Tissue Closure Device with Shield and Visual Indicators
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional tissue closure devices for minimally invasive surgical procedures, such as laparoscopic port closure devices, often require a significant number of steps and manual dexterity, and may not provide consistent and reliable results due to the small size of the incisions and the need to suture through multiple tissue layers without clear visualization.
Innovation Solution
A closure device with a trans-lateral passageway for guiding needles and a shield to protect the operator's fingers, along with finger grasping areas and visual indicators for proper positioning, which simplifies the suturing process and allows for reliable closure of tissue openings, including abdominal trocar openings, with reduced steps and improved safety.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional closure techniques are used to close trocar openings, then the subcutaneous layer can be closed, but the procedure requires a significant number of steps and manual dexterity, and may not provide consistent and reliable results
Solution Approach 1:
The closure device is divided into distinct functional components: a body portion with a passageway for needle insertion, a shield portion for finger protection, and visual indicators for positioning. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function independently, simplifying the overall procedure while maintaining reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The closure device is pre-positioned in the trocar opening before suturing begins. Visual indicators on the device provide preliminary guidance for proper positioning and depth, eliminating the need for complex visualization during the suturing process itself and reducing the number of adjustment steps required.
2Length of moving object
If suturing is performed through very small incisions, then minimally invasive surgery is achieved, but manipulation of the suture and visualization of the procedure becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The closure device acts as an intermediary tool that facilitates suture manipulation through the small incision. The passageway in the device body guides the needle and suture, providing mechanical advantage and control that would be difficult to achieve with direct manual manipulation through the small opening alone.
Solution Approach 2:
The device introduces a spatial dimension to the procedure by extending the passageway through the tissue at a specific angle. This allows the operator to access and manipulate the suture from a more favorable position outside the small incision, effectively adding a dimensional lever arm to the manipulation process.
3Ease of operation
If the suture location is placed close to the original incision opening, then the procedure is simpler, but the closure may not be enough to reliably close the opening without later complications
Solution Approach 1:
Visual indicators on the closure device provide real-time feedback to the operator about the device's position and depth within the tissue. This feedback mechanism ensures that the suture is placed at the optimal location that balances procedural simplicity with adequate closure distance, preventing both under-closure and overly complex procedures.
Data Source
AI summary
Apparatus and methods are provided for treating a tissue opening, for example a trocar opening used in a minimally invasive surgical procedure. In a tissue closure device, a finger guard or shield can be used, handle or holding area or areas can be used, and positioning indicators can be used. A resiliently flexible target material can also be used for reliably holding a suture during the procedure. Introducers can be used having a suture holder, an alignment indicator and insertion limits.