Tissue Fastener Deployment Mechanism for Low-Trauma Wound Closure
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing surgical staplers using bioabsorbable fasteners face issues such as requiring multiple operators, causing tissue trauma and bleeding, and being unsuitable for short incisions due to the need for a driving head that can get trapped inside the incision.
Innovation Solution
A single-user hand-held device that deploys bioabsorbable fasteners with a mechanism allowing tissue pinching and folding, using a trigger-actuated slider-crank assembly and multi-velocity spring-loaded delivery system to minimize tissue trauma and enable secure closure of incisions as short as 10mm.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a puncturing element is used to penetrate tissue and deploy a fastener, then the fastener can be positioned and deployed through the tissue, but the puncturing element may become stuck in the tissue or bend upon penetration
Solution Approach 1:
The puncturing element is divided into multiple segments that can relative move with respect to each other. When the puncturing element engages tissue, these segments allow the element to flex and bend without becoming stuck, enabling successful deployment of the fastener while accommodating tissue variability.
2Strength
If the puncturing element is made stiff to maintain shape, then it can penetrate tissue effectively, but it cannot flex to accommodate varying tissue depths and locations
Solution Approach 1:
The puncturing element transitions from a static, rigid structure to a dynamic, flexible structure with multiple movable segments. This allows the element to maintain sufficient stiffness for penetration while simultaneously adapting its shape and length to accommodate varying tissue depths and locations during deployment.
3Length of moving object
If the puncturing element is made long to reach deep tissue, then it can deploy fasteners at greater depths, but it becomes more prone to bending and sticking
Solution Approach 1:
The puncturing element is divided into multiple segments that can relative move with respect to each other. This segmentation allows the element to achieve greater effective length for deep tissue deployment while the segments themselves remain short enough to maintain stiffness and resist bending, thereby preventing sticking and improving deployment reliability.
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention is directed to a hand-held surgical device, operable by a single user, for deploying fasteners to close a wound or incision in tissue. The device includes tissue pinching and folding members operably controlled by the user during actuation of a trigger of the device, which can temporarily secure and expose inner surfaces of two edges of an incision or wound, where one of a plurality of fasteners can be inserted upon further actuation of the trigger, without crushing or causing undue trauma to the tissue.