Arterial Anastomosis Ring Coupler With Angled Vessel Spikes
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing anastomotic coupler devices designed for veins are inadequate for arterial anastomoses due to differences in vessel wall characteristics, leading to prolonged surgical times and increased costs.
Innovation Solution
A device comprising first and second rings with inwardly tapered inner surfaces and angled spikes that penetrate the vessel wall without disrupting the inner lining, allowing for quick and secure anastomosis of arteries by eversion of vessel ends onto central recessions and engagement with posts in receiver depressions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If classic suture techniques are used for arterial anastomosis, then the anastomosis can be performed with traditional methods, but the surgical time becomes excessively long (30-120 minutes)
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the time-consuming suturing process entirely by replacing it with a mechanical coupling system. The anastomotic coupler device eliminates the need for individual suture placement, achieving rapid arterial anastomosis through direct mechanical engagement of vessel ends with the coupler body, reducing surgical time from 30-120 minutes to approximately 5 minutes while maintaining secure connection.
Solution Approach 2:
The anastomotic coupler acts as an intermediary device that facilitates arterial connection without requiring direct suture placement. The coupler body with receiving holes and engagement features serves as a mediator between the two vessel ends, enabling rapid connection through mechanical coupling rather than traditional suturing, thus resolving the time-quality contradiction.
2Device complexity
If vein coupler devices are used for arterial anastomosis, then the device structure can be simplified, but the device becomes inadequate due to differences in vessel wall characteristics
Solution Approach 1:
The invention applies local quality by designing the coupler body with specific features tailored for arterial vessels. The inwardly tapered inner surface, angled spikes, and reinforcement elements are locally adapted to accommodate the thicker, less distensible arterial wall characteristics, ensuring reliable penetration and secure engagement specifically suited for arteries rather than generic vein coupler design.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes key structural parameters from vein coupler design to arterial coupler design: the inner surface is made inwardly tapered rather than straight, the spikes are angled rather than perpendicular, and reinforcement elements are added. These parameter changes enable the device to effectively penetrate and secure arterial vessels with their distinct wall characteristics, maintaining reliability while preserving structural simplicity.
3Strength
If spikes are used to penetrate vessel walls for secure attachment, then the rings can be firmly secured to vessels, but there is risk of disrupting the inner lining and causing thrombosis
Solution Approach 1:
The invention uses asymmetry in the spike design with angled orientations rather than perpendicular placement. The spikes are positioned and angled to penetrate the vessel wall at optimized angles that facilitate secure attachment while minimizing disruption to the circular arrangement of the inner lining, thereby reducing thrombosis risk while maintaining strong attachment strength.
Solution Approach 2:
The inwardly tapered inner surface performs a preliminary action by guiding and pre-positioning the vessel end before spike penetration. This preliminary tapering action aligns the vessel end properly, ensuring that subsequent spike penetration occurs at optimal locations and angles that secure the vessel firmly while preserving the integrity of the inner lining and reducing thrombosis risk.
4Reliability
If multiple tiny microsutures are placed in the vessel, then the anastomosis can be performed with classic techniques, but the procedure becomes highly complex and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts and eliminates the complex microsutures placement procedure entirely by replacing it with a mechanical coupling system. The anastomotic coupler device removes the need for multiple individual suture placements, simplifying the surgical procedure from a complex multi-step suturing process to a single mechanical coupling operation that maintains anastomosis quality while dramatically reducing procedural complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention merges multiple separate suture functions into a single integrated mechanical coupling device. Instead of requiring multiple discrete microsuture placements, the anastomotic coupler combines attachment, alignment, and securing functions into one unified device that achieves the same anastomosis quality through a single operational step, thereby reducing procedural complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus for anastomosing a cut vessel is provided. The apparatus includes a first ring having an inner surface that defines inner lumen. The inner lumen is configured to receive a first vessel end of the cut vessel. The inner surface of the first ring has at least one spike configured to penetrate the first vessel end and secure the first ring to the first vessel end. A second ring has an inner surface defining an inner lumen configured to receive a second vessel end of the cut vessel. The inner surface of the second ring has at least one spike configured to penetrate the second vessel end and secure the second ring to the second vessel end. The first and second rings, after being secured to the first and second vessel ends, are configured to be joined together into direct engagement to anastomose the cut vessel.