Passing Needle Openings for Reattachable Elastomeric Devices

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing passing needles fail to securely attach to elastomeric devices, particularly during surgical procedures, and do not allow for reattachment after separation, especially when dealing with flexible members like elastic or flat members.

Innovation Solution

A passing needle design with a proximal head featuring an opening sized and shaped to receive an elastomeric device, allowing secure attachment and reattachment through transverse openings for flexible members.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If crimping is used to secure the suture to the passing needle, then the passing needle can be attached to the suture, but it does not work well for elastic members and flat members and does not allow for intra-operative reattachment

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecompatibility with different flexible membersVSAvoidsecure attachment

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The passing needle is divided into functional segments: a shaft for tissue penetration and a head with an opening for securement. This segmentation allows the head to be designed specifically for reliable attachment of various flexible members including elastic and flat members, while the shaft maintains its function for minimally invasive tissue passage.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The opening in the passing needle head acts as an intermediary structure that facilitates secure attachment of different types of flexible members. This intermediate structure enables reliable connection without requiring crimping, allowing the flexible member to be securely held while maintaining the ability for intra-operative reattachment.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Object-affected harmful factors

If the cross sectional geometry of the passing needle is minimized, then trauma to soft tissue is reduced, but the securement mechanism becomes more difficult to implement

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetrauma to soft tissueVSAvoidsecurement mechanism

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The securement mechanism utilizes the longitudinal dimension of the passing needle by incorporating an opening along the shaft, rather than attempting to create a securement mechanism in the transverse cross-sectional plane. This dimensional approach allows for effective securement without increasing the cross-sectional footprint that would cause tissue trauma.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

3Ease of operation

If crimping is used to secure the suture, then attachment is achieved, but reattachment after cutting or separation is not possible

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveattachment processVSAvoidintra-operative reattachment capability

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The securement mechanism is designed to be dynamic and reversible. The opening in the passing needle head allows the flexible member to be inserted, removed, and reinserted as needed during surgery. This dynamic capability enables intra-operative reattachment after cutting or separation, providing surgical flexibility that permanent crimping cannot offer.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The design allows for the flexible member to be temporarily discarded from the passing needle and then recovered by reinsertion. This recoverability feature enables intra-operative reattachment scenarios where the flexible member may need to be removed and reattached to the same or a different passing needle during the surgical procedure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #34Discarding and recovering

Data Source

PatentEP4616811A1Passing needles for elastomeric devices

Publication Date: 2025.09.17 INT LIFE SCI LLC D B A ARTELON

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AI summary

An orthopedic system and surgical procedure using the orthopedic system. The orthopedic system includes an elastomeric device (e.g. a flat strip of at least one elastomer material) and a passing needle. The passing needle has an opening (e.g. a slot) that is sized and shaped to receive an end of the elastomeric device, with the elastomeric device secured in the opening.