Variable Diameter Surgical Drain With Dynamic Collapse Mechanism
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Surgical drains cause discomfort due to contact with sensitive tissues and are painful to remove, as they are rigid and do not easily accommodate size reduction for withdrawal, leading to discomfort and the need for narcotic pain relief.
Innovation Solution
Development of surgical drains with a diameter-varying element that can change from a larger diameter for drainage to a smaller diameter for removal, using materials like wires, balloons, or central spines to reduce discomfort and facilitate easier withdrawal.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a large diameter drain is used for effective drainage, then drainage efficiency is improved, but patient discomfort and pain during removal increases
Solution Approach 1:
The drain incorporates a diameter-varying element that allows the drain to dynamically change its diameter from a first diameter during drainage to a second smaller diameter during removal. This dynamic transformation resolves the contradiction by enabling the drain to have large diameter when needed for drainage efficiency and small diameter when needed to minimize patient discomfort during removal.
Solution Approach 2:
The drain utilizes a diameter-varying element that changes the physical parameter of diameter. The element can transform the drain from a first diameter to a second smaller diameter, allowing optimization of drainage efficiency during the indwelling phase while minimizing trauma during removal by reducing the diameter.
2Stability of the object's composition
If a rigid drain structure is used for structural stability, then drain durability is improved, but ease of removal deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The drain employs a diameter-varying element that enables the structure to be rigid and stable during the indwelling phase for durability, then dynamically transform to a more flexible, collapsed state during removal for ease of operation. This dynamic adaptation resolves the contradiction between structural stability and ease of removal.
3Reliability
If rapid withdrawal of the drain is performed to prevent air entry, then prevention of air entry is improved, but patient pain increases
Solution Approach 1:
The diameter-varying element is activated before the actual removal process to collapse the drain to a smaller diameter. This preliminary action allows the drain to be withdrawn more quickly (maintaining reliability by preventing air entry) while the collapsed state minimizes patient pain during the withdrawal process.
Data Source
AI summary
Surgical drains and methods for using the same for draining a body cavity are provided. Aspects of the surgical drains of the invention include an elongated structure having a proximal end and a distal end and a lumen configured to drain a substance from the body cavity. The distal end is configured to be placed in a body cavity and change in diameter when present in the body cavity from a first diameter to a second diameter that is smaller than the first diameter, where the change in diameter is mediated by a diameter-varying element. Aspects of the invention further include sheaths configured to be disposed around surgical drains, such as surgical drains of the invention, and methods of using the surgical drains and sheaths. The devices and methods of the invention find use in a variety of applications.