Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 03049920 2019-07-10
WO 2019/036301 PCT/US2018/046285
Curled Suture Device Apparatus and Method
Specification
Cross-Reference to Related Applications
[0001.] This application claims priority to my application Serial No.
15/679,978, filed
August 17, 2017, titled "Curled Suture Device Apparatus and Method," the full
disclosure of
which is hereby incorporated by reference and priority of which is hereby
claimed.
Background of the Invention
[0002.] The present invention provides a suturing device to minimize
interference and
obstructions during intricate surgeries. The curled suture device is
significantly shorter than
traditional suturing kits, by provision of a needle attached to a specially
manufactured thread
incorporating a stopping mechanism that precedes an angled, semi-rigid portion
of thread,
followed by a curled portion of thread arranged in a corkscrew configuration.
The stopping
mechanism halts the movement of the thread as the needle and thread
intermediate the needle
and stopping mechanism is pulled through the suture point, securing the
remainder of the thread
for access by the user. The semi-rigid portion of thread is thereby utilized
in conjunction with
its curled portion of thread, allowing for the user's unabated access to the
corkscrew
configuration to form a ready-made knot, minimizing interference and
obstruction during
surgery. The thread may be manufactured to form an additional semi-rigid and
curled portion of
thread upon creation of a knot.
[0003.] In laparoscopic surgery or other similar procedures, the healthcare
provider may
be required to work on the inside of a particular cavity of the body of the
patient. In working in
this cavity, there may be instruments inserted into the patient to allow the
healthcare provider to
perform the procedure, such as a camera, instruments holding the cavity open
in an appropriate
manner, and multiple sutures and associated thread to allow for repair of the
interior tissue. Use
of these instruments ultimately crowds the healthcare provider's working
space, and interferes
with a smooth and efficient surgical procedure.
[0004.] By providing the curled suture device of the present invention,
with a specially
manufactured thread that allows for a ready-made knot or multiple ready-made
knots, the
healthcare provider is able to perform the suturing with only one hand, while
his or her second
hand may secure, for example, the camera utilized in the procedure. Further,
by eliminating the
need to manually create a knot from standard suturing thread, the thread may
be significantly
shortened from needle to tip, and thus free up space within the surgical
cavity. The angled,
semi-rigid portion of the thread and its corresponding curled portion of the
thread, in
conjunction, centers the suturing area in the appropriate section of the
surgical cavity, which
allows the healthcare provider to operate within the scope of his or her view
within the surgical
1
CA 03049920 2019-07-10
WO 2019/036301 PCT/US2018/046285
cavity. The arrangement would also allow for fewer adjustments to the position
of the camera,
which in turn decreases disruption of both the procedure and physicality of
the patient. The
stopping mechanism further facilitates these advantages, as it allows for the
healthcare provider
to more easily create the knot by ensuring the curled section of the suture
remains in the
appropriate place during the suturing process. Additionally, in allowing for
the healthcare
provider to control both the suture and sutured tissue with a single hand, the
healthcare provider
is able to adjust the final suture spot as necessary without additional
disruption of the tissue and
surgical cavity.
[0005.] As outlined below, various references provide for curls on suturing
thread.
However, the prior art does not provide for a stopper mechanism on the thread,
nor any angled,
semi-rigid portion of the thread, to more effectively suture the desired area
when used in
conjunction with the curled portion of the thread. The prior art therefore
does not effectively aid
the healthcare provider in the laparoscopic procedure. The prior art
additionally does not
contemplate the varied stopper mechanisms that should be taken into account
when tailoring the
suture device for specific surgical procedures.
[0006.] For example, U.S. Publ. No. 2009/0216268, published August 27, 2009
by Gideon
G. Panter, discloses a suture for facilitating tying of knots that includes a
length of suture material
fixed to a needle. At least part of the length of the suture material is
resiliently biased to a coiled
state that is able to be straightened under applied tension but which returns
to its coiled state when
released. In use, part of the suture material is drawn through a region of
tissue so that portions of
the suture material lie on opposite ends of the tissue. A knot is then formed
in the suture material
by passing one of the portions through at least one resiliently-formed coil
formed in the other of the
portions, and pulling tight the suture material.
