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Publication Number
US-11058415-B2
Publication Date
2021-07-13
Expiration Date
Abstract
A suture guide includes a first part having a first base piece and a plurality of first needle portions joined to the first base piece. Each first needle portion has a respective first needle portion sidewall. The suture guide further includes a second part having a second base piece and a plurality of second needle portions joined to the second base piece. Each second needle portion has a respective second needle portion sidewall. The first part and second part are moveable between a separated configuration and a joined configuration. In the separated configuration, the first needle portions are spaced away from the second needle portions. In the joined configuration, each one of the first needle portions is positioned adjacent and cooperates with a respective one of the second needle portions to form a needle.
Core Innovation
The invention relates to a wound-suturing system including a suture guide that comprises a first suture guide part and a second suture guide part. Each suture guide part has a respective base piece joined to a plurality of needle portions, and the first and second suture guide parts are movable between a separated configuration and a joined configuration.
In the separated configuration, the plurality of first needle portions are spaced away from the plurality of second needle portions. In the joined configuration, each first needle portion is positioned adjacent and cooperates with a respective one of the second needle portions to form a needle, and each formed needle has a needle sidewall formed by one of the first needle portion sidewalls and one of the second needle portion sidewalls, defining a lumen and a pointed tip.
The invention also encompasses structural arrangements that align the cooperating needle portions to define lumens and pointed tips when joined. The detailed description further specifies flexible elongate base pieces, linear arrangement of needle portions with openings facing outward, and a semicircular transverse sidewall geometry for the needle sidewalls, with removable securing via engagement members to maintain the joined configuration.
Claims Coverage
The document provides one independent claim, directed to a suture guide with two movable suture guide parts that form needles having lumens and pointed tips when joined. The remaining claim set refines the independent claim with lumen joining behavior, linear arrangement and opening orientation, releasable engagement members, base-piece alignment constraints, and semicircular sidewall geometry.
Movable first and second suture guide parts forming needles
The first suture guide part and second suture guide part are movable between a separated configuration and a joined configuration, where spaced first needle portions become positioned adjacent to cooperatively form needles with needle sidewalls defining a lumen and a pointed tip.
Lumen-to-lumen joining in the joined configuration
In the joined configuration, each one of the first needle portions is positioned adjacent and cooperates with a respective one of the second needle portions so that the respective lumens are formed by cooperation of the first and second needle portion sidewalls.
Linear arrangement with outward-facing openings
The plurality of first needle portions are arranged linearly along an edge of the first base piece with each first opening facing away from the first base piece, and the plurality of second needle portions are arranged linearly along an edge of the second base piece with each second opening facing away from the second base piece.
Releasable engagement to maintain the joined configuration
The first suture guide part comprises a first engagement member, the second suture guide part comprises a second engagement member, and the first engagement member is releasably securable to the second engagement member to maintain the parts in the joined configuration.
Side-by-side elongate base pieces with parallel longitudinal axes
The first base piece comprises a first elongate plate extending along a first longitudinal axis, and the second base piece comprises a second elongate plate extending along a second longitudinal axis, wherein in the joined configuration the base pieces are side-by-side with the first and second longitudinal axes parallel.
Semicircular transverse needle sidewalls
When in a transverse section, each first needle portion sidewall and each second needle portion sidewall is semicircular.
Overall, the claim coverage centers on a two-part suture guide movable between separated and joined configurations, where spaced needle portions cooperatively form needles having lumens and pointed tips through combined needle-sidewall geometry. Dependent limitations further constrain lumen joining, linear arrangement and outward opening orientation, releasable engagement to retain the joined configuration, aligned elongate base-piece geometry, and semicircular transverse sidewall shape.
Stated Advantages
Accuracy.
Speed.
Controlled traction.
Reduced risk of organ puncture.
Documented Applications
Wound suturing, including an abdominal incision example (pig) reporting reduced suturing time versus conventional technique.
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