Kirigami-lantern inspired pessary designed for increased comfort, easy insertion and removal, and customization to individual anatomy and pathophysiology.
Technology Overview:
Pelvic organ prolapse (POP) is a common medical condition among women defined as displacement of one or more pelvic organs into the vaginal space. The most effective vaginal pessaries used to treat moderate to severe POP are “space-occupying” and cannot be inserted or removed by a patient. The patient then is required to undergo pelvic exams and pessary cleaning every 3 months by a trained clinician. Furthermore, the inability of the patient to remove the pessary prevents the patient from engaging in sexual intercourse.
Drs. Chris Hong and Jordan Raney have developed a removable, 3D printed silicone pessary in a kirigami lantern-like structure. The novel structure is designed for smooth insertion without compromising the integrity or therapeutic action of the device, and aims to provide strong support that is comparable to the most effective “space-occupying” pessaries currently used.
The 3D-printing manufacturing process allows for potential customization based on a patient’s own anatomy and pathology for maximum comfort and therapeutic effect, and for the customization process to be streamlined, without the need of creating individual molds for each device.
The device smoothly deploys during the insertion process, thereby providing means for easy insertion without anticipated loss in therapeutic effect. The device is designed to be inserted and removed by a patient and to be customized to an individual patient’s unique anatomy and physiology.
Advantages:
- Self-insertion and removal
- Customizable to individual anatomical and pathological specifications
Stage of Development:
Prototype Development
Intellectual Property:
Provisional patent application filed
Desired Partnerships:
Docket # 20-9199
Download pdf