[0007.] This Panter suture discusses the use of a coiled thread to assist
in the creation of a
knot, but does not provide for a stopper mechanism on the thread, nor any
angled, semi-rigid
portion of thread that may be used in conjunction with the provided coil. Such
a configuration
would be necessary to create the knot in the appropriate spot of the suturing
device, and would also
assist the healthcare provider in pulling the tissue regions together without
disruption when
suturing.
[0008.] U.S. Pat. No. 5,454,834, issued October 3, 1995 to Manfred Boebel
et al., discloses
a surgical suture material provided with a thread and, in some cases, a needle
to allow formation of
a knot with the greatest possible security while expending little effort, even
in situations where
space is limited ¨ for example, during an endoscopic operation. The suture
material has at least one
inherently stable coil, loop, or similar preformed featured in at least one
initial preformed section of
its length. Another section of the thread or an end of the thread can be
threaded or guided through
2
CA 03049920 2019-07-10
WO 2019/036301 PCT/US2018/046285
this preformed feature for the purpose of forming a loop and/or knot. The
preformed section can
take the form of a preformed feature with an approximately spiral shape, for
example.
[0009.] However, this Boebel patent, like the above-disclosed Panter
suture, does not
provide for a stopper mechanism on the thread nor any angled, semi-rigid
portion of thread that
may be used in conjunction with the provided coils for effective suturing.
Further, the Boebel
patent requires multiple preformed sections (i.e., coils) of thread, present
concurrently with one
another, which simply serves to further crowd the suturing space instead of
simplifying and
streamlining the suturing process, as is intended by the present invention.
[0010.] There is accordingly a need for a curled suture device that aids in
reducing
interference during a surgical procedure by provision of a specially
manufactured suturing
thread providing a ready-made knot or multiple ready-made knots, incorporating
an angled,
semi-rigid portion of the thread and a corresponding curled portion of the
thread, and which is in
part further facilitated by a stopping mechanism in the thread that aids in
the creation of the knot
by securing the ready-made knot(s) in the appropriate area during the
procedure. In allowing for
the healthcare provider to suture the appropriate tissue with only one hand,
the healthcare
provider may also easily adjust the location of the suture and upcoming knot
within the surgical
cavity, which allows for reduced interference within the surgical cavity.
Summary of the Invention
[0011.] The present invention provides a suturing device to minimize
interference and
obstructions during intricate surgeries, such as laparoscopic surgeries. The
curled suture device
is significantly shorter than other suturing kits currently available for use,
as it features a
suturing needle attached to the end of a specially manufactured suture thread
that incorporates a
specially placed stopping mechanism immediately preceding an angled, semi-
rigid portion of the
thread, followed by a corresponding curled portion of the thread arranged in a
corkscrew
configuration, forming several loops before coming to an end. The stopping
mechanism serves
to halt the movement of the thread as the needle and thread intermediate
between the needle and
stopping mechanism is pulled through the suture point, securing the remainder
of the thread on
the first side of the tissue being sutured. Immediately following the stopping
mechanism, an
angled, semi-rigid portion of the thread is utilized in conjunction with its
corresponding curled
portion of the thread, allowing for the healthcare provider's unabated access
to the corkscrew
configuration that allows for a ready-made knot in the suture device, to aid
in minimizing
interference and obstruction during surgery. The suture thread may be
manufactured to
automatically form an additional angled, semi-rigid portion of the thread and
a corresponding
curled portion of the thread upon creation of a previous knot, allowing the
aforementioned
process to be duplicated to create additional knots as necessary for the
healthcare provider's
3
CA 03049920 2019-07-10
WO 2019/036301 PCT/US2018/046285
requirements. The length of the entire device, from the tip of the suture
needle to the end of the
specially manufactured suture thread, is of a length significantly shorter
than typical suture kits,
which may stretch up to several feet long, which also aids in reducing
interference and
obstruction during the surgical process.
