Published Technical Disclosure Archive

Enhanced Protective Device for Minimally Invasive Surgery

Publication ID: 24-11857220_0006_PTD
Published: November 07, 2025
Category:Direct Improvements & Enhancements

Legal Citation

pr1or.art Inc., “Enhanced Protective Device for Minimally Invasive Surgery,” Published Technical Disclosure No. 24-11857220_0006_PTD, Published November 07, 2025, available at https://archive.pr1or.art/24-11857220_0006_PTD
This technical disclosure describes improvements that would be readily apparent to a Person Having Ordinary Skill In The Art (PHOSITA) when considered in combination with the foundational architecture disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 11,857,220.

Summary of the Inventive Concept

An advanced protective device for use during laparoscopic surgery, providing improved thermal insulation and resistance to energy and/or contact burns from surgical tools, enhancing patient safety and reducing surgical risks.

Background and Problem Solved

The original patent for a protective device for use during surgery has limitations in terms of thermal insulation and resistance to energy and/or contact burns from surgical tools. The new inventive concept addresses these limitations by introducing an expandable body with a self-inflating inner member and an outer layer of heat-resistant material, ensuring enhanced protection for the patient's tissue during minimally invasive surgery.

Detailed Description of the Inventive Concept

The enhanced protective device comprises an expandable body with a self-inflating inner member and an outer layer of heat-resistant material. The inner member is designed to thermally insulate the tissue to be protected, while the outer layer provides additional resistance to energy and/or contact burns from surgical tools. The device can be inserted into the patient's body through a trocar and expanded using an expansion fluid. The device's design enables it to compress or fold into an insertion condition, making it easier to use during surgery. The system can also include a surgical tool with an integrated temperature sensor to monitor the temperature of the tissue to be protected and alert the surgeon of potential thermal damage.

Novelty and Inventive Step

The new claims introduce the concept of an expandable body with a self-inflating inner member and an outer layer of heat-resistant material, which is not present in the original patent. This innovation provides a significant improvement in thermal insulation and resistance to energy and/or contact burns, making the new inventive concept novel and non-obvious compared to the original patent.

Alternative Embodiments and Variations

Alternative embodiments of the enhanced protective device could include variations in the material used for the outer layer, such as ceramic or metal, or the use of different expansion fluids. Additionally, the device could be designed to be reusable or disposable, depending on the specific surgical application.

Potential Commercial Applications and Market

The enhanced protective device has significant commercial potential in the medical industry, particularly in the field of minimally invasive surgery. The device could be marketed to hospitals and surgical centers, offering a safer and more efficient solution for protecting patients during laparoscopic surgery.

CPC Classifications

SectionClassGroup
A A61 A61B17/3496
A A61 A61B17/3431
A A61 A61B2017/00831
A A61 A61B2017/3484

Field of Art

Minimally invasive surgical devices and protective medical technologies, specifically focusing on protective assemblies for laparoscopic procedures. Requires expertise in medical device design, thermal protection, and surgical tool integration

Person of Ordinary Skill (PHOSITA) Profile

A biomedical engineer or medical device designer with advanced degree, 3-5 years experience in surgical instrument development, familiar with laparoscopic techniques, materials science, and thermal protection technologies

Obviousness Rationale

A skilled practitioner would recognize that the PTD's thermal protection and expandable design represent predictable engineering variations of the source patent's protective membrane concept. The core surgical insertion problem remains consistent, with the PTD offering incremental improvements using known medical device design principles. The temperature monitoring and expandable body represent logical extensions of existing surgical protective technologies.

Obvious Combinations & Variations

Source Patent Element
Thin membrane designed for trocar insertion with fold regions
PTD Variation
Expandable body with multiple cavities oriented along fold lines to facilitate compression
Obviousness Reasoning
A PHOSITA would find it obvious to modify the existing folding membrane design with structured compression cavities as a predictable solution to improve insertability and tissue protection
Source Patent Element
Protective assembly for minimally invasive surgery
PTD Variation
Addition of integrated temperature sensor and thermal insulation layer
Obviousness Reasoning
Monitoring thermal risks during surgical procedures is a known safety requirement, making the temperature sensing system an obvious design improvement for protecting patient tissue
Source Patent Element
Flexible connector with limited inward movement design
PTD Variation
Self-inflating inner member with heat-resistant outer layer
Obviousness Reasoning
Modifying protective devices with enhanced material properties and expansion mechanisms represents a standard engineering approach to improving surgical tool performance
Source Patent Element
Membrane with transverse linear peripheral portions
PTD Variation
Expandable body with configurable geometric structures for tissue protection
Obviousness Reasoning
Adapting geometric configurations of protective medical devices is a routine design optimization process for a skilled practitioner
Source Patent Element
Surgical protective assembly passed through trocar
PTD Variation
Comprehensive protective system with integrated temperature monitoring and thermal resistance
Obviousness Reasoning
Combining known surgical device elements with enhanced safety monitoring represents an expected technological progression in medical device design
35 U.S.C. § 103 Summary: Based on the teachings of US Patent 11857220, the claimed variations in the present technical disclosure would have been obvious to a person having ordinary skill in the art at the time of invention. The incremental improvements in thermal protection, device geometry, and integrated monitoring represent predictable engineering solutions within the established technological framework of minimally invasive surgical protective devices.

Original Patent Information

Patent NumberUS 11,857,220
TitleProtective device for use during surgery
Assignee(s)SEABAS ENTERPRISES PTY LTD