Surgical Marking Device Ink Pad Inner Ring
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current surgical marking devices are inadequate for providing a highly visible and clearly defined mark on the skin, especially in breast and abdominoplasty surgeries, as they often produce temporary and irregular imprints or require free-hand drawing, leading to variability and inaccuracy.
Innovation Solution
A surgical marking device with a cylindrical body, an inner ring for precise placement, and an ink pad on the bottom edge that retains surgical ink for creating a lasting, visible mark on the skin, allowing for accurate and symmetrical markings.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Duration of action of moving object
If a metal cookie cutter device with ridged edge is used to create skin imprint, then the marking device is simple and easy to use, but the marking is temporary and disappears within seconds
Solution Approach 1:
The device separates the marking function into two distinct components: a ridged edge for creating the skin imprint and an ink pad for applying permanent ink. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specialized function effectively, with the ink pad providing lasting visibility while the ridged edge ensures proper positioning.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines the temporary imprint function (ridged edge) with the permanent marking function (ink pad) into a single integrated device. The ink pad is positioned on the bottom edge of the cylindrical body, allowing both functions to work together in sequence to achieve both accurate positioning and lasting visibility.
2Manufacturing precision
If free-hand drawing with pen on ridged edge is used to create ink pattern, then the device structure remains simple, but the marking is irregular and smudges
Solution Approach 1:
The ink pad is designed to transfer ink automatically when the device is pressed against the skin, eliminating the need for manual drawing or writing. The ridged edge creates the imprint and the ink pad simultaneously applies the ink pattern, making the system self-sufficient and removing human error from the marking process.
Solution Approach 2:
The ink pad acts as an intermediary between the ridged edge and the skin, receiving the imprint created by the ridged edge and transferring a refined ink pattern to the skin. This intermediary component ensures that the final marking is clean, precise, and free from the irregularities that would result from direct pen drawing.
3Illumination intensity
If surgeon stands at foot of bed to visualize and evaluate positioning, then the surgeon has good overview, but the marking is hard to see from great distance
Solution Approach 1:
The ink pad uses dark-colored ink that provides high contrast against the skin, making the marking highly visible from a distance. The ink is applied in a pattern that enhances visibility and allows the surgeon to easily evaluate positioning when standing at the foot of the bed.
4Ease of operation
If cookie cutter device with ridged edge is used, then the device is easy to operate, but the ink pattern is barely adequate and highly irregular
Solution Approach 1:
The device separates the positioning function (ridged edge creating imprint) from the marking function (ink pad applying ink). This allows the ridged edge to focus on ease of operation and proper positioning, while the ink pad focuses on producing a precise, regular ink pattern.
Solution Approach 2:
The ink pad serves as an intermediary that takes the simple imprint created by the ridged edge and transforms it into a precise, regular ink pattern. This intermediary component enhances marking precision without complicating the overall device operation.
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 device provides a reliable, highly visible, and clearly defined marking that remains visible during the surgical procedure, improving precision and reducing variability, especially for breast and abdominoplasty surgeries.
Implementation Method 1
an ink pad on a bottom edge of the cylindrical body, the ink pad being configured to hold a quantity of ink for application to a body of a patient
Data Source
AI summary
A surgical marking device includes cylindrical body having a top edge and a bottom edge, an inner ring mounted concentrically within the cylindrical body, and an ink pad on a bottom edge of the cylindrical body, the ink pad being configured to hold a quantity of ink for application to a body of a patient.