SWE-Guided Surgical Mesh Planning for Abdominal Tissue Support

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Solution Overview

Problem

Surgeons face challenges in making informed decisions regarding the use of surgical mesh post-laparotomy or ventral hernia repair, including mesh type, size, shape, and fixation, which can affect the efficacy of preventing incisional hernia recurrence.

Innovation Solution

A pre-operative decision support system using shear wave elastography (SWE) to measure abdominal tissue shear modulus, recommending mesh use, selecting appropriate mesh type, size, and fixation based on individual tissue properties, and generating composite images for surgical planning.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If surgical mesh is used following laparotomy or ventral hernia repair, then the support for abdominal tissue is improved, but the complexity of surgical decision-making increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveabdominal tissue supportVSAvoidsurgical decision-making complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces subjective surgical judgment with objective mechanical measurement. Shear wave elastography quantifies abdominal tissue mechanical properties (shear modulus) to generate evidence-based recommendations for mesh use, replacing the mechanical complexity of surgeon decision-making with an automated measurement and recommendation system.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces an intermediary decision support system between the surgeon and the final surgical decision. The system processes tissue mechanical measurements and provides evidence-based recommendations, acting as a mediator that simplifies the decision-making process while maintaining scientific rigor.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If surgeon makes errors in mesh decisions, then the efficacy of surgical mesh is reduced, but the risk of incisional hernia increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemesh efficacyVSAvoidincisional hernia risk

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements feedback by measuring actual abdominal tissue mechanical properties and using this information to adjust mesh placement decisions. The shear modulus measurements provide feedback on tissue quality, allowing surgeons to make informed decisions that account for individual patient anatomy and reduce the risk of hernia recurrence.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The patent performs preliminary assessment of abdominal tissue mechanical properties before surgery using shear wave elastography. This pre-operative measurement allows surgeons to plan mesh placement in advance based on objective tissue quality data, preventing errors that would occur with intraoperative decision-making under pressure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Measurement precision

If shear wave elastography is used to measure tissue properties, then the precision of surgical planning is improved, but the time required for pre-operative assessment increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetissue property measurement precisionVSAvoidpre-operative assessment time

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces time-consuming manual tissue assessment with automated shear wave elastography measurement. The system objectively measures shear modulus and other mechanical properties in minutes, replacing subjective visual inspection and physical examination that are both less precise and more time-consuming.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

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

Tailored pre-operative decisions improve the likelihood of successful laparotomy and ventral hernia repair outcomes by reducing surgeon error and preventing incisional hernia development or recurrence.

Implementation Method 1

receiving at least one shear modulus measurement acquired by shear wave elastography (SWE) that is representative of a shear modulus of abdominal tissue

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectShear wave elastography: Shear Stress

Data Source

PatentUS20260041489A1Support tool for planning use of surgical mesh following laparotomy or ventral hernia repair

Publication Date: 2026.02.12 COVIDIEN LP

AI summary

A system for pre-operative decision support includes a memory and a processor. The memory is configured to store a minimum threshold shear modulus or shear modulus range for abdominal tissue of a patient. The processor is configured to execute one or more programs to perform a plurality of operations. These operations include receiving at least one shear modulus measurement acquired by shear wave elastography (SWE) that is representative of a shear modulus of abdominal tissue of a patient within a predetermined distance of a planned abdominal incision, comparing the at least one shear modulus measurement with the minimum threshold shear modulus or shear modulus range, and outputting a recommendation regarding use of a surgical mesh following a laparotomy based upon the comparison.