Uterus Manipulator Balloon Force Distribution
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional uterine manipulators and medical instruments with thin ends risk injury to sensitive mucous membranes due to point loading and are difficult to clean and maintain, while existing designs with balloons for fluid introduction and support often fail to distribute force effectively to prevent tissue damage.
Innovation Solution
A microinvasive medical instrument featuring an inflatable end balloon that completely encloses the distal end of the shaft, distributing force over a large area to minimize pressure peaks, and optionally includes a support balloon and channels for independent inflation or fluid passage, with mechanical elements for adjusting balloon size or shape.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a thin end is used for insertion into the uterus, then the instrument can be inserted microinvasively, but it causes point loading and risks injury to sensitive mucous membranes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a balloon made of flexible material that can be inflated to a controlled volume. The balloon's flexible shell distributes contact force over a large surface area while maintaining the ability to navigate through the cervix and into the uterus. This resolves the contradiction by providing both microinvasive insertion capability and atraumatic tissue interaction through the distributed pressure of the inflated balloon.
Solution Approach 2:
The instrument transitions from a collapsed state (for insertion) to an inflated state (for manipulation). By changing the volume and shape parameters of the distal end through inflation, the instrument achieves both easy insertion in the collapsed state and safe tissue interaction in the inflated state, eliminating point loading while maintaining microinvasive access.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If a balloon is used to distribute force over a large area, then tissue injury is reduced, but the instrument becomes more complex and difficult to clean
Solution Approach 1:
The instrument is divided into separable components including the shaft, the balloon, and the tip. This segmentation allows the balloon to be detached or replaced independently, simplifying cleaning and maintenance while preserving the force-distributing benefit of the balloon structure during use.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent considers making the balloon a disposable component that can be discarded after a single use. This eliminates cleaning complexity entirely while maintaining the tissue-protection benefits of the balloon during the procedure, as each new balloon is sterile and ready for use.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If the end balloon completely encloses the distal end of the shaft, then force distribution is maximized and injury risk minimized, but the structural complexity and manufacturing difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The balloon is integrated with the shaft and tip structures to form a unified component that can be manufactured as a single piece or pre-assembled unit. This merging approach simplifies manufacturing by reducing the number of separate parts while still achieving complete enclosure of the distal end for optimal force distribution.
Solution Approach 2:
The enclosed balloon structure serves multiple functions: it distributes force to prevent tissue injury, provides a sealed chamber for fluid or gas inflation, and creates a stable platform for manipulating uterine tissue. This multi-functionality justifies the increased manufacturing complexity by delivering multiple benefits from a single structural solution.
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
The design significantly reduces the risk of injury by distributing force over a large area, making the instrument atraumatic and easier to clean, while allowing for precise control and manipulation of organs during procedures.
Implementation Method 1
the large and elastic skin or wall of the balloon that only minimal pressure is created
Data Source
Figure 1~3
AI summary
The micro-invasive medical instrument (10) has a shaft (15) and an end balloon at a distal end of the shaft. The end balloon completely surrounds the distal end of the shaft. A supporting balloon is provided at the shaft, which is spaced from the distal end of the shaft. A lateral opening is provided on the shaft between the end balloon and the supporting balloon through which a fluid is guided. An independent claim is also included for a distal section with a shaft section.