Self-Locking Suture Using Vessel Wall Elasticity for Secure Closure
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Solution Overview
Problem
Manual knot-tying and clamping processes for vascular access closure are time-consuming and prone to complications, leading to unreliable closure of puncture sites in vascular procedures.
Innovation Solution
A self-locking or self-securing suture with strategically positioned knots that utilize the elasticity of the vessel wall to lock in place, eliminating the need for manual knots or clamps, ensuring secure closure of vascular access sites.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If manual knot-tying and clamping processes are used for vascular access closure, then the closure can be achieved, but the procedure becomes time-consuming and prone to complications
Solution Approach 1:
The suture system performs the locking function automatically through the interaction between knots and needle penetrations. The knots self-lock by utilizing the elasticity of the vessel wall to prevent retraction, eliminating the need for manual knot-tying or separate clamping operations. This self-service mechanism resolves the contradiction by achieving reliable closure without the time-consuming manual processes.
Solution Approach 2:
Knots are pre-positioned on the suture at specific intervals before the procedure. During the closure process, these pre-positioned knots automatically engage with the needle penetrations as the suture is pulled through the tissue tract. This preliminary positioning of knots eliminates the need for time-consuming manual manipulation during the procedure while ensuring reliable closure.
2Reliability
If manual knot-tying and clamping processes are used for vascular access closure, then the closure can be achieved, but the procedure becomes prone to complications
Solution Approach 1:
The self-locking mechanism automatically secures the suture through the interaction between pre-positioned knots and needle penetrations, eliminating manual manipulation steps that are prone to human error and complications. The system self-regulates to achieve secure closure without requiring manual knot-tying or clamping, thereby reducing the risk of procedural complications.
Solution Approach 2:
Multiple knots are pre-positioned along the suture at calculated intervals to provide redundant locking points. This preliminary arrangement ensures that even if one knot fails to engage properly, subsequent knots will provide secure locking, thereby cushioning against potential complications and ensuring reliable closure.
3Reliability
If knots are made large enough to prevent passage through needle penetrations without force, then secure locking is achieved, but the suture requires additional force to advance knots through tissue
Solution Approach 1:
The suture system employs localized knots at specific positions along the suture length, rather than making the entire suture thick or rigid. Each knot is sized appropriately to engage with needle penetrations of specific dimensions. This local quality approach allows knots to be large enough for secure locking while maintaining the overall flexibility and ease of advancement of the suture through tissue.
Solution Approach 2:
The system utilizes the elastic properties of the vessel wall as a parameter to enable knot passage. During advancement, elastic deformation of the tissue temporarily increases the effective diameter of needle penetrations, allowing knots to pass through with reduced force. Once positioned, the elastic recoil of the tissue provides the locking mechanism, resolving the contradiction between knot size and advancement force.
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 self-locking suture provides a reliable and efficient method for closing vascular access sites by using the vessel wall's elasticity to prevent knot retraction, ensuring secure apposition of tissue and reducing procedural time and complications.
Implementation Method 1
the elasticity of the vessel wall causes the tissue surrounding the needle penetration to retract to a diameter less than the diameter of the knots, thereby preventing the same or a successive knot from passing through the needle penetration again
Data Source
AI summary
An improvement to devices and methods for suturing tissue in various applications, such as percutaneous closure of arterial and venous puncture sites and the like, providing a self-locking or self-securing suture that does not require manual knot-tying to hold in apposition the tissue of the vessel wall on opposite sides of the puncture.