Tissue Expander Port Isolation for Integrated Seroma Drainage
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional tissue expanders lack integrated drainage and fill port assemblies that prevent cross-contamination of fluids and minimize infection risk, while also requiring external surgical drains for fluid removal, which are cumbersome and risky.
Innovation Solution
The tissue expander design includes separate fill and drain port assemblies, with the fill port in the superior zone and drain port in the inferior zone of the anterior wall, isolated to prevent cross-contamination, and features a self-sealing membrane to minimize leakage and mechanical failure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a single port is used for both filling and drainage in conventional tissue expanders, then the device complexity is reduced, but cross-contamination of fluids occurs between filling and drainage functions
Solution Approach 1:
The port assembly is segmented into separate fill and drain port assemblies, each with dedicated access points and internal pathways. The fill port assembly includes a fill port septum and fill port needle guard, while the drain port assembly includes a drain port septum and drain port needle guard, preventing fluid cross-contamination while maintaining manageable device complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The drainage function is extracted from the fill port assembly and implemented as a separate drain port assembly. This allows independent access to the drainage channel through drainage holes in the shell, separating the filling and drainage pathways to eliminate cross-contamination risks
2Productivity
If external surgical drains are used to drain seroma fluid, then drainage function is achieved, but patient comfort deteriorates and infection risk increases
Solution Approach 1:
The drainage function is merged with the tissue expander shell by integrating drainage holes and a drain port assembly into the shell structure. This eliminates the need for separate external surgical drains, maintaining effective seroma drainage while reducing infection risk and improving patient comfort through a single implanted device
Solution Approach 2:
The tissue expander provides self-drainage capability through integrated drainage holes in the shell and a drain port assembly, allowing the device to drain seroma fluid independently without requiring external surgical drains or additional external components
3Ease of operation
If the drain port is located in the superior region of the breast, then access is improved, but infection risk increases due to exposure to drainage fluid
Solution Approach 1:
The drain port assembly is positioned asymmetrically in the inferior zone of the shell, opposite to the fill port assembly which is in the superior zone. This asymmetric positioning places the drain port in a location less susceptible to infection while maintaining accessibility for drainage procedures
4Reliability
If a self-sealing membrane is added to prevent deflation, then reliability improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
A self-sealing membrane is integrated into the port assembly structure to prevent shell deflation. This thin film component automatically seals when needles are removed, providing reliable deflation prevention while maintaining a relatively simple overall device structure through the use of flexible sealing materials
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 design allows for efficient fluid management within the tissue expander, reducing the need for external drains and minimizing infection risk by isolating fill and drain ports, thereby enhancing patient comfort and safety.
Implementation Method 1
a self-sealing membrane that partially surrounds and/or covers areas outside the drain
Data Source
AI summary
A tissue expander includes a shell having an anterior wall with superior and inferior zones, and one or more drainage openings formed in the inferior zone. A fill port assembly is located within the superior zone, and a drain port assembly is located within the inferior zone and is in fluid communication with the one or more drainage openings. The fill port assembly is isolated from the drain port assembly that is located within the inferior zone. The drain port assembly includes a drain cover having an elongated body, a central hub, one or more fluid reservoirs between the first and second ends of the elongated body, and an outer face that surrounds the fluid reservoirs. The outer face of the drain cover is secured to an inner surface of the anterior wall and surrounds the one or more drainage openings formed in the inferior zone of the shell.