Endoscopic Suture Cinch for In-Body Capture and Locking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current endoscopic suture cinching devices require loading the suture outside the patient's body and often use a suture threader to thread the suture into a cinch, limiting flexibility and efficiency in medical procedures.
Innovation Solution
A cinching device that captures the suture inside the patient's body using a suture capturing portion, which extends out of a lumen of a cinch anchor, allowing for cinching without pre-loading and utilizing a flexible drive wire for easy suture capture and interference fit.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If a suture threader is used to thread the suture into a cinch outside the body, then the suture can be loaded into the cinching device, but the procedural complexity increases and flexibility is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The suture capturing portion is extracted from the traditional external loading mechanism and repositioned to function inside the patient's body. The cinch anchor with its capturing portion can grab the suture free end internally, eliminating the need for external suture threaders and complex pre-loading procedures outside the body.
Solution Approach 2:
The cinch anchor performs self-service by capturing the suture internally through its integrated capturing portion. The device autonomously grasps the suture free end within the body cavity and pulls it through the working channel, eliminating the need for separate threading tools and external manipulation.
2Productivity
If the suture is loaded outside the patient's body, then the cinching device can be advanced through the working channel, but the flexibility and efficiency of the procedure is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The traditional approach is inverted: instead of loading the suture into the cinch externally before insertion, the cinch anchor captures the suture internally after insertion. The capturing portion extends from the anchor to grasp the suture free end within the body, then retracts to pull the suture through the working channel.
Solution Approach 2:
The cinch anchor transitions from a static pre-loaded device to a dynamic internal capturing mechanism. The capturing portion can extend outward to grasp the suture and retract inward to pull it through, providing adaptability and flexibility during the procedure rather than requiring precise external positioning.
3Reliability
If a rigid cinching mechanism is used, then the suture can be securely anchored, but the ease of operation and suture capture difficulty increases
Solution Approach 1:
The capturing portion is constructed from flexible material that can bend and conform to capture the suture effectively. This flexibility allows the capturing portion to easily grasp the suture free end and navigate through the working channel while maintaining secure anchoring capability through its interaction with the cinch lock.
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
Enables flexible and efficient suture cinching within the patient's body, reducing procedural steps and allowing cinching at any point along the suture length, without the need for pre-loading outside the body.
Implementation Method 1
The suture is cinched by an interference fit between the cinch anchor and the cinch lock
Data Source
AI summary
A method cinches a suture. The method provides a cinch having a suture capturing portion configured to capture a suture, a cinch lock coupled with the suture capturing portion, and a cinch anchor having a lumen. The suture capturing portion is extended out of the lumen to capture the suture. The suture is captured by the suture capturing portion. The suture capturing portion is retracted into the lumen of the cinch anchor. The suture is cinched between the cinch lock and the cinch anchor.