[0012.] The present invention solves existing problems in the surgical
field, namely
providing a suturing device that aids in suturing pieces of tissue by
providing a pre-existing
knot formation, and allowing for the formulation of additional ready-made
knots, encompassing
an angled, semi-rigid portion of thread and a corresponding curled portion of
thread, that aids
the healthcare provider in creating a knot during the process of suturing, and
by also providing
additional features, such as varied stopping mechanisms and varied lengths of
thread, to further
streamline and simplify the suturing process.
Brief Description of the Drawings
[0013.] Reference will now be made to the drawings, wherein like parts are
designated by
like numerals, and wherein:
[0014.] FIG. 1A is a view of a patient with a schematic depiction of a
surgical area;
[0015.] FIG. 1B is a view of a patient with a schematic depiction of a
surgical area, with
a surgical instrument inserted in the surgical area;
[0016.] FIG. 1C is a view of a laparoscopic surgery in progress, utilizing
the curled
suture device of the present invention;
[0017.] FIG. 1D is a view of a laparoscopic surgery in progress, utilizing
the curled
suture device of the present invention to create a knot in the surgical area;
[0018.] FIG. 2A is a schematic view of the curled suture device according
to an
embodiment of the present invention;
[0019.] FIG. 2B is a schematic view of the curled suture device according
to a second
embodiment of the present invention;
[0020.] FIG. 2C is a schematic view of the curled suture device according
to a third
embodiment of the present invention;
[0021.] FIG. 3A is a detailed view of the method of suturing two pieces of
tissue by using
the curled suture device of the present invention, as beginning from the
interior of the first
tissue;
[0022.] FIG. 3B is a detailed view of the method of suturing two pieces of
tissue by using
the curled suture device of the present invention, as beginning from the
exterior of the first
tissue;
[0023.] FIG. 4 is a detailed view of the method of suturing two pieces of
tissue by using
the curled suture device of the present invention, whereby the pieces of
tissue become bound;
4
CA 03049920 2019-07-10
WO 2019/036301 PCT/US2018/046285
[0024.] FIG. 5 is a detailed view of the method of suturing two pieces of
tissue by using
the curled suture device of the present invention, formulating a first knot
binding the pieces of
tissue;
[0025.] FIG. 6 is a detailed view of the method of suturing two pieces of
tissue by using
the curled suture device of the present invention, formulating a second knot
to bind the pieces of
tissue;
[0026.] FIG. 7 is a detailed view of the resulting combination of the two
knots binding
the pieces of tissue by use of the curled suture device of the present
invention; and
[0027.] FIG. 8 is a detailed view of the resulting combination of the two
knots binding
the pieces of tissue by use of the curled suture device of the present
invention that allows for an
additional knot to bind the pieces of tissue with additional friction
Detailed Description of the Drawings
[0028.] Referring to FIGS. 1A-1D, a laparoscopic surgery using the curled
suture device
100 of the present invention is depicted. As shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B, the
patient 200 may
require a surgical procedure, such as the depicted laparoscopic surgery, and
will have a certain
surgical cavity 210 wherein the healthcare provider will perform the
procedure, inserting various
instruments 310 to perform their respective intended functions as needed
during the course of
the procedure. For instance, as shown in FIG. 1C, the patient 200 with
surgical cavity 210 may
have instruments 310A, 310B, and 310C inserted into the surgical cavity 210 to
set the surgical
area in the appropriate manner to enable the healthcare provider to
effectively perform the
procedure.
