Polymeric Coated Suture Loop Reinforcement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Looped sutures experience increased stress during tissue healing, leading to potential separation or pulling apart due to the inherent stress from the hairpin turn in forming the loop, which compromises their holding power.
Innovation Solution
A suture with a polymeric coating on at least a portion of the distal section to reinforce the loop, enhancing its stability and holding power, which can be applied using methods such as glues, adhesives, solvents, heat, or ultrasonic energy.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a loop is formed in a suture using adhesive, heat or ultrasonic energy, then the suture can be used to secure tissue, but the loop is under inherent stress from the hairpin turn that may result in separation or pulling apart
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies composite materials by coating the suture loop with a polymeric material (such as cyanoacrylate adhesive or other biocompatible polymers) to create a composite structure. This coating reinforces the loop at the hairpin turn location, distributing the stress and preventing separation while maintaining the suture's ability to secure tissue. The composite structure combines the flexibility of the suture material with the strength and bonding properties of the polymeric coating.
2Reliability
If the loop is reinforced with polymeric coating, then the loop stability is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by positioning the polymeric coating specifically at the loop location where stress concentration occurs, rather than coating the entire suture. This targeted approach reinforces the critical area (the hairpin turn) while leaving the rest of the suture unchanged, thus improving loop stability without significantly increasing overall device complexity. The coating can be applied only to the distal section or specifically to the loop area.
Solution Approach 2:
The polymeric coating is applied in advance during the suture manufacturing process, before the suture is used in surgery. This preliminary action ensures the loop is pre-reinforced and ready to withstand stress from the moment of use, eliminating the need for additional reinforcement steps during surgery and simplifying the overall device structure while maintaining high reliability.
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 polymeric coating significantly improves the loop's stability and holding power, reducing the likelihood of separation and ensuring secure tissue retention during the healing process.
Implementation Method 1
A loop formed in a suture during manufacture may be used to secure the suture to tissue... when a loop is formed in a suture, whether using adhesive, heat or ultrasonic energy
Implementation Method 2
The overlapping sections may be secured together to form the loop by at least one method selected from the group consisting of glues, adhesives, solvents, heat and ultrasonic energy
Implementation Method 3
The overlapping sections may be secured together to form the loop by at least one method selected from the group consisting of glues, adhesives, solvents, heat and ultrasonic energy
Data Source
AI summary
A suture including a reinforced loop is described herein. The suture includes an elongate body including a proximal section and a distal section, wherein the distal section includes first and second overlapping sections and a loop. A polymeric coating is positioned on at least a portion of the distal section to reinforce the loop.