Deformable Suture Bridge for Even Tension Distribution
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional suture techniques face challenges in achieving wound eversion and preventing suture-induced trauma, with issues such as wound reopening, inflammation, and cheesewiring, particularly in high-tension areas, where existing devices fail to distribute suture tension evenly and can cause skin irritation or damage.
Innovation Solution
A deformable suture bridge with a rigid insert and a flexible shell, featuring a traversing member and support structures that elevate the suture away from the skin, allowing for even tension distribution and wound eversion while reducing skin irritation and promoting healing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If suture is placed under excessive tension to close excisional defects, then wound closure is achieved, but the suture slices through the skin (cheesewiring)
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a suture bridge device as an intermediary between the suture and the skin. The bridge has a broad base that contacts a large area of skin, while the suture attaches to the apex. This intermediary structure distributes the suture tension across the entire bridge structure and skin contact area, preventing the suture from concentrating force on a small area and slicing through the skin.
Solution Approach 2:
The suture bridge adds a third dimension by elevating the suture attachment point above the skin surface. Instead of the suture lying flat against the skin, it is positioned at the apex of the bridge, creating a triangular force distribution geometry. This dimensional change allows tension to be distributed across the bridge's width and depth, reducing pressure concentration on the skin.
2Ease of manufacture
If suture contacts skin directly, then simple application is possible, but inflammation and ingrown sutures occur that impede healing
Solution Approach 1:
The suture bridge acts as a mediator between the suture and the skin, preventing direct contact. The broad base of the bridge distributes contact pressure over a large skin area, reducing pressure points that would cause inflammation. The suture itself does not touch the skin, eliminating the source of irritation while the bridge structure provides the necessary mechanical function.
Solution Approach 2:
The suture bridge appears to utilize a shell-like structure with a broad, flexible base that conforms to the skin surface. This shell design allows the device to adapt to skin contours while maintaining even pressure distribution, preventing ingrown sutures and inflammation through its smooth, continuous surface that does not create pressure points.
3Reliability
If surgical knots are used to secure sutures, then wound closure is secured, but effective knots are difficult to tie and may allow wound reopening
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the knot-tying function from the suture application process. Instead of requiring surgical knots to secure the suture, the suture is attached to the pre-formed suture bridge structure through slots or attachment mechanisms built into the device. This eliminates the need for complex knot tying while maintaining secure wound closure through the mechanical design of the bridge itself.
4Reliability
If wound eversion is achieved in high-tension areas, then scar widening is resisted, but technical difficulty increases for less skilled operators
Solution Approach 1:
The suture bridge is designed to self-evert the wound through its geometric structure. When the suture is tightened and the bridge is compressed, the broad base naturally pushes the wound edges upward and outward into everted position. This self-everting mechanism eliminates the need for the operator to manually manipulate the wound edges or perform complex eversion techniques, making the procedure accessible to less skilled operators while achieving reliable scar resistance.
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 deformable suture bridge extends the life of sutures, reduces skin irritation, and facilitates wound healing by evenly distributing tension, preventing cheesewiring and allowing for longer suture retention without causing tissue damage, thus enhancing wound closure and healing outcomes.
Implementation Method 1
an elongated rigid insert including a first material, and a deformable shell including a second material
Implementation Method 2
a deformable shell including a second material, the second material being different than the first material
Implementation Method 3
A deformable suture bridge with a rigid insert and a flexible shell, featuring a traversing member and support structures that elevate the suture away from the skin, allowing for even tension distribution
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2A~3
Figure 4~5B
AI summary
A suture bridge includes an elongated rigid insert including a first material, and a deformable shell including a second material, the second material being different than the first material, the shell at least partially surrounding the rigid insert, the insert and the shell collectively forming a bridge body having a first leg including a first patient contacting surface configured to contact a patients skin, a second leg spaced from the first leg and including a second patient contacting surface configured to contact the patient's skin, a first support connected to the first leg, a second support connected to the second leg, and a traversing member extending between the first support and the second support, the traversing member being connected to the first support distal the first leg and connected to the second support distal the second leg.