[0029.] As shown in FIGS. 1C and 1D, which depict a typical laparoscopic
surgical
procedure, there is a camera 320 focused on the appropriate area of the
surgical cavity 210. This
camera 320 allows the healthcare provider to view the appropriate area of the
surgical cavity 210
on a screen 330 formatted to depict the appropriate area of the surgical
cavity 210. However,
the camera 320 is, by its nature, limited in scope and will only ever be able
to depict a limited
view of the surgical cavity 210 on the screen 330. Accordingly, if the
healthcare provider needs
to see additional areas of the surgical cavity 210, he or she will need to
continually adjust the
various instruments 310 and camera 320 accordingly to view the appropriate
area of the surgical
cavity 210, which may disrupt the procedure or physicality of the patient 200,
or otherwise
operate outside the viewing area of the camera 320, which may lead to issues
during the
procedure.
[0030.] However, in using the curled suture device 100 of the present
invention, the
camera 320 is able to present the full scope of the procedure area on the
screen 330, with
minimal movement of the camera 320 within the surgical cavity 210. For
example, as depicted
CA 03049920 2019-07-10
WO 2019/036301 PCT/US2018/046285
in FIG. 1D, the camera 320 can capture enough of the appropriate area of the
surgical cavity 210
so that the screen 330 can depict the entirety of the suturing method of the
curled suture device
100. It may be understood by those in the art that this focusing of the camera
320 on a single
area of the surgical cavity 210 is facilitated by provision of a suture device
that provides for the
ready-made knot or multiple ready-made knots on the specially manufactured
thread as
described herein, and thereby eliminating the need for the healthcare provider
to create his or her
own knot(s) in the suture in the traditional manner while performing the
procedure.
[0031.] Referring now to FIGS. 2A-2C, embodiments of the curled suture
device 100 of
the present invention feature a needle 110 at one end of the curled suture
device 100, and a
curled portion of thread 150 at the opposite end of the curled suture device
100 from the needle
110. The thread 120 may be any one of several varied lengths, so that the
healthcare provider or
suturing professional may select the appropriately-sized curled suture device
100 as needed for a
specific procedure. For example, it is known in the art that a healthcare
provider may use a
suture device that is 36", or 90cm, long for one procedure, or a shorter 6",
or 15cm, suture
device for a different procedure. However, in all instances in the prior art,
the suture device
must be several inches long to allow sufficient room for the healthcare
provider to thread the
appropriate tissue and appropriately knot the suture during and at the
completion of the
procedure to ensure that the tissue is appropriately mended. Accordingly,
although the curled
suture device 100 of the present invention may have a thread 120 of varied
lengths, such that the
illustrative gap 125 pictured in the FIGS. 2A-2C may illustrate several varied
lengths, the curled
suture device 100 will almost always feature a thread 120 of a length shorter
than a
corresponding suture device without a set of curls 150, which would require
additional length to
prepare and create a knot in the final step of suturing the tissue.
[0032.] Thread 120 may be comprised of any one of varied materials that are
generally
available as suturing thread materials. For example, thread 120 may be a
polypropylene suture
like PROLENE, which is a non-absorbable surgical suture. Other examples of a
non-absorbable
surgical suture are polyester sutures like ETHIBOND or nylon sutures like
ETHILON or
NUROLON. Such a non-absorbable suture may be preferable in certain surgical
procedures
when the healthcare provider requires a thread that will be stronger and
longer-lasting than other
absorbable threads, such as in cardiovascular procedures. Alternatively,
thread 120 may be
made of an absorbable thread, such as, without limitation, a poliglecaprone
suture like
MONOCRYL, a polyglactin suture like VICRYL, or a polydioxanone suture like PDS
II. Such
a suture may be preferable in certain procedures when it is preferable that
the suture ultimately
break down within the patient's body within a certain period of time. For
example, certain
absorbable threads may be broken down and absorbed within the patient's body
in as little as
6
CA 03049920 2019-07-10
WO 2019/036301
PCT/US2018/046285
two weeks, or may last over a year. However, such absorbable sutures are not
preferable in
procedures wherein the suture is meant to not only mend, but permanently
connect, two pieces
of tissue, such as repairing stitches for blood vessels or in cardiovascular
or neurological
procedures. The curled suture device 100 of the present invention is not meant
to be limited to
one type of thread 120, but may be available as either an absorbable thread or
non-absorbable
thread, so that the healthcare provider may select the appropriate type of
curled suture device
100 based in part on the type of thread 120 featured in the curled suture
device 100.
