Retractable Nerve Hook for Non-Piercing Dural Closure

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Solution Overview

Problem

Dural openings during surgical procedures can lead to cerebrospinal fluid leakage, causing health complications such as headache and meningitis, and existing closure methods may perforate or damage the dural tissue.

Innovation Solution

Devices and methods for dural closure, including forceps with offset blades, nerve hooks with retractable tips, and clips with interdigitating digits, designed to grasp and seal the dural tissue without piercing, and a kit containing disposable tools for sterile use.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If conventional closure methods are used to seal dural openings, then cerebrospinal fluid leakage is prevented, but dural tissue is perforated or damaged

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesealing effectivenessVSAvoidtissue damage

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

A separate sealing element (gasket, membrane, or adhesive layer) is introduced as an intermediary between the closure device and the dural tissue. This intermediary component provides the sealing function while the closure device itself does not directly contact or damage the tissue, thus resolving the contradiction between effective sealing and tissue preservation

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces direct mechanical compression or stapling methods with alternative mechanisms such as adhesive bonding, thermal welding, or chemical sealing agents. These substituted mechanisms achieve reliable sealing without the tissue perforation and mechanical damage associated with conventional mechanical closure systems

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Object-affected harmful factors

If forceps with offset blades are used to grasp dural tissue, then tissue damage is minimized, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetissue damageVSAvoidblade offset structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The forceps blades are designed with asymmetric offset configurations where the distal portions are laterally displaced relative to the proximal portions. This asymmetric design allows the blades to grasp and approximate dural edges without direct opposing contact, minimizing tissue damage while the offset geometry provides the necessary functional complexity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #4Asymmetry

3Reliability

If clips with interdigitating digits are used for dural closure, then sealing effectiveness is improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesealing effectivenessVSAvoidinterdigitating digits structure

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The clip structure is segmented into multiple digits that can interdigitate with corresponding digits on the opposing clip. This segmentation allows each digit to independently engage with the dural tissue and opposing digits, creating multiple sealing points that collectively provide reliable closure while the modular segmented design manages structural complexity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentUS20260000405A1Devices, systems, and methods for dural closure

Publication Date: 2026.01.01 BERMAN BLAKE W

AI summary

A nerve hook includes a shaft having a lumen extending therethrough and an opening at a distal end of the lumen, and a retractable tip configured to deploy out of the opening at the distal end of the lumen and retract within the lumen, wherein the retractable tip is configured to conform to a collapsed configuration when positioned within the lumen and to deploy to a deployed configuration when deployed out of the opening.