Expandable Vaginal and Flexible Uterine Impedance Evaluation Devices
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for evaluating uterine receptivity in infertility treatments are invasive and unreliable, lacking effective non-invasive solutions for accurately measuring uterine endometrial impedance and redox potential differences.
Innovation Solution
Development of vaginal and uterine evaluation devices with expandable and flexible designs, featuring specifically arranged electrodes that maintain contact with the vaginal or uterine walls, allowing for safe and accurate measurement of impedance and redox potential differences using the four-electrode or two-electrode methods.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If histological examination is used to evaluate uterine receptivity, then measurement precision is improved, but patient burden increases due to invasive procedures
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical invasive procedure of histological examination with an electrical measurement system. Impedance electrodes measure electrical impedance and redox potential differences non-invasively, substituting the need for physical tissue collection and laboratory analysis while maintaining evaluation accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces impedance electrodes as an intermediary measurement tool between the patient and the evaluation system. Instead of directly extracting tissue for examination, the electrodes serve as mediators that detect physiological parameters (impedance and redox potential) through non-invasive contact with the uterine environment.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If blood progesterone level measurement or ultrasonic diagnostic equipment is used, then patient burden is reduced, but measurement precision deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the measurement parameters from indirect indicators (blood progesterone levels, endometrial thickness) to direct electrical properties (impedance and redox potential differences). This parameter transformation enables more accurate assessment of uterine receptivity while maintaining non-invasive measurement conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent substitutes ultrasonic mechanical waves and blood sampling procedures with electrical impedance measurement. The impedance electrodes detect electrical properties of the endometrium directly, replacing the indirect mechanical and biochemical methods with a more precise electrical measurement system.
3Measurement precision
If electrodes are arranged to maintain contact with uterine wall, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple electrode functions into an integrated impedance measurement system. The electrodes are arranged in pairs to simultaneously measure impedance and redox potential differences, merging multiple measurement capabilities into a unified device structure that reduces overall complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality by positioning electrodes at specific locations on the uterine wall where impedance and redox potential measurements are most effective. The electrode arrangement is optimized for local measurement conditions, placing electrodes in contact with the endometrium at strategic positions to maximize measurement precision.
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
These devices enable low-invasive, accurate biological evaluations of uterine receptivity, reducing patient burden and improving measurement precision, facilitating better assessment of uterine implantation capacity.
Implementation Method 1
an impedance generated between each of the electrodes and the vagina wall is measured
Implementation Method 2
a main body (balloon 18 in this embodiment) stretchable and expandable in at least a vagina wall direction after insertion into a vagina by air injection thereinto
Data Source
AI summary
A non-invasive and accurate vagina evaluation device and uterine evaluation devices are provided that measure the receptivity (uterine implantation capacity) of the mother's body to a fertilized egg implanting itself into the uterus. A first vagina evaluation device includes: a main body stretchable and expandable after insertion into a vagina, followed by air injection thereinto; four electrodes brought into contact with the vagina wall as the main body expands and stretches; and fixation means configured to fix the interval of arrangement of the electrodes. Second and third uterine evaluation device include: a flexible and rod-shaped main body for insertion into a uterine cavity; and four or two impedance electrodes arranged with a predetermined interval therebetween in an insertion direction of the main body and brought into contact with an endometrium of the uterine cavity to measure a uterine endometrial impedance generated between the endometrium and each of the electrodes.