[0033.] Additionally, thread 120 may be of either a braided or non-braided
type. If
thread 120 is braided, it may feature a number of strands woven together like
a string. Such a
braided thread, which may be made of a polyester, silk, or other material,
would provide
additional grip for the suture and may be stronger than a non-braided thread.
However, a non-
braided thread may be preferable as the thread 120 of the curled suture device
100 because it
may be less prone to becoming infected, and may provide for a smoother
surgical procedure
within the body. Thread 120 of the curled suture device 100 of the present
invention may be of
either this braided or non-braided variety, so that the healthcare provider
may select the
appropriate type of curled suture device based in part on whether the thread
120 is braided or
non-braided.
[0034.] The needle 110 of the curled suture device 100 may also be provided
in different
embodiments. Suture needles are generally of four types: a cutting needle, a
reverse cutting
needle, a tapered needle, or a reverse tapered needle. Needle 110 of the
curled suture device
may be either cutting, reverse cutting, tapered, or reverse tapered, such that
the healthcare
provider may select the appropriate type of curled suture device based in part
on whether the
needle 110 is a cutting, reverse cutting, tapered, or reverse tapered needle.
[0035.] Referring back to FIGS. 2A-2C, the curled suture device 100
features, at the end
opposite the needle 110, an end section comprising a set of a curled portion
of thread 150, an
angled, semi-rigid portion of thread 140 directly before a curled portion of
thread 150, and a
stopper mechanism 130 featured immediately prior to the semi-rigid portion of
thread 140, such
that the semi-rigid portion of thread 140 acts as an intermediary feature
between the stopper 130
and the curled portion of thread 150. It may be appreciated that some threads
may be comprised
of a flexible type of material, such as silk, to account for the surgical
considerations discussed
above. In such an instance, the semi-rigid portion of thread 140 may feature
an additional
coating of material with a a semi-rigid character, such as, but not limited
to, plastic or
poliglecaprone, to ensure that the semi-rigid portion of thread 140 retains a
semi-rigid
configuration.
7
CA 03049920 2019-07-10
WO 2019/036301 PCT/US2018/046285
[0036.] As shown in FIG. 2A, the curled suture device 100 may feature a
stopper
mechanism 130 that comprises an additional layer of material 130A directly
overlaid on the
suture thread, and directly adjacent the angled, semi-rigid portion of thread
140. When the
curled suture device 100 is pulled through a piece of tissue, the additional
layer of material 130A
will act as a stopper for the curled suture device because the area of the
suture thread overlaid
with the additional layer of material 130A is accordingly thicker than the
main portion of thread
120. It therefore cannot be pulled through the tissue as easily as thread 120,
and would require
significant extra effort to be pulled through the tissue being sutured.
Accordingly, when needle
110 is pulled through a piece of tissue, the main portion of thread 120, up to
additional layer of
material 130A, will be pulled through the piece of tissue, but the semi-rigid
portion of thread
140 and the curled portion of thread 150 will remain on the first side of the
tissue due to the
action of the additional layer of material 130A. It may be preferable that
this additional layer of
material 130A is featured on a non-absorbable suture thread, as it may
otherwise interfere with
an absorbable suture thread breaking down in the body appropriately, as
discussed above.
[0037.] A stopper knot 130B, pictured in FIG. 2B, functions in much the
same manner as
the additional layer of material 130A. The stopper knot 130B is featured
directly adjacent the
angled, semi-rigid portion of thread 140, such that the semi-rigid portion of
thread 140 acts as an
intermediary feature between the stopper knot 130B and the curled portion of
thread 150. The
stopper knot 130B is configured such that when needle 110 and thread 120 are
pulled through a
piece of tissue, the stopper knot 130B will halt the progress of the thread
120 through the piece
of tissue. The stopper knot 130B, semi-rigid portion of thread 140, and curled
portion of thread
150 will therefore remain on the first side of the tissue, ready for the
creation of the suture knot,
discussed in more detail below. It may be preferable that this stopper knot
130B is featured on
an absorbable suture thread, as it would be created with the same material as
the absorbable
suture thread and would thus break down in the body appropriately, according
to the
requirements of the absorbable suture thread selected for the procedure, as
discussed above.
