Segmented Wound Plug for Trocar Site Closure
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional wound closure methods, such as suturing, are cumbersome and costly for repairing trocar site wounds, and there is a risk of reherniation due to inadequate healing after minimally invasive surgery.
Innovation Solution
A wound plug with an elongate body comprising separable portions and a perforated region, made from biodegradable or non-biodegradable materials, that spatially separates upon tissue plane movement, providing support and potentially incorporating a mesh for tissue integration and bioactive agents for enhanced healing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional suturing methods are used to close trocar site wounds, then wound closure is achieved, but the procedure becomes cumbersome and costly with increased operating room time
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the complex suturing procedure and replaces it with a simple plug insertion device that can be deployed through the trocar site itself, eliminating the need for separate closure procedures and significantly improving operating room efficiency
Solution Approach 2:
The plug acts as an intermediary device that fills the trocar site wound, providing reliable closure without requiring direct suturing of tissue layers. The plug mediates between the tissue defect and the healing process, offering a simpler alternative to traditional methods
2Productivity
If minimally invasive surgical devices are removed after use, then the surgical procedure is completed, but tissues may not properly heal and reherniation risk increases
Solution Approach 1:
The plug is inserted into the trocar site before the surgical procedure is fully completed, performing preliminary protective action. This ensures the wound is secured and tissues are supported during the critical healing period, preventing reherniation while allowing surgical completion
Solution Approach 2:
The plug provides beforehand cushioning and support to the trocar site wound, creating a protective barrier that prevents tissue collapse and herniation during the healing process. This prior protection ensures reliable healing outcomes
3Adaptability or versatility
If a wound plug with separable portions is inserted, then tissue planes can shift and separate naturally, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The plug is segmented into multiple portions that can shift and separate relative to each other, allowing natural tissue plane movement. This segmentation provides adaptability to anatomical variations while maintaining overall device simplicity through modular design
Solution Approach 2:
The plug transitions from a static structure to a dynamic one where portions can move relative to each other in response to tissue forces. This dynamic capability allows the device to adapt to physiological conditions without requiring complex active control mechanisms
Data Source
AI summary
A medical device for wound closure, including an elongate body with a plurality of portions and a perforated region disposed therebetween. The medical device may also include an alignment member. The wound plug may also have a first position for insertion, the portions being mechanically coupled to each other, and a second position where one or more of the portions are spatially separated.