Surgical Mesh Packaging Carrier Assembly Sterility

Solution Overview

Problem

Current packaging for surgical meshes is cumbersome, time-consuming to open, and compromises sterility, often requiring complete removal from packaging for alteration, and can cause tissue irritation due to tight folds.

Innovation Solution

A package assembly featuring two flexible protective elements that cover the mesh, allowing it to be removed without separating the entire package, along with a container for instruments, enabling efficient handling and sterilization while minimizing direct contact and crease formation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the mesh is placed in a sealed container with top and bottom package elements that must be separated to access the mesh, then sterility is maintained, but the steps to access the mesh become cumbersome and time-consuming

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovesterilityVSAvoidaccess time

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The package is divided into a carrier assembly containing the mesh and a separate container for instruments. The carrier assembly can be removed from the container as a unit, allowing instrument preparation while maintaining mesh sterility. This segmentation enables parallel operations and reduces overall access time.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The mesh is pre-positioned within the carrier assembly in a ready-to-implant state, with the carrier designed to be removed intact from the container. This preliminary arrangement eliminates the need to separately access and handle the mesh during the surgical workflow, reducing time consumption.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Adaptability or versatility

If the mesh is completely removed from packaging before alteration, then the mesh can be modified for the patient, but sterility must be re-established and handling complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemesh alterationVSAvoidhandling steps

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The mesh is pre-positioned within the carrier assembly in a ready-to-implant state, with the carrier designed to be removed intact from the container. This preliminary arrangement eliminates the need to separately access and handle the mesh during the surgical workflow, reducing time consumption.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The carrier assembly acts as an intermediary between the sealed container and the surgical field. It allows the mesh to be accessed and altered while maintaining a controlled transition from sterile packaging to surgical readiness, reducing handling complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Volume of moving object

If the mesh is folded tightly to reduce package size, then packaging efficiency improves, but creases are created that can cause tissue irritation

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepackage sizeVSAvoidtissue irritation

Core Design Contradiction:

Volume of moving objectVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The carrier assembly uses flexible protective elements that conform to the mesh shape without creating creases. These thin-film-like carriers protect the mesh while allowing it to remain flat and crease-free, eliminating tissue irritation risks.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

Solution Approach 2:

The package is divided into a carrier assembly containing the mesh and a separate container for instruments. The carrier assembly can be removed from the container as a unit, allowing instrument preparation while maintaining mesh sterility. This segmentation enables parallel operations and reduces overall access time.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentUS7481314B2Packaging assembly for surgical mesh implants

Publication Date: 2009.01.27 ETHICON INC

AI summary

A package assembly for surgical mesh including a carrier assembly including a first substantially flat, flexible protective element having a periphery and positioned in a first plane, and a second substantially flat, flexible protective element having a periphery and positioned in second plane parallel and substantially adjacent to the first plane; and a substantially flat, flexible surgical mesh having first and second sides and positioned between the first and second protective elements. The first and second protective elements are further dimensioned to substantially cover the first and second sides of the surgical mesh respectively. The first and second protective elements are joined together along at least a portion of their respective peripheries, but along no more of the periphery than that which will allow the first and second protective elements to be separated from one another to allow removal of the mesh by a user without separating the joined portion of their peripheries.