Interlocking Surgical Suture with Adjustable Tension
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current surgical sutures, particularly those using staples, face challenges such as difficulty in accessing remote body sites, lack of control over staple size and tension, and malfunctions, which can lead to serious medical complications.
Innovation Solution
A surgical suture with interdigitating, lockable ends that can be pre-loaded onto a specially designed needle device, allowing for adjustable tension and easy closure, suitable for various surgical applications including intra-abdominal and intra-vascular procedures.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If surgical staples are used for suturing, then the suturing speed and effectiveness are improved, but the ability to access remote body sites is reduced and control over staple size and tension is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The surgical suture system divides the stapling function into separate modular components: a reusable needle device and disposable suture cartridges. This segmentation allows the needle device to be used for accessing remote sites while the cartridges provide the stapling function, combining the advantages of both hand-sewn and stapled sutures.
Solution Approach 2:
The needle device acts as an intermediary carrier that delivers the suture cartridges to remote body sites. The needle lumen provides a conduit for the suture to reach difficult-to-access areas, enabling stapled suturing in locations that would be inaccessible to traditional staplers.
2Productivity
If surgical staples are used for suturing, then the suturing speed is improved, but the control over staple size and tension is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The suture cartridge design allows dynamic adjustment of staple characteristics. The surgeon can select from different cartridge sizes and configurations, and the progressive engagement of locking elements during insertion provides dynamic control over tension and closure force, enabling precise control despite rapid deployment.
3Manufacturing precision
If hand-sewn interrupted sutures are used, then the control over suture tension is improved, but the suturing time is doubled
Solution Approach 1:
The suture cartridge is pre-loaded with multiple staples in the correct configuration before surgery. This preliminary preparation eliminates the time-consuming process of individually placing and tensioning each suture, while the progressive locking mechanism maintains precise tension control during rapid deployment.
Solution Approach 2:
The interdigitating locking elements automatically engage with each other as the cartridge is inserted, creating self-tensing sutures that require no manual adjustment. The system performs the tensioning function automatically through its mechanical design, combining the speed of stapling with the precision of hand-sewn tension control.
4Productivity
If surgical staplers are used, then the suturing speed is improved, but the risk of malfunction and medical complications increases
Solution Approach 1:
The suture cartridge is designed as a disposable single-use component that is pre-loaded and tested before use. This eliminates the risk of malfunction from repeated use and sterilization, while the simple mechanical design with interdigitating locking elements reduces complexity and potential failure points compared to reusable staplers.
Data Source
AI summary
A surgical suture and method of suturing is described. The surgical suture includes a pair of matched fastening elements connected by a length of suture. The fastening elements have interlocking components, allowing a surgeon to adjust the tightness of the suture. Fastening element holding devices are also provided to guide the use the surgical suture. The method includes placing the fastening elements in the holding devices, threading one or both of the fastening elements through the body of the patient, and securing the surgical suture, and removing the holding devices.