[0038.] A barb configuration 130C, pictured in FIG. 2C, functions in much
the same
manner as the additional layer of material 130A and the stopper knot 130B. The
barb
configuration 130C is featured directly adjacent an angled, semi-rigid portion
of thread 140,
such that the semi-rigid portion of thread 140 acts as an intermediary feature
between the barb
configuration 130C and the curled portion of thread 150. The barb
configuration 130C is
configured such that when needle 110 and thread 120 are pulled through a piece
of tissue, the
barb configuration 130C will halt the progress of the thread 120 through the
piece of tissue by
catching onto the piece of tissue. The barb configuration 130C, semi-rigid
portion of thread
140, and curled portion of thread 150 will therefore remain on the first side
of the tissue, ready
8
CA 03049920 2019-07-10
WO 2019/036301 PCT/US2018/046285
for the creation of the suture knot, discussed in more detail below. It may be
preferable that this
barb configuration 130C is featured on an absorbable suture thread, as it
would be created with
the same material as the absorbable suture thread and would thus break down in
the body
appropriately, according to the requirements of the absorbable suture thread
selected for the
procedure, as discussed above.
[0039.] It may be appreciated that a stopper mechanism 130 may take a
variety of forms,
not meant to be limited to the additional layer of material 130A, stopper knot
130B, or barb
configuration 130C discussed above. For example, a stopper mechanism may be a
portion of
thread configured with a variety of different jagged edges, knots, or
additional materials that can
halt the progress of the thread.
[0040.] As shown in FIGS. 2A-2C, the curled portion of thread 150 may
include, without
limitation, a first curl 150A, a second curl 150B, and a third curl 150C. To
appropriately create
a knot, as discussed below, the curled portion of thread 150 should at least
comprise a first curl
150A and a second curl 150B, and preferably a third curl 150C as well.
However, it is to be
understood that the curled portion of thread 150 may include additional curls,
such as a fourth or
fifth curl, to allow for a larger or more secure knot, which may be preferable
by the healthcare
provider in some procedures.
[0041.] It may be further appreciated that the present invention's ready-
made knot
configuration, comprising of the angled, semi-rigid portion of thread 140 and
the curled portion
of thread 150, may be specially manufactured such that the first combination
of semi-rigid
portion of thread 140 and curled portion of thread 150 are pre-existing on the
curled suture
device 100, as depicted in FIGS. 2A-2C, but additional semi-rigid portions of
thread and
corresponding curled portions of thread are automatically formed upon creation
of a knot from a
previous combination thereof, allowing for multiple knots. The preferred
embodiment of the
present invention encompassing of these additional ready-made knot
configurations will be
described below.
[0042.] Referring now to FIGS. 3A and 3B, the method of suturing using the
curled
suture device 100 of the present invention is depicted in part. As illustrated
in FIG. 3A, the
needle 110 may be inserted through the first piece of tissue 220 to create a
first hole 225 in the
first piece of tissue 220, beginning from an inside approach. Thereafter, the
needle 110 is then
inserted in the second piece of tissue 230 such that second hole 235 is
created in the second
piece of tissue 230. Alternatively, as illustrated in FIG. 3B, depending on
the positioning of the
first piece of tissue 220 and second piece of tissue 230 relative to the
healthcare provider, the
needle 110 may be inserted through the first piece of tissue 220 to create a
first hole 225 in the
first piece of tissue 220, beginning from an outside approach. Thereafter, the
needle 110 is then
9
CA 03049920 2019-07-10
WO 2019/036301 PCT/US2018/046285
inserted in the second piece of tissue 230 such that second hole 235 is
created in the second
piece of tissue 230. Nonetheless, the needle 110 of the curled suture device
100 thus connects
the first and second pieces of tissue in a typical manner of suturing.
