Bi-directional Suture Passer with Hybrid Trap Mechanism

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing methods for passing sutures through tissue bi-directionally face challenges such as compromised security due to tissue or fluid interference, unintended severing, and difficulty in securely grasping the suture, especially when using shuttles or ferrules.

Innovation Solution

A hybrid method involving direct suture translation in one direction and using a suture trap for the other direction, along with a bi-directional suture passer device featuring a proximal portion, distal tip, and a reciprocally moveable suture passing member, to minimize risk and ensure secure suture handling.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a shuttle or ferrule is used to carry the suture both to and from the distal tip, then the suture can be transported bidirectionally, but the coupling between the shuttle/ferrule and distal tip can be compromised by tissue or bodily fluid interference, reducing security and integrity

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebidirectional suture transport capabilityVSAvoidcoupling security between shuttle and distal tip

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The device is divided into separate functional components: a distal tip that remains in place, a shuttle that passes sutures bidirectionally, and a suture trap that selectively captures sutures. This segmentation allows the shuttle to be detached after suture passage, eliminating the coupling security issue while maintaining bidirectional transport capability through the trap mechanism.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The suture trap acts as an intermediary mechanism between the shuttle and the distal tip. It captures the suture from the shuttle during passage and holds it securely at the distal tip, eliminating the need for direct coupling between the shuttle and distal tip while ensuring secure suture retention.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Adaptability or versatility

If a shuttle or ferrule is used for bidirectional suture passing, then suture transport is enabled, but unintended severing of the suture results in a free-floating shuttle or ferrule within the patient's body

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebidirectional suture passing capabilityVSAvoidfree-floating shuttle in patient's body

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The suture trap extracts and retains the suture from the shuttle during the passing process. If the suture is inadvertently severed, the trap prevents the shuttle from becoming free-floating by maintaining control over the suture end, thus eliminating the harmful effect of a free-floating shuttle in the patient's body.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The shuttle is designed to be temporarily used and then discarded (removed from the body) after passing the suture. The suture trap recovers and retains the suture, ensuring that if severing occurs, the critical suture component is retained while the non-critical shuttle can be safely removed.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #34Discarding and recovering

3Object-affected harmful factors

If no shuttle or ferrule is used for bidirectional suture passing, then the risk of free-floating components is eliminated, but the ability to securely grasp and retrieve the suture becomes difficult to implement consistently

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveelimination of free-floating componentsVSAvoidconsistent and reproducible suture grasping and retrieval

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The suture trap is designed to automatically capture and retain the suture through its mechanical structure (e.g., engagement features, retention elements) without requiring complex manual manipulation. This self-service mechanism ensures consistent and reproducible suture grasping and retrieval, eliminating the variability associated with manual techniques.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentUS11389156B2Suture passing instrumentation and methods of use thereof

Publication Date: 2022.07.19 BMC DORIAN HLDG INC

AI summary

The instant disclosure is directed to methods and devices for passing suture bi-directionally using a hybrid approach. Embodiments of a method described herein include steps of advancing a suture at least partially through tissue; and retrieving the suture; wherein one of the steps of advancing and retrieving comprises manipulating the suture directly, and wherein the other step of advancing and retrieving comprises manipulating a suture trap to which the suture is coupled. Embodiments of a device that may be used to practice the method embodiments include a bi-directional suture passer having a proximal portion for holding a portion of a suture therein; a distal tip coupled to the proximal portion and defining a tissue receiving gap there-between; a reciprocally moveable suture passing member housed within the proximal portion for translating the suture portion between the proximal portion and the distal tip; and a suture trap operable to be detachably coupled to the distal tip for capturing the suture passed by the suture passing member.