Thermal Fusion Suture Securing Device

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional surgical suture securing methods rely on tying knots, which can be time-consuming and may not provide a secure or reliable closure, especially in high-stress surgical environments.

Innovation Solution

A device that uses heat to fuse or cauterize suture portions together, eliminating the need for knots by employing an electrical heating element within a suture securement device that can be actuated to melt and join suture ends, thereby securing them in place.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If knots are used to secure sutures, then the suture can be secured in place, but the process is time-consuming and may not provide a secure or reliable closure

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesuture closure reliabilityVSAvoidsuture securing time

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the mechanical knot-tying system with a thermal fusion system. A heating element is delivered through a catheter to the suture site, where it heats and fuses the suture material directly, eliminating the need for manual knot manipulation and tying procedures.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the physical state of the suture material by applying thermal energy. The heating element raises the temperature of the suture material to its melting or fusion point, transforming it from a flexible state to a fused, secured state, thereby achieving reliable closure without mechanical knots.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Ease of operation

If knots are tied to secure sutures, then the suture ends are joined, but the process requires manual dexterity and may result in knot slippage

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesuture securing easeVSAvoidknot security

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The suture material is designed to be self-fusing when exposed to the heating element. The thermal energy causes the suture material to melt and bond to itself or adjacent sutures automatically, without requiring manual intervention to tie or secure the connection.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Productivity

If heat is used to fuse sutures, then the securing process is rapid and reliable, but additional equipment and energy are required

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesuture securing speedVSAvoidsecuring device complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The heating element is nested within a catheter that is delivered through the vascular system to the suture site. The catheter protects the heating element during delivery and positions it precisely at the target location, allowing the complex thermal fusion function to be integrated into an minimally invasive delivery system.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Solution Approach 2:

The catheter-based delivery system serves multiple functions: it delivers the heating element to the suture site, positions the heating element for optimal fusion, and can be used for other interventional procedures. This multi-functionality justifies the added device complexity by providing versatile capabilities beyond simple suture fusion.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

This method provides a rapid, secure, and reliable suture securing technique that reduces the risk of knot slippage and simplifies the surgical process, allowing for efficient closure of sutures without the need for manual knot-tying.

Implementation Method 1

an electrical heating element positioned within the outer shaft

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectJoule heating: Joule Heating

Implementation Method 2

heats the suture portions and causes the suture portions to fuse together

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectMelting: Melting

Data Source

PatentUS11382616B2Systems for securing sutures

Publication Date: 2022.07.12 EDWARDS LIFESCIENCES CORP

AI summary

Described herein are systems and methods for securing sutures that obviate the need for tying knots. Instead of tying two ends of a suture or two sutures together with a knot, two or more suture portions can be fused or cauterized together using heat. A device can be applied to adjacent suture portions that heats the suture portions and causes the suture portions to fuse together, effectively securing the suture portions together without a knot. Such devices can include a shaft, a heating element positioned within the shaft, and a suture holder at the distal end of the shaft. The holder in an open position receives sutures and in a closed position holds the sutures. Actuation of the device causes the heating element to apply heat and fuse together sutures held by the holder. The holder can separate from the fused sutures after the sutures are fused together.