TiN-Coated Soft Tissue Cutting Wire for Higher Cutting Force
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional cutting threads for soft tissue during surgery lack sufficient cutting force and are prone to breaking, making minimal invasive surgery inconvenient and potentially leaving foreign substances in the body.
Innovation Solution
A cutting wire made from a stranded configuration of stainless steel element wires coated with titanium nitride (TiN) using a vacuum arc deposition process, enhancing rigidity, wear resistance, and ultrasound visibility while being non-toxic and biocompatible.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a conventional thread is used for soft tissue cutting, then the surgery can be performed with minimal incision, but the thread lacks sufficient cutting force and is prone to breaking
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies composite materials by combining stainless steel element wires (providing flexibility and biocompatibility) with a titanium nitride coating layer (providing hardness and cutting force). This composite structure resolves the contradiction by integrating the advantages of both materials: the stainless steel core maintains reliability and flexibility for minimal invasive surgery, while the TiN coating enhances cutting force and wear resistance
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the physical and chemical parameters of the thread surface by applying a titanium nitride coating. This coating increases the surface hardness, wear resistance, and cutting force of the thread without significantly altering its flexibility or biocompatibility. The parameter change in surface properties resolves the contradiction between cutting force and reliability
2Strength
If a stronger thread is used to increase cutting force, then cutting performance improves, but the thread may leave foreign substances in the body or cause toxicity
Solution Approach 1:
The composite material structure with stainless steel core and TiN coating resolves this contradiction because both materials are biocompatible and approved for medical use. The stainless steel provides a safe, non-toxic base that is widely used in medical implants, while the TiN coating is known for its biocompatibility and resistance to body fluids, preventing foreign substance retention and toxicity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality by providing different properties at different locations: the inner stainless steel core provides flexibility and biocompatibility for safe body contact, while the outer TiN coating provides hardness and cutting force only where needed at the surface. This localized property distribution resolves the contradiction between cutting force and safety
3Ease of operation
If a threaded structure is used for minimal invasive surgery, then patient recovery is faster, but the thread lacks rigidity and wears easily
Solution Approach 1:
The composite material structure resolves this contradiction by combining the flexibility of stainless steel (enabling minimal invasive surgery) with the wear resistance of titanium nitride coating. The coating protects the thread from wear during cutting while the core maintains flexibility for easy insertion through minimal incisions
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality by making only the surface layer hard and wear-resistant through TiN coating, while keeping the core soft and flexible for minimal invasive operation. This localized differentiation resolves the contradiction between ease of operation and stability of composition
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
The coated cutting wire exhibits increased cutting force, reduced likelihood of breakage, and improved visibility during surgery, ensuring effective and safe tissue cutting without foreign substance retention.
Implementation Method 1
a fourth step (S4) of mounting the second stranded wire 3, subjected to the third step (S3), in a vacuum arc deposition system equipped with a cathodic arc source; a fifth step (S5) of creating a vacuum of 10−6 Torr or less in the vacuum system; a sixth step (S6) of cleaning the second stranded wire 3, subjected to the fourth step (S4), in the vacuum system; and a seventh step (S7) of forming a hard coating layer of a compound containing titanium nitride (TiN) on the surface of the second stranded wire 3
Data Source
AI summary
A wire for cutting human soft tissue and a manufacturing method thereof are disclosed. The method includes at least: forming a first stranded wire using a plurality of element wires; forming a second stranded wire using the first stranded wires; washing the second stranded wire with acetone and alcohol; mounting the second stranded wire, subjected to the third step, in a vacuum arc deposition system equipped with a cathodic arc source; forming a vacuum level of 10−6 Torr or less in the vacuum system; cleaning the second stranded wire, subjected to the fourth step, in the vacuum system; and forming a hard coating layer of a compound containing titanium nitride (TiN) on the surface of the second stranded wire 3 at 400° C. in the vacuum system.