Suture Delivery System with Retractor Guide for Abdominal Wall Closure
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current suture deployment methods face challenges in closing large wounds, particularly in finding the fascia layer and avoiding damage to internal structures, leading to risks of hernia, wound dehiscence, bowel stricture, infection, or bleeding during abdominal surgery.
Innovation Solution
A suture delivery system that functions as both a retractor and a suture passer, using a device with a deployment channel and anchors to accurately guide sutures through the abdominal wall, allowing for safe and repeatable wound closure, with features like a sharps protector and atraumatic tip for safety, and bioabsorbable or ferromagnetic anchors for visualization and removal.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a retractor is used to open the defect and present abdominal layers, then ease of operation is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the retractor function and suture passer function into a single integrated device. The guide body serves both as a retractor that holds the defect open and as a guide for delivering the suture needle and anchor through the abdominal wall, eliminating the need for separate retractor and suture passer instruments
Solution Approach 2:
The guide body is designed with multi-functionality, serving as both a retractor to maintain defect patency and a delivery system for suture deployment. The device can also be removed and reloaded with additional sutures, providing versatile functionality throughout the surgical procedure
2Reliability
If conventional suture deployment is used, then device complexity is reduced, but reliability deteriorates due to risk of damaging internal structures
Solution Approach 1:
The guide body acts as an intermediary device that protects internal structures during suture deployment. It provides a controlled path for the suture needle and anchor, preventing direct contact with and potential damage to internal organs while still enabling effective suture placement through the abdominal wall
Solution Approach 2:
The guide body is pre-positioned in the defect before suture deployment begins. This preliminary action establishes a safe and controlled pathway for subsequent suture needle and anchor delivery, ensuring that internal structures are protected before the actual suture placement occurs
3Manufacturing precision
If accurate suture placement is achieved through guided deployment, then manufacturing precision is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The guide body incorporates localized features such as a guide channel with specific geometry and an exit port positioned at a precise angle relative to the longitudinal axis. These localized structural qualities ensure accurate trajectory control for suture needle and anchor delivery without requiring the entire device to be complex
4Productivity
If a dual-function device is used, then productivity is improved by combining retractor and suture passer, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The guide body integrates multiple functions including retraction, suture needle guidance, anchor delivery, and tissue approximation into a single device structure, enabling the surgeon to perform multiple steps of the wound closure process without exchanging instruments
Solution Approach 2:
The device provides universal functionality for both maintaining the defect open and delivering sutures, with the additional capability of being removed and reloaded for multiple suture deployments, thereby increasing overall procedural efficiency
Data Source
AI summary
A device is described. The device includes a suture guide and a tissue retracting surface to enable accurate and safe delivery of sutures through tissue.