Barbed Suture Bioactive Agent Delivery via Barb Angle Deposition
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Solution Overview
Problem
There is a need for improved barbed sutures that can remain in vivo for extended periods with enhanced antimicrobial efficacy, requiring easier and more cost-effective methods to enhance antimicrobial characteristics, allowing for lower antimicrobial agent usage and effective delivery of bioactive agents to promote healing.
Innovation Solution
The development of barbed surgical sutures with bioactive agents deposited within the barb angles, formed from degradable or non-degradable materials, which provide a controlled and sustained release of antimicrobial and healing-promoting agents, including antimicrobial agents and clotting agents, to enhance wound closure and tissue repair.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If antimicrobial agents are coated on surgical sutures to prevent infections, then antimicrobial efficacy is improved, but the duration of action is insufficient for extended in vivo periods
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-loading the suture barbs with antimicrobial agents before surgical use. The agents are incorporated into the barb structure during manufacturing, ensuring they are ready for sustained release immediately upon implantation. This preliminary preparation enables the suture to maintain antimicrobial efficacy throughout the entire in vivo duration without requiring additional post-implantation treatments.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes parameter changes by controlling the release kinetics of antimicrobial agents through specific formulation parameters. By adjusting factors such as agent concentration, carrier material properties, and release mechanism parameters, the system achieves extended sustained release over prolonged in vivo periods. This parameter optimization allows the suture to maintain effective antimicrobial levels throughout the required duration.
2Reliability
If higher amounts of antimicrobial agents are used to achieve desired antimicrobial effect, then reliability is improved, but cost and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by concentrating antimicrobial agents specifically at the barb surfaces where they are most needed for preventing infection. Rather than uniformly distributing agents throughout the entire suture length, the system targets the barb regions that directly contact tissue, achieving effective localized antimicrobial protection with lower overall agent quantities. This localized approach reduces both material costs and manufacturing complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements self-service through the barb structure's inherent geometry that facilitates agent delivery. The barb design naturally positions agents for release upon tissue contact, eliminating the need for complex delivery mechanisms or additional components. This self-service approach achieves effective antimicrobial action using minimal agent amounts while maintaining simple manufacturing processes.
3Ease of manufacture
If conventional suture materials are used for barbed sutures, then ease of manufacture is maintained, but additional functionality for promoted healing is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies composite materials by combining conventional suture base materials with bioactive agent carriers. The suture consists of a standard biocompatible polymer backbone integrated with antimicrobial and healing-promoting agents in controlled-release formulations. This composite structure maintains the mechanical properties and manufacturability of conventional sutures while adding enhanced bioactive functionality for infection prevention and tissue healing promotion.
Data Source
AI summary
Barbed surgical sutures are prepared with a bioactive agent thereon. In embodiments, the bioactive agent may be an antimicrobial or clotting agent deposited within the angle formed by the barb and the suture body. Placement of the bioactive agent in the angle between the barb and suture body enhances the delivery of the bioactive agent to wound tissue at the point of contact.