Fetal Membrane Suturing Guides for Minimally Invasive Closure
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current medical devices are inadequate for closing tissue openings, particularly in minimally invasive procedures like fetoscopy, leading to iatrogenic preterm premature rupture of the fetal membrane (iPPROM), and lack user-friendly, intuitive operation that reduces dependency on skill and experience.
Innovation Solution
A device with an elongate shaft, needle guides, and expandable pushing and guide members to facilitate suturing through tissue layers, avoiding penetration of the first layer and ensuring accurate closure, featuring adjustable dimensions and atraumatic design for fetoscopy and other applications.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If prior art stitching devices are used for minimally invasive procedures, then tissue closure can be achieved, but the risk of iatrogenic PPROM increases and tissue layer integrity is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The needle guides are designed with specific geometric configurations that provide different guidance characteristics for different needle trajectories. The first needle guide provides guidance for a first trajectory while the second needle guide provides guidance for a second trajectory, allowing localized optimization of needle path control for each tissue layer penetration
Solution Approach 2:
The needle guides act as intermediary structures between the needles and the tissue layers. These guides constrain and direct the needles along predetermined safe trajectories, preventing unintended tissue damage and ensuring accurate suture placement without requiring complex real-time control systems
2Manufacturing precision
If complex stitching devices with additional supporting equipment are used, then closure accuracy may improve, but device complexity and operational costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The device merges multiple functions into a single integrated structure: the elongate shaft provides structural support and houses the needle guides, while the needle guides themselves provide both mechanical support and trajectory guidance. This consolidation eliminates the need for separate supporting equipment and reduces overall device complexity while maintaining closure accuracy
Solution Approach 2:
The needle guides serve multiple functions simultaneously: they provide mechanical support for needle insertion, define the trajectory path, constrain needle movement laterally, and ensure proper suture placement. This multi-functionality reduces the need for additional specialized components
3Manufacturing precision
If user skill and experience are relied upon for accurate suturing, then closure quality may improve, but operational difficulty and learning curve increase
Solution Approach 1:
The needle guides are designed to automatically constrain and direct the needles along the correct trajectories without requiring active control or adjustment by the operator. The guides themselves provide the guidance function, making the system self-guiding and reducing dependency on operator skill for achieving accurate suture placement
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a device to be used for closing a tissue opening in a tissue. In particular, the present invention relates to a device used for a closing an opening in a membrane such as a fetal membrane by stitching in a minimally invasive procedure.