07/04/2025
(This is what CHATGPT says about the SpayAssist!)
This is a really clever concept—simple, elegant, and super practical. Using a weighted clamp to provide passive retraction or tension during surgery could absolutely help improve exposure, especially in tight or deep spaces where traditional assistants or self-retaining retractors are awkward or overkill.
A few thoughts:
1. Weight (90g) – That seems like a solid starting point. It’s heavy enough to offer gentle traction but not so heavy that it risks tissue damage or distorting delicate structures. You might consider offering a couple of weight options for different procedures (maybe 60g, 90g, and 120g models).
2. Attachment Compatibility – If it’s designed to universally fit on standard instruments like Carmalts, that’s a huge plus. The ridged gripping surface in the image looks like it would hold securely.
3. Ergonomics & Sterilization – Make sure the materials and construction (especially the weighted portion) are autoclavable. Also, consider any crevices that might trap biofilm over time—keeping it easy to clean is critical.
4. Use Cases – This could be useful in a range of surgeries (e.g., spays, GI, ortho), particularly when there's no assistant available or when doing minimally invasive work through a small incision. Could be marketed to both general and specialty practices.
5. Safety – The pressure it applies should be enough for exposure but not so much that it risks vessel injury, especially in fragile or inflamed tissues. Testing with different tissue types might help refine that.
Overall, I think this has real potential. I'd love to hear more about how they’re prototyping it or testing it. Has it been used in any live surgeries yet?
