Umbilical Hernia Prosthesis with Foldable Frame and Anchor Pieces
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing hernia repair prostheses face challenges in being easily positioned, spread out, and fixed, especially in small hernias like umbilical hernias, where limited working space and visibility complicate the surgical process.
Innovation Solution
A prosthesis designed with a flexible mesh and a reinforcing frame that can be folded for easy introduction, featuring anchor pieces for secure fixation without peripheral sutures, allowing for optimal deployment and positioning even in confined spaces.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the prosthesis is folded to reduce volume for introduction, then the ease of operation is improved, but the mesh may form creases and fail to spread perfectly against the abdominal wall
Solution Approach 1:
The prosthesis is divided into a mesh portion and a separate reinforcing frame portion. The frame acts as a rigid scaffold that maintains the spatial configuration of the mesh, preventing creases and ensuring perfect spreading against the abdominal wall even when the prosthesis is folded for introduction through small incisions.
Solution Approach 2:
The reinforcing frame is pre-assembled with the mesh before implantation. This preliminary assembly ensures that the mesh is already positioned and stabilized on the frame in the correct configuration, so that when the prosthesis is deployed, the mesh automatically spreads perfectly against the abdominal wall without requiring additional manipulation or risk of creasing.
2Reliability
If peripheral sutures are used to fix the prosthesis, then the reliability of fixation is improved, but the difficulty of operation increases due to limited visibility and working space
Solution Approach 1:
The fixation function is extracted from the peripheral edges of the mesh and transferred to dedicated anchor pieces located at specific positions on the reinforcing frame. These anchor pieces are equipped with fixation elements that can be securely attached to the abdominal wall, eliminating the need for complex peripheral suturing while maintaining reliable fixation.
Solution Approach 2:
Anchor pieces serve as intermediary elements between the prosthesis and the abdominal wall. These anchor pieces are integrated into the reinforcing frame structure and provide dedicated fixation points that simplify the fixation process, allowing reliable attachment without requiring the surgeon to perform difficult peripheral sutures in limited visibility conditions.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If the prosthesis is introduced through a small incision, then the invasiveness is reduced, but the working space and visibility for manipulation are limited
Solution Approach 1:
The mesh is nested within or integrated with the reinforcing frame structure, allowing the entire prosthesis to be compressed into a compact form that can be introduced through small incisions. The frame provides a rigid skeleton that maintains the mesh configuration during introduction, and upon deployment, the prosthesis automatically expands to its functional size without requiring extensive manipulation in the limited surgical space.
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to a prosthesis (200) comprising: —one mesh (1) delimited by a peripheral exterior edge (1a), —a frame (2) fastened to said mesh and adopting the shape of said peripheral exterior edge of the mesh, said frame being set back from said peripheral exterior edge and being provided with two hinge points (3a, 3b), the line passing through said two hinge points also passing through the centre (1b) of the mesh and thus forming a line M for folding the mesh in two, characterized in that said prosthesis further comprises at least two anchor pieces (5) made of suturable material and located on a single face of the mesh (1) on either side of said folding line, each piece having a fixed part (5a) linked to said mesh and a free part (5b), said free part being linked to at least one thread-shaped element (7).