Knotless Sutures with Integrated Barbed Closures
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing sutures require knot tying, which is time-consuming, prone to human error, and can lead to infection and scarring, while also lacking sufficient strength for reliable self-retaining closure in surgical wound closure.
Innovation Solution
Development of self-retaining sutures with a knotless design featuring a suture body with multiple visually identifiable apertures that form one-way self-retaining loops when deployed between tissue surfaces, eliminating the need for knots and providing enhanced tensile strength.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If traditional sutures with knots are used, then wound closure can be achieved, but the process is time-consuming and prone to human error
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts and eliminates the knot-tying step from the traditional suture process by incorporating pre-formed loops with barbs directly on the suture thread. The barbed suture is designed to self-retain through tissue without requiring knots, removing the time-consuming knot-tying operation while maintaining wound closure functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The suture is pre-configured with loops and barbs during manufacturing before surgical use. The barbs are预先 positioned along the suture thread to engage tissue automatically when the suture is passed through, eliminating the need for intraoperative knot formation and reducing surgical time.
2Reliability
If traditional knot tying is performed, then suture can be secured, but infection risk and scarring increase
Solution Approach 1:
The invention removes the knot element from the suture system entirely. Instead of securing suture through knots that create infection-prone interstices, the barbed suture relies on the mechanical engagement of barbs with tissue and pre-formed loops to maintain retention, eliminating the harmful knot structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention converts the potential harm of knot interstices (infection risk) into benefit by using barbs that engage tissue without creating enclosed spaces. The barbed structure provides secure retention while maintaining tissue contact that reduces infection risk compared to knot interstices.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If interrupted sutures are used to reduce infection risk, then partial wound repair is possible, but the process requires repeated knot tying
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the knot-tying operation from the interrupted suture process. Each barbed suture segment can be independently applied and self-retains without knots, allowing interrupted suturing to be performed with multiple simple insertions rather than repeated complex knot-tying operations.
4Productivity
If barbed sutures are used for knotless suturing, then time is saved, but sufficient strength to prevent dehiscence remains elusive
Solution Approach 1:
The invention uses composite construction with a core suture thread and barbs made from appropriate materials that provide both the necessary mechanical strength for tissue engagement and the flexibility for self-retention. The combination of barbed structure with pre-formed loops creates a composite suture system that achieves both speed and strength.
Data Source
AI summary
Self-retaining sutures having a first end for penetrating tissue and an elongated suture body comprising a plurality of intermittent apertures structured to enable formation of knotless suture loop closures that securely hold opposing tissue faces together due to the presence of the intermittent apertures through the suture that permit one-way passage of the suture body thus forming a self-retaining or self-engaging loop in the suture that does not slip backwards. Once a desired loop size is formed between tissue faces by pulling the suture through one of the intermittent apertures in the suture thread, the suture thread is clipped and a further loop is begun using the remainder of the suture thread affixed to the suture needle.