Elastic Tissue Fastener for Vessel Occlusion
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current surgical methods for attaching tissue to tissue or occluding blood vessels are often invasive, require extensive post-operative care, and can lead to bleeding or leakage due to the use of staples and clamps.
Innovation Solution
A novel two-part fastener system made of elastic materials like Nitinol, which can be deployed minimally invasively using ultrasound guidance, clamps blood vessels by expanding legs to occlude blood flow and attach tissues or non-tissue prostheses, with adjustable clamping force and interdigitated legs to prevent slipping or tearing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If staples and clamps are used to attach tissue or occlude blood vessels, then secure attachment and occlusion are achieved, but invasive procedures and extensive post-operative care are required
Solution Approach 1:
The fastener is divided into two separate parts: a distal part with locking legs and a proximal part with actuating legs. This segmentation allows the distal part to be deployed first and secured in place, while the proximal part remains accessible for later actuation, reducing the invasiveness of the initial procedure while maintaining secure attachment capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The distal part of the fastener is deployed and secured in advance within the target site (blood vessel or tissue). The legs are pre-positioned and the distal part is locked in place before the proximal part is activated. This preliminary action allows the majority of the securement function to be established minimally invasively, with only a simple external actuation required later.
2Reliability
If staples and clamps are used to occlude blood vessels, then blood flow occlusion is achieved, but bleeding and leakage occur
Solution Approach 1:
The fastener legs are constructed from elastic materials that can flex and conform to the contours of the blood vessel or tissue. This flexibility allows the legs to apply uniform distributed pressure around the occlusion site rather than concentrated point pressure, sealing the vessel wall effectively and preventing bleeding and leakage at the contact points.
Solution Approach 2:
The elastic material of the fastener legs changes their physical state from a relaxed configuration to a compressed configuration when actuated. This parameter change allows the legs to dynamically adjust their clamping force and conform to the vessel geometry, achieving reliable occlusion while distributing pressure to prevent tissue damage and leakage.
3Reliability
If clamps are used to attach tissue, then tissue attachment is achieved, but slipping or tearing occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The elastic legs of the fastener can flex and conform to the tissue surface, distributing the attachment force across a broader area rather than concentrating it at sharp edges. This flexibility prevents tissue tearing while maintaining secure attachment, and the elastic recovery force prevents slipping by continuously adapting to tissue movement.
Solution Approach 2:
The fastener utilizes elastic materials that combine flexibility with sufficient structural strength. This composite material approach allows the legs to be soft enough to conform to and protect tissue from tearing, while simultaneously providing enough rigidity and elastic force to prevent slipping and maintain reliable attachment under physiological conditions.
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 fastener system allows for effective occlusion of blood vessels and tissue attachment with reduced bleeding and leakage, minimal invasive procedures, and adjustable clamping force, enabling precise control and reduced post-operative care.
Implementation Method 1
made of elastic materials like Nitinol, which can be deployed minimally invasively using ultrasound guidance, clamps blood vessels by expanding legs to occlude blood flow
Implementation Method 2
deployed minimally invasively using ultrasound guidance
Data Source
AI summary
Apparatus and methods for occluding hollow body structures, such as blood vessels, and for attaching tissue layers and/or non-tissue layers together by providing implantable elements on opposite sides of the structure or layers and drawing the implants together to occlude the body structure and/or bring the layers together. The implants are deliverable in a low-profile configuration and self-expand to an enlarged configuration. The implantable elements are delivered by transfixing the body structure, then releasing the implants on opposite sides of the body structure and drawing the implants together to effect an occlusion or attachment. The implants are configured to apply oppositely directed forces to opposite surfaces of the tissue layers at alternate, circumferentially spaced locations and may constrain the tissue in a serpentine pattern or in a direct clamping pattern. The implants grip the tissue in a manner that defines a pressure zone about the transfixion aperture that prevents leakage from the aperture.