[0043.] It may be understood that although FIGS. 3A and 3B depict two
pieces of tissue
relatively near each other, close enough together that the needle 110 may be
connected to both
the first piece of tissue 220 and second piece of tissue 230 at the same time,
the first and second
pieces of tissue 220 and 230 may be of such a distance apart from one another
that the thread
120 of the curled suture device may be connecting the first and second pieces
of tissue 220 and
230 together as the needle 110 is in the process of creating the first and
second holes 225 and
235 at the outset of suturing.
[0044.] Referring now to FIG. 4, in conjunction with previous FIGS. 3A and
3B, the
depiction of the method of suturing using the curled suture device 100 of the
present invention is
continued in part. As illustrated, upon the above-described piercing of the
first piece of tissue
220 and second piece of tissue 230 by the needle 110, whether from the inside
or outside of the
tissue as described above, the suturing method will further consist of the
needle 110 being pulled
by a first of a pair of forceps 340A. A second pair of forceps 340B will be
simultaneously
holding the opposite end of thread, at such a distance that the stopper
mechanism 130 of the
curled suture device 100 is utilized. As a result, any gap 240, as shown in
previous FIGS. 3A
and 3B, between the first piece of tissue 220 and the second piece of tissue
230, is forced closer
together at a connection area 250. It may be appreciated that when the stopper
mechanism 130
of the curled suture device 100 is adjacent the first hole 225 in the first
piece of tissue 220, the
thread 120 will no longer be pulled through the first hole 225 in the first
piece of tissue 220.
Instead, the first piece of tissue 220 will be pulled closer to second piece
of tissue 230,
minimizing the gap 240 between the first and second pieces of tissue 220 and
230 to form a
connection area 250. Additionally, any ready-made knot configuration(s), such
as the depicted
angled, semi-rigid portion of thread 140 and the curled portion of thread 150,
of the curled
suture device 100 will not be pulled through the first hole 225 in the first
piece of tissue 220, but
will instead remain intact outside the first piece of tissue 220.
[0045.] When the first and second pieces of tissue 220 and 230 are pulled
together, as
illustrated in FIG. 4 and described above, the angled, semi-rigid portion of
the thread 140
remains on the outside of the first piece of tissue 220. This straight portion
of the thread 140
thereby provides a space for the curled portion of the thread 150 to be more
easily accessible by
the healthcare provider in creating a desired knot.
[0046.] As illustrated in FIGS. 3A, 3B, and 4, the method of suturing using
the curled
suture device 100 of the present invention comprises of the healthcare
provider leading the
CA 03049920 2019-07-10
WO 2019/036301 PCT/US2018/046285
needle 110 out of the second piece of tissue 230 through the curled portion of
thread 150
featured on the outside of the first piece of tissue 220. The healthcare
provider leads the needle
110 first through the first curl 150A, the furthest curl from the semi-rigid
portion of thread 140,
and then leads the needle 110 through the second curl 150B, the third curl
150C, and any
additional curls that may be featured in the curled portion of thread 150.
[0047.] Referring now to FIG. 5, the depiction of the method of suturing
using the curled
suture device 100 of the present invention is continued in part. Here, the
first knot 155 in the
curled suture device 100 is created upon the healthcare provider's pulling of
the needle 110 by
use of the first of the pair of forceps 340A, while pulling the opposite end
of the thread 120 with
the second of the pair of forceps 340B, after the needle 110 was guided
through the curled
portion of the thread 150, as depicted in FIG. 4 and described above. While
creating the knot in
the curled suture device 100, the pulling motion of the needle 110 with the
pair of forceps 340,
and accordingly the thread 120, will also effectively close the gap 240
between the first and
second pieces of tissue 220 and 230. As a result, the first and second pieces
of tissue 220 and
230 are pulled adjacent to each other to create the desired connection area
250, as required by
the procedure, and the first knot 155 is thereby holding the suture in place.
