Biodegradable Scaffolding for Trocar Defect Closure
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional suturing techniques for closing trocar site defects in laparoscopic surgery are time-consuming, technically difficult, and often ineffective, leading to a high incidence of trocar site herniation, especially in overweight and obese patients, due to the challenges of navigating narrow spaces and applying excessive tension on the wound, which increases the risk of complications like bowel incarceration and infection.
Innovation Solution
A biodegradable scaffolding device with inner and outer components, offset by a connector, is deployed around the trocar defect to promote tissue growth and healing, providing mechanical support until the tissue is sufficiently healed, and then dissolves without the need for additional surgical intervention.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional suturing techniques are used to close trocar site defects, then the defect can be closed, but the procedure becomes time-consuming and technically difficult
Solution Approach 1:
A biodegradable scaffold is introduced as an intermediary device between the fascial edges to facilitate closure. The scaffold provides mechanical support and guidance, enabling reliable closure without requiring time-consuming manual suturing techniques in the difficult-to-access trocar site defect.
Solution Approach 2:
The manual mechanical suturing process is replaced with an automated or semi-automated scaffold deployment system. The scaffold is inserted through the defect and expanded or deployed to secure the fascial edges, eliminating the need for complex hand-suturing maneuvers in the narrow surgical space.
2Reliability
If conventional suturing techniques are used to close trocar site defects, then closure can be attempted, but excessive tension is applied on the wound increasing the risk of complications
Solution Approach 1:
The biodegradable scaffold is deployed beforehand to provide mechanical cushioning and support to the fascial edges. This pre-support structure distributes the closure forces evenly and prevents excessive tension concentration at any single point, thereby reducing the risk of wound breakdown and complications during the healing process.
3Productivity
If the trocar site defect is left unclosed, then the surgical procedure is simpler and faster, but the risk of herniation and bowel incarceration increases
Solution Approach 1:
The biodegradable scaffold is designed to be self-sustaining during the healing process. Once deployed, it automatically provides structural support to prevent herniation without requiring additional surgical intervention, monitoring, or adjustment. The scaffold serves itself by maintaining the closure integrity throughout the healing period until the tissue regenerates.
4Reliability
If manual suturing is performed in the narrow port tissue tunnel, then closure can be achieved, but the working space becomes dangerously constrained
Solution Approach 1:
The closure system is segmented into distinct components: a delivery catheter for insertion, an expandable scaffold for closure, and a retrieval mechanism. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized for its specific function and enables the scaffold to be deployed through the narrow port tissue tunnel using a minimally invasive delivery system, avoiding the need for manual suturing in the constrained space.
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 biodegradable scaffolding device effectively stabilizes the fascial edges, reduces the risk of herniation, and facilitates reliable wound healing, minimizing post-operative complications and the need for re-operation, while being absorbed by the body once its healing function is complete.
Implementation Method 1
A biodegradable scaffolding device with inner and outer components, offset by a connector, is deployed around the trocar defect to promote tissue growth and healing, providing mechanical support until the tissue is sufficiently healed, and then dissolves without the need for additional surgical intervention.
Implementation Method 2
The biodegradable scaffolding device effectively stabilizes the fascial edges, reduces the risk of herniation, and facilitates reliable wound healing, minimizing post-operative complications and the need for re-operation, while being absorbed by the body once its healing function is complete.
Data Source
AI summary
A method for maintaining the alignment of the edges of a trocar defect by inserting into a defect a device for compressing the tissue such that part of the device is above while the other is below the defect, then pulling back on the device so that the part below the defect is up against the defect, then while holding the device below the defect in place, push down on the part above the wound so that it compresses the tissue. Finally, release the device from the insertion tool.