Biocompatible Solid Mass for Non-Conjoined Lumen Joining
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current surgical anastomosis techniques, particularly in microvascular and coronary artery bypass grafting, are labor-intensive, time-consuming, and prone to complications due to the difficulty in aligning and joining non-conjoined lumens with varying diameters and shapes, often requiring skilled practitioners and involving mechanical challenges like calcified or diseased vessels.
Innovation Solution
The method involves stabilizing the geometry of tubular tissues by inserting biocompatible solid masses, such as sol-gel solutions, waxes, or thixotropic agents, into the lumens to provide structural integrity, allowing for precise alignment and joining through adhesive application or laser welding, and subsequently removing the solid mass to restore fluid flow.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If conventional suturing techniques are used to join non-conjoined lumens, then the anastomosis can be performed with basic surgical tools, but the procedure is labor-intensive, time-consuming, and requires highly skilled practitioners
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-installing expansion members within the lumens before the anastomosis procedure. These expansion members are positioned in advance to provide structural support and maintain lumen geometry during the joining process, eliminating the need for complex real-time alignment maneuvers and reducing procedure time.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses an intermediary substance (adhesive or sealant) to facilitate the joining of lumens. This intermediary material simplifies the connection process by providing a reliable bonding mechanism that does not require highly skilled suturing techniques, thereby reducing both procedure time and skill requirements while maintaining anastomosis quality.
2Extent of automation
If mechanical ligation devices such as clips or staples are used, then the procedure can be automated to some extent, but the devices may cause mechanical challenges with calcified or diseased vessels and limit adaptability
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs dynamic expansion members that can be adjusted or activated during the procedure to adapt to different lumen sizes and conditions. This dynamic capability allows the system to accommodate calcified or diseased vessels by providing flexible structural support rather than rigid mechanical constraints, thereby maintaining both automation and adaptability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes parameter changes by utilizing the phase transition properties of the adhesive or sealant material. The material transitions from a liquid or semi-liquid state during application to a solid or gel state upon curing, providing automated joining while adapting to various lumen conditions through controlled parameter changes rather than mechanical force.
3Productivity
If the anastomosis procedure is performed rapidly to minimize patient exposure time, then patient morbidity is reduced, but alignment precision and joining quality may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-positioning expansion members and alignment guides within the lumens before the actual joining process. This preparation ensures that when the rapid anastomosis procedure is initiated, the lumens are already pre-aligned and structurally supported, allowing high-speed operation without sacrificing alignment precision or joining quality.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces complex mechanical alignment systems with a simplified system based on pre-positioned expansion members and adhesive bonding. This substitution allows rapid procedure execution while maintaining precision through the geometric constraints provided by the expansion members and the bonding accuracy of the adhesive, rather than relying on skilled manual manipulation.
4Manufacturing precision
If skilled practitioners perform the anastomosis to ensure high quality results, then joining precision is improved, but the procedure becomes more complex and requires more specialized training
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses an intermediary adhesive or sealant material that simplifies the joining process by providing a reliable bonding mechanism. This intermediary substance maintains high joining precision while reducing the complexity of surgical techniques required, as the adhesive performs the precise alignment and bonding function rather than requiring complex manual suturing skills.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent substitutes complex mechanical suturing techniques with a simpler adhesive bonding system. This replacement maintains joining precision through the controlled application and curing of the adhesive material, while significantly reducing the surgical technique complexity and training requirements compared to traditional suturing methods.
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
This approach significantly reduces the time required for anastomosis, improves the quality of the procedure, and minimizes complications by facilitating faster and more precise joining of lumens, even on a moving surface like the beating heart, with potential for reduced patient morbidity and operating room time.
Implementation Method 1
the sol-gel composition, which undergoes a phase transition in response to a change in an environmental stimulus such as, but not limited to, temperature, pH, ionic strength, pressure, electric field, magnetic field, electromagnetic field, light, or ultraviolet light
Implementation Method 2
joining the aligned lumens together by any suitable technique including, but not limited to, adhesive application, laser welding or laser soldering
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed are compositions, methods, and kits for joining together non-conjoined lumens in a patient's body including vascular lumens. More particularly, in various aspects, this invention provides compositions, methods, and kits for joining such non-conjoined lumens, including small lumens typically requiring microsurgical technique.