[0048.] Referring now to FIG. 6, the depiction of the method of suturing
using the curled
suture device 100 of the present invention is further continued in part. Here,
upon creation of
the first knot 155, the healthcare provider may relax the second of the pair
of forceps 340B so as
to allow the thread 120 to automatically form a second ready-made knot,
consisting of a second
angled, semi-rigid portion of thread 160 and a corresponding second curled
portion of thread
170 outside the first piece of tissue 220. This additional ready-made knot
configuration allows
for the creation of an additional knot in the curled suture device 100 of the
present invention in
much the same way the first knot 155 was created. Here, the second angled,
semi-rigid portion
of the thread 160 provides a space for the curled portion of the thread 170 to
be easily accessible
by the healthcare provider in creating the desired knot. Accordingly, the
healthcare provider can
lead the needle 110 through the second curled portion of thread 170 by use of
the first of the pair
of forceps 340A. The healthcare provider specifically leads the needle 110
first through the first
curl 170A, the furthest curl from the second angled, semi-rigid portion of
thread 160, and then
leads the needle 110 through the second curl 170B, the third curl 170C, and
any additional curls
that may be featured in the second curled portion of thread 170.
[0049.] The healthcare provider thereafter can create the second knot 175,
as shown in
FIG. 7, by the pulling of the needle 110 by use of the first of the pair of
forceps 340A, while also
pulling the opposite end of the thread 120 with the second of the pair of
forceps 340B, after the
needle 110 was guided through the second curled portion of the thread 170 as
depicted in FIG. 5.
CA 03049920 2019-07-10
WO 2019/036301 PCT/US2018/046285
The creation of this second knot 175, alongside the first knot 155, will
create additional friction
in the suture to further secure the connection area 250 between the first and
second pieces of
tissue 220 and 230, as may be required by the procedure, and the first and
second knots 155 and
175 are thereby securely holding the suture in place.
[0050.] Accordingly, if satisfied with the result of the created suture,
the healthcare
provider may cut the excess thread and needle of the curled suture device 100.
Otherwise, as
shown in FIG. 8, the healthcare provider may desire more friction amongst the
first knot 155 and
second knot 175 of the suture by creating another knot in the curled suture
device 100 of the
present invention by, again, relaxing the second of the pair of forceps 340B
so as to allow the
thread 120 to form a third ready-made knot consisting of a third angled, semi-
rigid portion of
thread 180 and a corresponding third curled portion of thread 190 outside the
first piece of tissue
220. This additional ready-made knot allows for the creation of another knot
in the curled suture
device 100 in the same way the second knot 175 was created.
[0051.] It may be appreciated that by using the curled suture device 100 of
the present
invention, the healthcare provider may effectively suture the appropriate
tissue with only one
hand, given that he is not required to create a knot in the suture by other
means. Accordingly, if,
while suturing, the healthcare provider realizes that the upcoming knot is not
in an appropriate
location, the healthcare provider may easily adjust the location of the suture
and upcoming knot
within the surgical cavity. Such an adjustment is facilitated by use of the
curled suture device
100 and its ready-made knots in part because the healthcare provider is able
control the
movement of both the curled suturing device 100 and tissue 220 or 230 with
only one hand.
[0052.] It may also be appreciated in effectively suturing the appropriate
tissue with only
one hand operating the curled suture device 100, the curled suture device 100
thereby decreases
the instruments and crowding that takes places in a laparoscopic surgical
procedure using the
suture devices presently available in the art. Moreover, the curled suture
device 100 also
focuses the surgical area of the procedure on the area featuring the curled
portions of thread 150,
160, and/or 170, such that the healthcare provider may more effectively
utilize his or her
available viewing area, which is typically limited in a laparoscopic
procedure, as discussed
above and depicted in FIGS. 1C and 1D.
[0053.] Many changes and modifications can be made in the present invention
without
departing from the spirit thereof. I therefore pray that my rights to the
present invention be
limited only by the scope of the appended claims.
12
