Suture Guide Closure for Reliable Laparoscopic Port Sealing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional methods for closing trocar access portals in laparoscopic surgical procedures are difficult, time-consuming, and unreliable, often leading to complications such as trocar-site hernias, organ damage, and require excessive surgeon dexterity and visual limitations, especially in patients with thick tissues.

Innovation Solution

A tissue access and closure system comprising a suture passer sub-system and a suture guide sub-system, which includes a suture capture clip and elongated member with internal lumens for guiding sutures through tissue, allowing for precise closure of laparoscopic ports or incisions without requiring excessive surgeon skill or visual aids.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If conventional methods are used to close trocar access portals, then closure can be achieved, but the procedure becomes difficult, time-consuming, and unreliable

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveclosure reliabilityVSAvoidclosure difficulty

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

A suture guide device is introduced as an intermediary tool between the surgeon and the tissue closure process. The device includes a guide body with a guide channel that directs suture material through the tissue, making the closure process more reliable and easier to perform compared to direct manual suture placement

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The suture guide device is inserted into the trocar access portal before the closure process begins. The guide body positioning member is advanced through the tissue layers to establish a predetermined path for the suture, preparing the structure in advance for reliable and simplified closure

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Ease of operation

If conventional closure methods are used, then closure can be achieved, but excessive surgeon dexterity and visual aids are required

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesurgeon skill requirementVSAvoidvisual aid requirement

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The suture guide device serves as a mechanical intermediary that performs the complex spatial manipulation of suture material through tissue layers, reducing the need for surgeon dexterity and eliminating the requirement for additional visual aids or scopes

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The guide channel within the device automatically directs and constrains the suture material along the correct path through the tissue, making the closure process self-guiding and reducing reliance on surgeon skill and external visual assistance

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Productivity

If conventional closure methods are used, then closure can be achieved, but the procedure is time-consuming

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveclosure speedVSAvoidprocedural time

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The suture guide device is pre-positioned in the trocar portal and the guide channel is established before suture placement, allowing for rapid and direct closure without time-consuming manual manipulation or additional positioning steps

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The guide body and guide channel provide a pre-established pathway that accelerates the suture passing process, enabling faster closure compared to conventional methods that require time-consuming manual tissue manipulation

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

4Reliability

If conventional closure methods are used, then closure can be attempted, but the reliability is insufficient leading to complications such as trocar-site hernias

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveclosure reliabilityVSAvoidhernia risk

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The suture guide device ensures accurate and consistent suture placement through the tissue layers, creating reliable closure that prevents complications such as trocar-site hernias, which are associated with inadequate closure

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The guide body positioning member is advanced through the tissue layers in advance to establish a precise closure path, ensuring that the suture will properly approximate the tissue edges and create a reliable closure that prevents hernia formation

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS12465351B2Biological tissue access and closure apparatus, systems and methods

Publication Date: 2025.11.11 SUTURE EASE

AI summary

A tissue access and closure system for piercing through biological tissue and providing access to internal structures; particularly, intra-abdominal structures, and closing an opening in the tissue. The system includes a suture passer sub-system that is adapted to releasably secure sutures and insert the sutures into and through the tissue, and a suture guide sub-system that is adapted to cooperate with the suture passer sub-system, the cooperation including engaging and retaining sutures releasably secured to the suture passer sub-system after the sutures are inserted into and through the tissue with the suture passer sub-system, the suture passer sub-system and sutures are advanced into the suture guide sub-system, and the suture passer sub-system and sutures are subsequently withdrawn out of the suture guide sub-system.