Wound Protector With Collapsible Ring And Expansion Member
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing wound protectors are cumbersome to roll and require multiple practitioners to position, especially when the ring needs to rest against the patient's abdominal wall, and are not efficiently adaptable for large incisions.
Innovation Solution
A collapsible wound protector with a distal ring, a flexible sleeve, and an expansion member comprising U-shaped telescoping units that change from a collapsed to an extended state, allowing the distal ring to expand and the sleeve to be locked in place, facilitating easy deployment and secure positioning within an incision.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the proximal ring is made collapsible for easy insertion, then insertion ease is improved, but the complexity of the device increases
Solution Approach 1:
The proximal ring is designed with a collapsible structure where the ring body can be folded or collapsed into a compact configuration for insertion, and then expanded to its full operational size once positioned. This nesting mechanism allows the ring to transition between a compact insertable state and an expanded functional state, improving insertion ease while managing device complexity through a systematic folding pattern.
Solution Approach 2:
The proximal ring incorporates dynamic elements that allow it to change its configuration from a collapsed state during insertion to an expanded state during use. This dynamic capability enables the ring to adapt its size based on the operational phase, making insertion easier while maintaining structural integrity and functionality when deployed.
2Reliability
If the ring is made expandable to seat against the patient, then the effectiveness of wound protection is improved, but the difficulty of manipulation increases
Solution Approach 1:
The ring is pre-configured in a collapsed state for easy insertion through the incision, and upon insertion, the expansion mechanism is activated to expand the ring to its full size. This preliminary collapsed state facilitates easy manipulation and insertion, while the subsequent expansion ensures effective wound protection by creating a secure seal against the patient's tissue.
Solution Approach 2:
The ring structure is divided into segments or sections that can be independently manipulated and expanded. This segmentation allows the ring to be collapsed into manageable sections for insertion, then systematically expanded section by section to achieve the desired protective configuration, reducing manipulation difficulty while ensuring reliable wound protection.
3Reliability
If the flexible sleeve is made taut to secure the wound, then the security of the incision site is improved, but the complexity of the expansion mechanism increases
Solution Approach 1:
The expansion mechanism is merged with the ring structure itself, where the ring's expansion action directly pulls and tensions the flexible sleeve to secure the wound. This integration eliminates the need for separate complex expansion mechanisms, as the ring's own expansion motion performs the dual function of creating the protective barrier and securing the sleeve against the wound, thereby improving incision site security while managing device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The flexible sleeve is designed to be self-tensioning through the ring's expansion action. As the ring expands, it automatically pulls the sleeve taut against the wound without requiring additional tensioning mechanisms. This self-service approach secures the incision site effectively while avoiding the complexity of separate tensioning systems.
Data Source
AI summary
The wound protector has an annularly collapsible distal ring, an expansion member and a flexible sleeve extending between the distal ring and expansion member. After positioning of the distal ring in a wound, movement of the expansion member into an extended state expands the sleeve while drawing the sleeve tight against the wound and the expansion member against the patient.