Nested Coil Tissue Fastening Tool Reduces Deployment Friction

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current fistula creation tools using nitinol wires are expensive and time-consuming to shape and deploy, with high friction issues during deployment due to the need for reversing the implant and uncoiling it into a straight wire, which can cause damage and inefficiency.

Innovation Solution

A tissue fastening tool comprising a first elastic wire with a first tissue fixing section and a second elastic wire secured at one end, where the second elastic wire forms a coiled shape with a central axis within the first tissue fixing section, and a welded joint connects the wires, allowing for efficient deployment and reduced friction through a cap feature that minimizes contact with the needle's inner lumen.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Volume of moving object

If the implant is forced to uncoil (flatten) into a straight wire to fit inside the needle, then the implant can be loaded into the delivery device, but high friction forces are generated during deployment causing difficulty and potential damage

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveimplant configuration for needle loadingVSAvoidfriction forces during deployment

Core Design Contradiction:

Volume of moving objectVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The implant is configured as a nested structure where the first coil portion and second coil portion are arranged concentrically with the second coil portion positioned inside the first coil portion. This nesting allows the implant to maintain its coiled configuration while fitting within the needle lumen, eliminating the need to flatten the implant into a straight wire and thereby reducing deployment friction.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Solution Approach 2:

The implant is pre-configured in its nested coiled state before loading into the needle, rather than being flattened during the loading process. This preliminary configuration maintains the implant's structural integrity and minimizes contact friction with the needle inner lumen during deployment.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Force

If the implant is reversed (inside out) to locate the fin coil over the inner coil to create push force, then the required compression force is achieved, but the process becomes very expensive and time consuming

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepush force between coil portionsVSAvoidtime to perform shape setting

Core Design Contradiction:

ForceVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of reversing the implant inside out to achieve the desired configuration, the invention adopts the opposite approach by configuring the second coil portion to be positioned inside the first coil portion from the beginning. This inverted design achieves the necessary compression force between coil portions without requiring time-consuming reversal operations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Solution Approach 2:

The implant is pre-configured in the correct nested arrangement with the second coil portion inside the first coil portion before deployment. This preliminary configuration eliminates the need for complex shape setting and reversal operations during the procedure, significantly reducing time and cost.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Object-affected harmful factors

If the implant's distal end is machined round to minimize friction, then deployment friction is reduced, but this must be done after shape setting which is very expensive and time consuming with high risk of damage

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefriction during deploymentVSAvoidmanufacturing complexity and risk

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The nested coiled configuration of the implant naturally minimizes the contact surface area between the distal end and the needle inner lumen during deployment. This geometric arrangement reduces friction without requiring additional machining operations, thereby simplifying manufacturing and reducing the risk of damage during production.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

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 tool effectively fastens biological tissues with reduced deployment friction and cost, ensuring accurate placement and minimizing tissue damage, while allowing for efficient expulsion after fistula creation.

Implementation Method 1

a first elastic wire (10) comprising: a first tissue fixing section (11) at a first end and a second tissue fixing section (12) at a second end

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElastic deformation: Elasticity

Implementation Method 2

a welded joint connects the first elastic wire to the second elastic wire

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectWelding: Welding

Data Source

PatentUS10610235B2Tissue fastening tool

Publication Date: 2020.04.07 OLYMPUS CORPORATION(JP)

AI summary

A tissue fastening tool fastens a first biological tissue to a second biological tissue. The tissue fastening tool is made of two elastic wire rods, each shape set into a coil shape. Each of elastic wire rods are separately shape set, then ends of the rods are connected such that the second elastic wire rod coils back over the first elastic wire rod.