Barbed Suture Loop Anchoring Tissue
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional surgical sutures require knot tying, which increases procedure time and may leave bulk material at the wound site, and have lower holding forces in less elastic tissues, such as those of diabetic or immunocompromised patients, due to oversized needles and insufficient suture filling of penetration holes.
Innovation Solution
A suture with a proximal elongate body and a distal loop featuring barbs and bifurcation, where the branches are advanced through tissue penetration points to increase holding force, and an end effector limits loop movement, preventing further penetration and securing the suture.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional sutures use knot tying to secure tissue, then the suture can be secured in tissue, but the procedure time increases and bulk material is left at the wound site
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts and eliminates the knot-tying step from the suturing process by incorporating pre-formed barbs directly on the suture material. The barbs are integrated into the suture body, allowing the suture to secure tissue through the barb mechanism alone without requiring separate knot tying actions.
Solution Approach 2:
The suture with barbs is self-securing through its own structural features. As the suture is passed through tissue, the barbs automatically engage with the tissue to prevent withdrawal, providing self-service securing without requiring external knot tying operations.
2Ease of operation
If conventional sutures use oversized needles for given suture diameter, then the suture can be inserted through tissue, but a larger hole is left at the needle penetration point reducing holding force
Solution Approach 1:
The barbs are pre-formed on the suture material before insertion. As the suture is advanced through tissue, these pre-formed barbs immediately engage with the tissue walls, providing preliminary anchoring that prevents needle hole enlargement and maintains holding force throughout the procedure.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the physical parameters of the suture by adding barbs with specific geometries (angles, lengths, spacing) that optimize tissue engagement. These parameter changes allow the suture to achieve secure holding force with smaller needle diameters, as the barbs compensate for reduced suture-diameter mechanical strength.
3Adaptability or versatility
If conventional sutures are used in patients with less elastic tissue, then the suture can be inserted, but the holding force is reduced due to longer healing profiles and less compliant tissue
Solution Approach 1:
The barbs provide localized mechanical engagement points along the suture path. This local quality enhancement allows the suture to achieve secure holding in specific tissue regions without requiring overall tissue elasticity. The barbs create localized anchoring zones that work effectively even in stiff, less compliant tissues.
Solution Approach 2:
The suture combines the base suture material with integrated barb structures, creating a composite anchoring system. This composite design provides both the flexibility needed for insertion and the mechanical engagement capability required for strong holding in less elastic tissues, adapting to various tissue compliance levels.
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 described suture design enhances holding force in tissue and reduces material left at the wound site by using barbed branches and an end effector to secure the suture, improving tissue anchoring and reducing healing time.
Implementation Method 1
at least a portion of the loop includes a plurality of barbs... the two branches of the anchoring device further includes barbs on a surface thereof and these barbs may secure the two branches in the body tissue
Implementation Method 2
an end effector limits loop movement, preventing further penetration and securing the suture... the end effector engages the tissue to prevent movement of the loop in a proximal direction
Data Source
AI summary
An anchoring device having an elongate body at a proximal portion, a distal portion of the elongate body forming a loop at a distal portion of the anchoring device. The loop further includes a plurality of anchors disposed along a surface thereof and the loop also including an end effector. Methods for securing anchoring devices of the present disclosure are also disclosed.