Eliminating the Need to Tie Knots

Surgeons find knot tying difficult and frustrating, especially in the growing field of minimally invasive surgery, which requires extremely small instruments. Knots also concentrate tension in one area, which can further damage the tissue they are supposed to repair. Researchers at the University of Florida have developed a new fastener that would distribute tension evenly across the tissue. The fastener is uniquely applicable to procedures in which part of the tissue has been lost or displaced and the surgeon must stretch the remaining tissue to close a gap. Laparoscopic surgeons could use the fastener immediately. Also, the number of endoscopic surgeries has experienced explosive growth in recent years and outpatient surgeries in the US alone have increased from 15 percent of total procedures to 70 percent.

The University describes the technology as follows.
The fastener comprises a shank attached to an anchor button at one end and a detached locking button at the other. The free end of the shank sharpens into a needlepoint used to penetrate the tissue. Exiting the other side of the tissue, the needle end of the shank passes through the locking button. The locking button catches against ratchet teeth on the shank, holds the shank in place and keeps the tissue together. The surgeon can push the button down a notch along the ratchet teeth to hold the tissues together more tightly. The shank and buttons pull the tissue, distributing tension over a wider area. The manufacturer could use any number of biocompatible materials to make the device, using different materials appropriate to specific surgical procedures or incorporating a material easier to image radiographically. The manufacturer may also vary the buttons’ and shanks’ dimensions to accommodate different uses and could potentially include antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory or other drugs.

The advantages of the fastener are that it

• eliminates the frustrating step of knot tying, which increases the price customers would be willing to pay

• distributes tension evenly, thereby improving outcomes and reducing the need for more surgeries

• targets growing field of minimally invasive surgery, which provided the product with a strong and growing demand

• reduces the number of surgical instruments needed, simplifies the procedure and increases efficiency

To discuss this technology with a licencing officer, e-mail: jmuir@ufl.edu and ask about record UF ID: 12152

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Tags: minimally invasive surgery, University of Florida