Surgical Repair Kit Packaging with Segmented Compartments

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional packaging methods for surgical meshes and plugs often result in damage or alteration of the devices during manufacturing, sterilization, shipping, and storage, making it difficult to maintain their shape and usability for surgical procedures.

Innovation Solution

The development of specialized packages with separate compartments and design features such as recesses, protrusions, and intermediate walls that maintain the shape of surgical meshes and plugs, allowing for independent storage and sealing to prevent damage and maintain sterility.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If conventional packaging methods are used for surgical meshes and plugs, then the packaging is simple and easy to manufacture, but the devices may be damaged or have their shape altered during manufacturing, sterilization, shipping, and storage

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedevice integrityVSAvoidpackage structure

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The package is divided into separate compartments: a first compartment for the surgical mesh and a second compartment for the surgical plug. This segmentation prevents the devices from contacting each other and being damaged, while maintaining a relatively simple overall package structure that is easy to manufacture.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Shape

If surgical mesh and plugs are stored together in the same compartment, then the package structure is simple, but the shape of the devices may be altered or damaged

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedevice shapeVSAvoidpackage structure

Core Design Contradiction:

ShapeVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The package includes a first compartment for the surgical mesh and a second compartment for the surgical plug, physically separating the two devices. This prevents the plug from being crushed by the mesh and maintains the intended three-dimensional shape of both devices throughout storage and transport.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The second compartment includes a protrusion that locally conforms to the three-dimensional shape of the surgical plug, providing customized support exactly where needed to maintain the plug's shape, while the rest of the package structure remains relatively simple.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

3Ease of operation

If the package allows devices to be flexible and reconfigurable, then the devices are easier to implant, but it is difficult to prevent alteration of the implants during manufacturing, sterilizing, shipping, and storing

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveimplantabilityVSAvoidshape maintenance

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

By separating the mesh and plug into different compartments, the package allows each device to maintain its intended configuration independently during storage and transport, while still permitting the surgeon to manipulate and reconfigure the devices as needed during the implantation procedure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentUS9956068B2Package for a surgical repair kit

Publication Date: 2018.05.01 COVIDIEN LP

AI summary

The present disclosure relates to a package for a surgical repair kit, the package including at least a first area configured and dimensioned to receive a surgical mesh and a second area configured and dimensioned to receive an implantable plug.