Vaginal Sacral Colpopexy Dissection Device with Retractable Blades

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Solution Overview

Problem

The challenge in performing sacral colpopexy via vaginal surgery is to safely avoid the middle sacral vessels during graft fixation to the presacral fascia, as traditional abdominal methods carry higher complication rates and longer recovery times compared to vaginal procedures.

Innovation Solution

A modified surgical device with retractable blades that allow for direct visualization of the presacral space, enabling safe fixation of the graft to the presacral fascia without deviating from optimal abdominal techniques, by creating a tunnel from the vaginal apex to the sacrum and identifying the middle sacral vessels.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If abdominal sacral colpopexy is performed, then surgical success rate is improved, but patient recovery time increases and surgical morbidity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesurgical success rateVSAvoidpatient recovery time

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent inverts the traditional surgical approach by performing sacral colpopexy through a vaginal route instead of the conventional abdominal approach. The device enables creation of a retroperitoneal tunnel from the vaginal apex to the sacrum, allowing graft fixation to the presacral fascia through the vaginal canal, thereby achieving abdominal-level success with vaginal-level recovery benefits

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a specialized surgical device as an intermediary tool that facilitates the vaginal approach to sacral colpopexy. The device includes a dissecting instrument with retractable blades that creates and maintains the retroperitoneal tunnel, enabling safe navigation and graft fixation without direct abdominal access

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If abdominal sacral colpopexy is performed, then surgical success rate is improved, but complication rate increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesurgical success rateVSAvoidcomplication rate

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Solution Approach 2:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Loss of time

If vaginal surgery is performed, then patient recovery time is reduced, but ability to avoid middle sacral vessels is worsened

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepatient recovery timeVSAvoidvisualization of middle sacral vessels

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of timeVSDifficulty of detecting and measuring

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by equipping the dissecting instrument with retractable blades that can be extended before entering the retroperitoneal space. These blades allow pre-dissection and clearing of the surgical field, enabling safe identification and avoidance of the middle sacral vessels before graft fixation begins

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies dynamics through the retractable blade mechanism that can be extended and retracted as needed. The blades can be extended during critical dissection phases to improve visualization and safety, then retracted when not needed, providing dynamic adaptability to the surgical requirements

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

4Object-affected harmful factors

If traditional vaginal surgery is performed, then surgical morbidity is reduced, but ability to perform optimal graft fixation is worsened

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesurgical morbidityVSAvoidgraft fixation precision

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS10603074B2Dissection and retraction device for vaginal sacral colpopexy

Publication Date: 2020.03.31 BOSTON SCIENTIFIC SCIMED INC

AI summary

In one embodiment the apparatus includes a first retractor, a second retractor, and a shaft. The shaft defines a central channel extending from a first end portion of the shaft to a second end portion of the shaft. The first retractor and the second retractor are configured to collectively form a lumen. The shaft is configured to be disposed within the lumen. In one embodiment method of disposing a graft within a body of a patient, includes making an incision in the body of the patient, inserting a medical device into the body of the patient through the incision, removing the shaft of the medical device from the body of the patient, and moving the first refractor within the body of the patient away from the second retractor.