Knotless Dynamic Suture Tensioning Device
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current surgical methods for repairing separated body tissues often result in insufficient residual tension and compression, leading to inadequate healing, as hand-tied sutures fail to provide sufficient force, and can cause tissue damage due to high tension or wire penetration.
Innovation Solution
A dynamic suturing device with a resilient mechanism and pressure locking system that maintains tissue compression beyond hand-tied sutures, using a suture with a resilient member and pressure locking mechanism to secure the suture in place without knots, utilizing frictional forces to bind the suture and maintain tension during healing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Force
If hand-tied sutures are used to approximate tissues, then the surgical procedure is simple and quick, but the residual tension is insufficient and tissue compression is inadequate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a dynamic tensioning mechanism with a resilient member (spring) that can actively adjust and maintain optimal tension force on the suture. The spring mechanism allows the suture tension to be dynamically adjusted during surgery and automatically maintains constant compression force on the tissue interface during healing, resolving the insufficiency of static hand-tied knots.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the traditional manual knot-tying mechanical system with a spring-based resilient mechanism that uses elastic potential energy storage and release to maintain continuous tension. This substitution provides more reliable and adjustable force application compared to friction-dependent hand-tied knots.
2Force
If high tension is applied to the suture to achieve adequate compression, then tissue approximation improves, but the suture may cut into the tissue at stress concentration points
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the distribution and magnitude of force parameters by using a spring mechanism that provides controlled, progressive tension. The resilient member allows the force to be applied more gradually and uniformly, preventing sudden stress concentrations that cause suture cutting while still achieving adequate compression for healing.
Solution Approach 2:
The spring mechanism acts as an intermediary between the suture and the tissue, distributing the compressive force more evenly across the tissue interface. This intermediate resilient element prevents direct high-stress concentration at suture-tissue contact points, reducing the risk of cutting while maintaining effective compression.
3Force
If wires are used to provide strong tension, then force application improves, but penetration by sharp wire ends damages adjacent tissues
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a flexible suture material combined with a spring mechanism instead of rigid wire. The flexible suture distributes force along its length and does not have sharp ends that can penetrate tissue, while the spring provides the necessary tension force. This combination maintains effective force application without the harmful penetration effects of wire ends.
4Reliability
If knots are tied to secure the suture, then the suture is held in place, but knot stacks interfere with the natural movement of surrounding tissues
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and eliminates the knotting step from the suture securing process. Instead of using knots to anchor the suture, the design uses a spring mechanism with a retaining structure that holds the suture end without requiring knots, thereby removing the source of tissue movement interference while maintaining secure anchoring.
Solution Approach 2:
The spring mechanism is designed to be self-securing through its resilient nature and geometric retention features. The spring's own structure provides the anchoring function without requiring external knotting operations, making the system self-sufficient and eliminating the harmful effects of knot stacks on surrounding tissues.
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 device effectively maintains tissue compression and tension, preventing suture cutting and promoting healing by using a resilient mechanism to store energy and convert tension into binding pressure, ensuring stable tissue approximation and healing.
Implementation Method 1
a resilient mechanism designed to keep tension in the suture, as tissues will shrink during healing
Implementation Method 2
utilizing frictional forces to bind the suture and maintain tension during healing
Data Source
AI summary
Two spaced bodily tissues are approximated with a surgical tensioning device comprising a resilient member and a pressure locking device. The method comprises a step of routing one end of a length of suture through both spaced bodily tissues and inserting the suture end into and through the pressure locking device. The suture is then tensioned by pulling on the suture end passing through the pressure locking device. Responsive to tension changes in the suture, the pressure locking device is actuated by moving at least one surface in the pressure locking device to clamp the suture in position.