Suture Clip Applier for Laparoscopic Suture Retention
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Solution Overview
Problem
In endoscopic and laparoscopic surgical procedures, tying sutures is challenging due to limited access through narrow tubes, making it difficult to secure sutures effectively until the healing process is complete, especially with biocompatible, bioabsorbable sutures.
Innovation Solution
A surgical suture clip applier with a U-shaped working tip and a suture clip system that includes a flexible beam and rigid channel, allowing for the secure attachment and retention of sutures through a mechanism that can be actuated to open and close around the suture, facilitating easy insertion and secure retention within the body tissue.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Length of moving object
If sutures are applied through narrow tubes in endoscopic and laparoscopic procedures, then access to the operative site is improved, but the ability to tie and secure sutures deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The suture securing function is segmented from the traditional knot-tying process. Instead of requiring complex manual knotting through narrow tubes, the invention divides the task into: (1) passing the suture through the tube, and (2) securing it with a separate clip device that can be applied independently. This segmentation allows each function to be optimized separately for use through narrow access.
Solution Approach 2:
A clip device serves as an intermediary between the suture and the tissue. Rather than directly tying the suture through the narrow tube, the clip acts as a mediator that can be applied to the suture externally and then secures it to the tissue. This intermediary approach simplifies the operation through the narrow access while maintaining effective suture retention.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If bioabsorbable sutures are used, then biocompatibility is improved, but the difficulty of securing and retaining sutures deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The clip device is designed to be self-retaining through its elastic properties. Once applied to the suture, the clip's elastic memory allows it to automatically maintain clamping force without requiring additional securing steps or complex locking mechanisms. This self-service characteristic simplifies the securing process while being compatible with bioabsorbable sutures that gradually degrade.
3Reliability
If traditional knot-tying methods are used, then suture retention is achieved, but the complexity of the procedure deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The complex knot-tying procedure is extracted and replaced with a simpler clip-application procedure. The essential function of suture retention is maintained, but the method is taken out from the traditional multi-step knotting process and replaced with a single-step clip application that can be performed through narrow tubes without requiring complex manipulations.
4Ease of operation
If large incisions are made, then ease of suture tying is improved, but the invasiveness of the procedure deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The clip device utilizes elastic deformation dynamics to achieve secure retention through narrow access. The elastic material allows the clip to be compressed for insertion through the narrow tube and then automatically expands to its original shape, generating clamping force that secures the suture. This dynamic behavior enables effective suture retention without requiring large incisions for manual knotting.
Data Source
AI summary
Suture clip appliers, suture clips and methods of their use for securing sutures during an endoscopic or laparoscopic procedure are provided, wherein the method includes the steps of providing a suture clip applier having a working tip configured to retain and fire a suture clip; providing a suture clip having a biased closed configuration; loading the suture clip into the working tip of the clip applier; translating the suture clip distally relative to the working tip to a first position wherein the suture clip is splayed open; inserting a suture into the opened suture clip; and translating the suture clip distally relative to the working tip such that the suture clip is ejected from the working tip and biased to the closed configuration to close on and to retain the suture.