN LP

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Figure 1A
Figure 1B

AI summary

A specimen retrieval device is provided. The specimen retrieval device includes an applicator. A specimen retrieval bag is operably disposed within the applicator and deployable therefrom. The specimen retrieval bag includes a conduit configured to evacuate air from the specimen retrieval bag.