Self-Closing Tissue Fastener with Stable Annular Ring
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional surgical fasteners, such as staples and helical coil devices, often obstruct access to the surgical site due to their design, making it difficult to deliver and visualize tissue closure with endoscopic instruments, and require multiple deployments for secure tissue locking, which is time-consuming and complex.
Innovation Solution
A self-closing tissue fastener with a stable annular ring and torsional energy storage, allowing it to maintain a clear access channel for instruments and be deployed near the surgical site without obstructing the central passage, featuring tissue-piercing and stabilizing members that store energy for automatic closure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional surgical fasteners (staples, helical coils) are used to secure tissue, then tissue closure is achieved, but the fastener obstructs access to the surgical site and blocks the passage of other surgical instruments
Solution Approach 1:
The fastener is divided into distinct functional segments: a central stabilizing member and multiple radial arms with tissue-piercing members. This segmentation allows the central portion to remain open for instrument passage while the radial arms provide tissue securing functionality, resolving the contradiction between tissue closure and surgical access.
Solution Approach 2:
The fastener is designed to be nested within the delivery apparatus during storage and delivery, with the radial arms folded against the central stabilizing member. This nested configuration minimizes the profile during delivery while allowing the fastener to expand to its functional configuration at the surgical site, maintaining unobstructed access throughout the procedure.
2Reliability
If helical coil fasteners are used to lock tissue securely, then tissue locking is achieved, but the fastener requires a large diameter taper and tab/locking member that occlude the central portion, making passage of surgical implements difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The fastener separates the tissue-locking function (radial arms with piercing members) from the structural support function (central stabilizing member). This segmentation eliminates the need for complex tabs, locking members, or large diameter tapers, as each component is optimized for its specific function while maintaining overall structural integrity.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of using a solid central core with peripheral tissue-engaging elements (as in helical coils), the invention inverts the structure by using a central open space with tissue-engaging elements radiating outward. This inversion creates a hollow-center configuration that facilitates instrument passage while maintaining tissue locking capability.
3Reliability
If multiple fastener deployments are used to secure tissue in a circular pattern, then comprehensive tissue closure is achieved, but the procedure becomes time-consuming and complex
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple tissue-piercing members are combined into a single fastener unit, with several radial arms extending from the central stabilizing member. This allows a single deployment to achieve the tissue closure effect that would otherwise require multiple separate fasteners, significantly improving surgical efficiency while maintaining comprehensive tissue closure.
Solution Approach 2:
The single fastener design serves multiple functions simultaneously: the central stabilizing member provides structural support and positioning, while multiple radial arms with tissue-piercing members provide comprehensive tissue engagement and closure. This multi-functional design replaces the need for multiple specialized fasteners, reducing procedural complexity and time.
4Ease of operation
If the fastener is delivered through a tube to the surgical site, then minimally invasive access is achieved, but the fastener obstructs the tube and prevents proper delivery and visualization with endoscopic instruments
Solution Approach 1:
The fastener is designed to nest within the delivery tube in a compact configuration during delivery, minimizing obstruction. The radial arms are folded against the central stabilizing member, allowing the fastener to pass through the tube with minimal profile while maintaining the ability to expand to full functional size at the surgical site for proper deployment and visualization.
Solution Approach 2:
The fastener is pre-loaded into the delivery apparatus in a compact, space-efficient configuration that facilitates smooth passage through the tube. The design anticipates the delivery constraint and optimizes the fastener geometry accordingly, ensuring minimal obstruction during insertion while maintaining full functionality upon deployment at the surgical site.
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
Enables efficient and unobstructed delivery and deployment of tissue fasteners during surgical procedures, allowing for clear access and visualization, reducing procedural complexity and time by maintaining a stable, unobstructed central space within the delivery system.
Implementation Method 1
The fastener has a stable ring (rather than an unnecessarily flexible folded serpentine wire), to which tissue-affixing elements and novel stabilizing elements are affixed. This geometry prevents the points of the tissue fastener from moving inward, even when stored inside of a hollow tube, until the fastener is delivered to tissue. In addition, the ring serves as a torsional energy storage device
Data Source
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AI summary
A self-closing tissue fastener for use in wound closure and surgery has, in an annular configuration, a central ring; tissue-piercing spines projecting from a first side of the ring; and stabilizing members projecting from a second side of the ring. The fastener can be carried on the inside of a tube, where it is stable without additional restraint, as well as on the outside of a tube or mandrel. The device can be compressed from a planar state, as fabricated, to the annular state by compressing the stabilizers (or, if they are on the outside in the planar form, the barbs). Unlike present devices, which are not as stable in the annular state, the inventive device and an applicator therefore provide an open channel to a site of surgery, for passage of endoscopes or various endoscopic and similar instruments, m particular, the fastener can be delivered under endoscopic monitoring.