Adaptive Suture Dynamic Length Adjustment Tissue Swelling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional surgical sutures fail to adapt to tissue swelling or shrinkage post-surgery, leading to loose wound closures and potential leakages, as they cannot dynamically change their length to accommodate healing tissue changes.
Innovation Solution
Development of an adaptive surgical suture that elongates or shortens in response to tissue swelling and healing, using materials that dissolve or crystallize in response to body fluids, allowing the suture to maintain effective tissue approximation and tension.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional surgical sutures are used to close wound edges, then initial wound closure is achieved, but the sutures become loose and fail to maintain wound closure as tissue swelling subsides and tissue shrinks during healing
Solution Approach 1:
The suture is designed with dynamic length adjustment capability through a unique structure comprising a first suture material and a second suture material with different mechanical properties. The second material allows the suture to elongate when tissue swells and contracts when tissue shrinks, enabling the suture to adapt to changing tissue dimensions throughout the healing process while maintaining reliable wound closure
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the physical parameters of the suture by combining materials with different elastic moduli and length change characteristics. The first material provides initial strength and stability, while the second material enables length adjustment in response to tissue swelling and shrinkage, allowing the suture to maintain optimal tension throughout healing
2Strength
If conventional non-absorbable sutures are used, then long-term tensile strength is maintained, but the sutures cannot adapt to tissue healing and shrinking processes
Solution Approach 1:
The suture combines two different suture materials with complementary properties: the first material provides initial tensile strength and wound approximation, while the second material enables adaptive length change. This composite structure allows the suture to maintain strength during early healing while adapting to tissue shrinkage as healing progresses
3Adaptability or versatility
If conventional absorbable sutures are used, then the sutures are biocompatible and degrade over time, but they lose tensile strength before tissue healing is complete
Solution Approach 1:
The dynamic length adjustment mechanism allows the suture to compensate for strength loss by adapting to tissue shrinkage. As the absorbable first material degrades and loses strength, the second material maintains wound approximation through controlled contraction, ensuring continuous protection throughout the healing process
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 adaptive suture effectively accommodates tissue swelling by elongating and subsequently shortening to maintain wound closure, enhancing healing outcomes by preventing wound openings and maintaining tissue tension.
Implementation Method 1
the suture can be in the form of a plurality of filaments arranged in a braid, with a constricting yarn forming a core of the braid and holding the braid in a constricted shortened state, wherein said constricting yarn is rapidly dissolves upon exposure to body fluids
Implementation Method 2
said constricting yarn is rapidly dissolves upon exposure to body fluids and tissue
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention is directed to a length adaptive surgical suture comprising a monofilament or a braid of a plurality of filaments, the suture having an original length when implanted and a second length that is different from the original length within a first twenty-four (24) hour period of time after implantation to accommodate tissue swelling. The present invention is also directed to configurations and combinations that enable length adaptive results.