Surgical Barrier Deployment Device With Hydrophobic Mesh
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing surgical barriers for preventing adhesions are difficult to apply during laparoscopic procedures due to size constraints and the risk of adhering to unintended tissues or instruments, requiring an improved device for effective deployment.
Innovation Solution
A barrier application device with a handle, introducer assembly, beam assembly, and flex joint that allows for the deployment of a barrier at a surgical site, featuring a flag that can be wound around the beam assembly and a hydrophobic mesh to prevent adhesion, facilitating precise placement and orientation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a film-like barrier is used to prevent adhesions, then adhesion prevention effectiveness is improved, but difficulty in insertion through small trocar increases
Solution Approach 1:
The flag is inserted through the introducer tube in a collapsed state and then expanded to its original form at the surgical site, similar to how nested dolls are placed inside each other and then deployed. This allows the barrier to pass through the small trocar in a compact configuration and then expand to provide adequate coverage at the surgical site.
Solution Approach 2:
The barrier transitions from a static collapsed state during insertion to an expanded dynamic state at the surgical site. The flag can be deployed in different orientations and configurations to adapt to the specific surgical anatomy, providing flexibility in deployment while maintaining adhesion prevention effectiveness.
2Area of stationary object
If the film-like barrier is expanded to original form, then adhesion coverage is improved, but risk of adhering to unintended tissues increases
Solution Approach 1:
The barrier material has different properties on different sides: one surface is designed to be non-stick to prevent adherence to unintended tissues, while the other surface can adhere to the surgical site. This local differentiation of material properties allows the barrier to provide coverage while minimizing harmful adhesions to surrounding structures.
Solution Approach 2:
The introducer assembly acts as an intermediary device that controls the deployment of the barrier. It allows precise placement of the barrier at the intended surgical site while preventing contact with unintended tissues during insertion and deployment, thus mediating between the barrier and surrounding structures.
3Ease of operation
If the film-like barrier contacts liquid, then barrier expansion is facilitated, but sticky adhesion to trocar and unintended tissue occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The barrier material has different surface properties: one side is designed to be hydrophobic or non-stick to prevent adhesion to the trocar and unintended tissues when contact with liquid occurs, while the other side can expand properly upon liquid contact. This local differentiation resolves the contradiction between expansion facilitation and preventing harmful sticky adhesion.
4Reliability
If multiple barriers are used to adequately cover surgical site, then adhesion prevention effectiveness is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
A single barrier is designed to be dynamically deployable in multiple orientations and configurations to adapt to different surgical site geometries. The flag can be expanded and positioned to provide adequate coverage for various anatomical structures, eliminating the need for multiple separate barriers while maintaining adhesion prevention effectiveness.
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 efficient and precise deployment of barriers at surgical sites, reducing the risk of adhesion to unintended tissues and instruments, and ensuring effective prevention of post-operative complications like delayed healing and infection.
Implementation Method 1
a hydrophobic mesh to prevent adhesion
Data Source
Figure 1A~1B
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
Described is a barrier application device comprising a handle, an introducer assembly slidably and rotatably coupled to the handle, a beam assembly coupled to a distal end of the handle, and a flag coupled to the beam assembly. A method of using a barrier application device comprises providing a device comprising a handle, an introducer assembly slidably and rotatably coupled to the handle, a beam assembly coupled to a distal end of the handle, and a flag coupled to the beam assembly, and placing a barrier on the flag, sliding the introducer assembly along the handle from a retracted position to an extended position at least partially covering the beam assembly, and rotating the handle relative to the introducer assembly until the flag and the barrier are wound around the beam assembly.