Tissue Expander for Scarless Neo-Umbilicus Creation
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current abdominoplasty techniques face challenges in achieving a natural-appearing umbilicus without scars, particularly due to high tension on incisions leading to hypertrophic scars and keloids, and the inability to position the neo-umbilicus aesthetically regardless of the native umbilicus location.
Innovation Solution
A novel tissue expander device is anchored to the abdominal skin, expanded with saline to grow a skin tube, and then secured to the abdominal wall fascia, creating a scarless neo-umbilicus at the most aesthetic location, avoiding incisions and associated scar-related deformities.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If traditional umbilical transposition technique is used, then the native umbilical stalk is repositioned through incisions, but this results in visible periumbilical scars and high tension on incisions leading to hypertrophic scars and keloids
Solution Approach 1:
A tissue expander device is implanted in the subcutaneous space before the abdominoplasty procedure to gradually expand the skin and create a skin tube. This preliminary expansion reduces skin tension and prepares the tissue for subsequent umbilical repositioning without requiring periumbilical incisions, thereby preventing scar formation and tension-related complications.
Solution Approach 2:
The tissue expander device acts as an intermediary tool that facilitates skin expansion and neo-umbilicus creation without direct incision into the umbilical area. The expander gradually stretches the skin to form a tube-like structure that can be used for umbilical repositioning, eliminating the need for traditional periumbilical incisions and subsequent scarring.
2Adaptability or versatility
If periumbilical incisions are made for umbilical transposition, then the umbilicus can be repositioned, but this creates visible scars that remain visible in any clothing revealing the central abdomen
Solution Approach 1:
The tissue expander is implanted and inflated in the pre-operative period to create a skin tube and neo-umbilicus structure before the actual umbilical repositioning is performed. This preliminary preparation allows the surgeon to reposition the umbilicus through the pre-formed skin tube without making visible periumbilical incisions, thereby achieving umbilical repositioning capability while avoiding visible scarring.
Solution Approach 2:
The tissue expander serves as an intermediary device that creates a subcutaneous tunnel and skin tube through which the umbilicus can be repositioned. This intermediary structure eliminates the need for direct periumbilical incisions, allowing versatile umbilical repositioning while keeping the abdominal surface scar-free.
3Quantity of substance
If the abdominal skin is expanded using a tissue expander, then adequate skin can be obtained for creating a neo-umbilicus, but this requires additional surgical steps and time
Solution Approach 1:
The tissue expander is implanted and inflated in the pre-operative period to gradually expand the skin and create adequate tissue for neo-umbilicus formation. This preliminary action allows the surgeon to obtain sufficient skin without compromising blood supply or creating excessive tension, and the expansion process can be performed over several weeks or months before the final reconstructive procedure.
Solution Approach 2:
The tissue expander allows for dynamic adjustment of the expansion process through controlled inflation and deflation cycles. The expander can be gradually inflated over time to achieve the desired skin expansion while monitoring for complications, allowing flexible adaptation to individual patient needs and minimizing the need for additional corrective procedures.
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
This method allows for the creation of a natural-appearing, scarless neo-umbilicus with reduced risk of scarring and improved aesthetic positioning, addressing the limitations of existing techniques by providing adequate skin and avoiding tension-related complications.
Implementation Method 1
injected with saline to fill an expander balloon of the expander device in a postoperative setting over the course of days to weeks to grow a skin tube
Implementation Method 2
expand and grow the overlying abdominal skin into a tubular form via physiologic processes called 'mechanical and biological creep'
Data Source
AI summary
A novel tissue expander device is described herein. The device creates a scarless, natural-appearing neo-umbilicus in the surgical field either when one does not exist due to congenital or acquired causes, or when performing a full abdominoplasty necessitating umbilical repositioning. Specifically, the device can be anchored to the undersurface of the abdominal skin at the most aesthetic location for an umbilicus, and injected with saline to fill an expander balloon in the postoperative setting over the course of days to weeks to grow a skin tube. The device is removed during a second procedure to allow the skin tube to be inverted and attached to the abdominal wall fascia as a neo-umbilicus.