Suture Delivery Device Counterforce Stabilization

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Current devices for closing small incisions, particularly in laparoscopic surgeries, face challenges such as rotation, tilting, and sliding during suture deployment, leading to suboptimal tissue bite and increased skill requirements for operators due to the lack of reproducible needle placement and stabilization.

Innovation Solution

A suture delivery device with an elongated deployment member featuring a counterforce member that transitions between retracted and deployed configurations to resist extraction from the incision, and a compression member that stabilizes tissue, along with a suture catcher with V-shaped apertures and needle tracks to ensure precise and reproducible suture placement.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If a suture delivery device is inserted into an incision, then the device can deploy sutures to close the incision, but the device may rotate, tilt, and slide downward during insertion, leading to suboptimal suture placement

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesuture placement precisionVSAvoiddevice stability in incision

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The device compresses tissue between the compression member and counterforce member before suture needle insertion, stabilizing the device in the incision. This preliminary stabilization prevents rotation, tilting, and sliding during subsequent suture deployment, ensuring accurate needle placement through the needle track

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The counterforce member is positioned to prevent downward sliding of the device during insertion. By providing an opposing force to the insertion direction, the counterforce member counteracts the tendency of the device to slide downward, maintaining stable device positioning for precise suture placement

Inventive Principle:

Principle #9Preliminary anti-action

2Ease of operation

If the device slides vertically during insertion, then the device may be easier to insert, but the tissue bite of the desired muscle/fascia layer is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedevice insertion easeVSAvoidtissue bite precision

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The compression member compresses the tissue against the counterforce member before needle insertion, establishing a stable reference point on the peritoneum. This preliminary compression prevents vertical sliding that would reduce tissue bite, while the compressed tissue configuration facilitates subsequent needle penetration through the stabilized tissue layers

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The compression is applied locally at the incision site between the compression member and counterforce member, stabilizing only the relevant tissue layers (peritoneum, muscle, fascia) where suture placement occurs. This localized stabilization ensures accurate tissue bite without affecting overall device insertion ease

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

3Adaptability or versatility

If the device rotates during insertion, then the device may adapt to different insertion angles, but the suture is deployed at less than the ideal 180 degree placement across the wound

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinsertion angle adaptabilityVSAvoidsuture deployment angle precision

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The device stabilizes the tissue and establishes a reference configuration before suture needle insertion. This preliminary stabilization prevents rotation during the critical needle insertion phase, ensuring the needle track maintains the ideal orientation for 180-degree suture placement across the wound

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The needle track is designed to guide the suture needle through a universal path that achieves optimal 180-degree placement regardless of the external insertion angle. The stabilized tissue reference point allows the needle track to consistently deliver the needle at the correct angle for ideal suture deployment

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentUS10327761B2Suture delivery device for suturing tissue

Publication Date: 2019.06.25 MEDEON BIODESIGN

AI summary

Systems are provided for delivering a suture to close a surgical opening. An elongated deployment member may have at its distal end a retracted counterforce member. The counterforce member may be inserted into the surgical opening and deployed to resist being withdrawn from the opening. A compression member may be slid down the elongated member to compress the tissue to be sutured against the counterforce member. Suture passers loaded with suture ends may be passed through needle tubes within the elongated member to emerge from the elongated member and pierce the tissue to be sutured, then deposit the suture ends with a suture catcher. The suture passers may be withdrawn, leaving the suture ends. The suture catcher may be retracted, retaining the suture ends and the device—elongated member, retracted suture catcher, and retained suture end—may be withdrawn from the surgical opening. The suture may then be completed.