Double-Pointed Surgical Needle with Integrated Filament Recess

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing surgical needles, particularly swaged and double-pointed needles, are prone to brittle failure, require complex assembly, and can spread blood-borne diseases, while single stitches result in unwanted tissue adhesion and cosmetically inferior outcomes due to the need for multiple sutures and suture material rejection.

Innovation Solution

A surgical instrument featuring a curved needle with double-pointed ends and a recess for securely attaching one or more filaments, either absorbable or non-absorbable, using adhesives or welding, allowing for easier tissue penetration and reduced suture material left in the wound.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If swaged needles are used to secure suture material, then the needle can be easily manufactured and assembled, but the needle is prone to brittle failure at the connection point

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of manufactureVSAvoidreliability

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The needle body and suture material are merged into a single integrated structure where the suture is embedded within the needle body itself, eliminating the separate connection point that is prone to failure in swaged needles

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The needle is constructed as a composite structure with the suture material integrated into the needle body, creating a unified component that combines the strengths of both the needle and suture materials

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

2Productivity

If double-pointed needles are used to simplify stitching, then the stitching process becomes faster and simpler, but the needle requires complex assembly and is prone to failure

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveproductivityVSAvoiddevice complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The needle is divided into two functional ends with different geometries - one end optimized for initial tissue penetration and the other for completing the suture loop, allowing each end to be specialized for its specific function

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of having a single pointed end that must be maneuvered through tissue, the needle has two pointed ends that can penetrate tissue in opposite directions, simplifying the suturing motion and eliminating the need to reposition the needle

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

3Reliability

If multiple singular stitches are used to close wounds, then the wound edges can be secured, but unwanted tissue adhesion and cosmetic inferiority occur

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovereliabilityVSAvoidharmful factors

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The needle design enables continuous uninterrupted suturing where the suture material remains continuous through the tissue, eliminating the need for multiple discrete knots and creating a smooth, continuous closure that prevents tissue adhesion

Inventive Principle:

Principle #20Continuity of useful action

4Reliability

If non-absorbable suture material is used in continuous stitches, then the suture provides steady bounding and healing, but the suture filaments are removed as a single unit causing inflammatory response

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovereliabilityVSAvoidharmful factors

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The suture material is segmented into multiple independent filaments rather than a single continuous filament, allowing each filament to be removed independently through the tissue tract, which reduces the inflammatory response and prevents the suture from being expelled as a single unit

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

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 elliptical shape and double-pointed ends of the needle facilitate simpler and faster suturing, reduce the need for additional instruments, and minimize suture material left in the wound, improving healing outcomes and safety by preventing infection and adhesion.

Implementation Method 1

The filament proximal end is coupled with the needle body by one of an adhesive and a weld.

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectAdhesive: Adhesive

Implementation Method 2

The filament proximal end is coupled with the needle body by one of an adhesive and a weld.

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectWelding: Welding

Data Source

PatentUS10548591B2Surgical instruments

Publication Date: 2020.02.04 BARRY JILIN 2021 LIVING TRUST

AI summary

In one form, a surgical needle has a curved needle body having a first end and a second end and defines an interior region between the first and second ends. The interior region contains a center of curvature of the needle body. The first and second ends each terminate in a point. The needle body has an intermediate portion between the first and second ends, and defines an internal surface facing the interior region and an external surface facing away from the interior region. A recess is thrilled within the external surface of the needle body. In another form, the needle is provided in a sterilized package together with one or more elongate filaments each having a proximal end coupled to the needle body within the recess. A container holds the surgical needle and the filament.