Variable Elasticity Bladder for Laparoscopic Organ Displacement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Laparoscopic surgery faces challenges in providing clear line-of-sight access to internal organs due to the limitations of CO2 inflation, which can also lead to the risk of CO2 embolism.
Innovation Solution
A soft, expandable bladder with varying elasticity is introduced into the abdominal cavity, inflating to a predetermined shape to displace organs and provide visual access, while being self-sealing to reduce gas leakage risks.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of stationary object
If the abdominal cavity is insufflated with CO2 gas to create working space, then the abdominal wall is elevated to provide viewing space, but clear line-of-sight access to internal organs is not achieved and CO2 embolism risk increases
Solution Approach 1:
The bladder is divided into multiple chambers that can be independently inflated to different pressures and volumes. This segmentation allows different regions of the abdominal cavity to be displaced in controlled ways, creating clear line-of-sight pathways to specific organs while maintaining overall cavity expansion.
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the bladder are assigned different elastic moduli through varying wall thicknesses and material compositions. This local quality variation enables targeted displacement of organs in specific directions while maintaining stability in other areas, achieving precise line-of-sight access without uniform inflation risks.
2Volume of stationary object
If CO2 gas is used to inflate the abdominal cavity, then working space is created, but the risk of CO2 embolism increases due to potential gas leakage into blood vessels
Solution Approach 1:
The self-sealing bladder acts as an intermediary containment structure between the CO2 gas source and the abdominal cavity. The self-sealing material prevents gas leakage into surrounding tissues and blood vessels by automatically closing puncture sites, eliminating the direct pathway for CO2 embolism while maintaining cavity inflation.
Solution Approach 2:
The bladder is constructed from self-sealing flexible material that forms a sealed barrier within the abdominal cavity. This flexible shell contains the CO2 gas securely, preventing unintended gas leakage into blood vessels while allowing the bladder to conform to organ surfaces and provide stable displacement.
3Ease of manufacture
If a uniform elasticity bladder is used for expansion, then simple manufacturing is achieved, but predetermined non-spherical shape for optimal organ displacement cannot be provided
Solution Approach 1:
The bladder is manufactured as multiple separate chambers with different elastic properties, then assembled together. This segmentation allows each chamber to be manufactured with specific wall thicknesses and material compositions tailored for its function, achieving complex overall shape while keeping individual component manufacturing relatively simple.
Solution Approach 2:
The bladder utilizes composite construction with varying wall thicknesses and potentially different materials in different regions. This composite approach enables precise control over the expanded shape and mechanical properties while using standard manufacturing techniques for each layer or region.
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 bladder allows for improved line-of-sight access and reduced risk of CO2 embolism by displacing organs and maintaining inflation without gas leakage, facilitating safer and more effective surgical procedures.
Implementation Method 1
the elasticity of the bladder varies across the surface of the bladder, the variation in elasticity selected to provide a predetermined, non-spherical shape when expanded
Data Source
AI summary
A surgical device for displacement of organs within a body cavity for providing at least visual access to a selected site includes an expandable bladder, wherein the elasticity of the bladder varies across the surface of the bladder, said variation in elasticity selected to provide a predetermined, non-spherical shape when expanded; and a valve on the proximal end on the inflatable bladder for introduction of a pressurizing gas into the soft bladder.