Minimally Invasive Suture Device for Tissue Anchoring
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current surgical methods for procedures like the mid-face lift require invasive techniques, leading to significant trauma, long recovery times, and suboptimal aesthetic results due to the need for incisions and disruption of tissue layers, with existing solutions like barbed devices and endoscopic suturing being prone to complications such as tissue sagging and nerve damage.
Innovation Solution
A minimally invasive apparatus allowing sutures to be threaded into subcutaneous tissue from a remote access point using small-gauge needles, enabling anchoring without incisions and allowing for flexible suture deployment configurations that minimize tissue disruption and avoid critical anatomy, such as the facial nerve.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If barbed devices are used to engage subcutaneous tissue remotely, then tissue engagement is achieved, but the barbs are prone to release after a short period causing tissue sagging
Solution Approach 1:
The suture is divided into multiple segments or bites distributed along the tissue rather than relying on a single barbed engagement point. This segmentation distributes the mechanical load and provides redundant engagement points, preventing single-point failure and tissue sagging over time
Solution Approach 2:
Multiple suture bites are placed in advance along the desired suture pathway before final tensioning. This preliminary distribution of engagement points ensures that the tissue is securely anchored at multiple locations before the full lifting force is applied, preventing premature release
2Object-affected harmful factors
If endoscopic suturing devices are used to reduce incision size, then minimally invasive access is achieved, but the devices are bulky and require considerable separation of tissue layers and severing of connective fibers
Solution Approach 1:
The complex endoscopic guidance system and bulky suturing mechanism are extracted and replaced with simple, thin needles that can be inserted through small incisions. The suture deployment mechanism is simplified to rely on basic needle penetration and manual manipulation rather than complex endoscopic instruments
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of using a bulky device that pushes through and separates tissue layers from the inside out, the approach is inverted by using thin needles that penetrate through small incisions and deploy sutures from the outside in, minimizing tissue separation and connective fiber severing
3Object-affected harmful factors
If endoscopic-guided suturing is performed to achieve minimally invasive lift, then incision size is reduced, but significant care and skill are required to avoid rupturing critical branches of the facial nerve
Solution Approach 1:
The suture pathway is carefully planned and marked on the skin surface before the procedure, and needles are inserted at predetermined safe locations away from known nerve pathways. This preliminary planning reduces the need for complex intraoperative navigation and minimizes the risk of nerve injury
Solution Approach 2:
The suture itself acts as an intermediary that can be manipulated and routed subcutaneously to achieve the desired lifting effect without requiring deep penetration near critical nerves. The suture pathway can be adjusted and redistributed to avoid anatomical hazards
4Object-affected harmful factors
If endoscopic suturing devices are used, then minimally invasive access is achieved, but the amount of tissue that can be engaged distally is limited making sutures prone to pull through (cheese-wire effect)
Solution Approach 1:
The suture is divided into multiple engagement points or bites distributed along the tissue rather than relying on a single engagement point. This segmentation distributes the mechanical load across multiple tissue anchors, preventing the suture from cutting through the tissue (cheese-wire effect) and maintaining engagement strength
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of engaging tissue in a single linear direction with limited distal reach, the suture pathway is configured to engage tissue at multiple locations and angles, creating a distributed three-dimensional anchoring pattern that increases overall engagement strength and distributes lifting forces
5Ease of operation
If incisions are made to gain sufficient access for deploying sutures in open surgical procedures, then direct suture placement is achieved, but significant trauma and long recovery times result
Solution Approach 1:
The large incision required for open surgical access is extracted and replaced with multiple small puncture sites. The complex open surgical exposure is eliminated in favor of percutaneous needle insertion, allowing suture deployment through minimally invasive pathways while maintaining the ability to place sutures at the desired locations
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of making large incisions to access tissue and then deploying sutures from the inside out, the approach is inverted by inserting thin needles through small skin punctures and deploying sutures from the outside in, minimizing tissue disruption and trauma while achieving the same suture placement goals
Data Source
AI summary
A minimally invasive suture insertion device utilizing small gage needles is provided for threading one or more sutures through subcutaneous tissue, both locally and from remote access points, to support, attach, sever, ligate or constrict tissue, vessels, ligaments, nerves or other anatomical features, or for pulling another device into position defined by a suture pathway. A manually operated suture transfer device and method are provided for use in various surgical applications. The suture transfer device operates as an instrument for inserting sutures into and through desired pathways. Tethered cannulas are coupled to the positioned sutures and dock, transversely, with a captured component having a capacity for engaging a single suture or multiple sutures, together or in turn within subcutaneous tissue from local or remote access points.