Trocar Site Closure Device to Prevent Hernia After Laparoscopic Procedures (13053)
- *Abstract
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Features and Benefits
- Effective and inexpensive device and technique for preventing trocar site hernias.
- Scalable in size to function with various trocar openings.
- Biodegradable; allows abdominal wall and fascia to heal naturally.
- Sutureless device.
*This Technology is available for licensing, further development and/or industrial partnering
Markets Addressed
Laparoscopic surgery has gained wide acceptance as a replacement for open abdominal surgery because of improved postoperative outcomes and the ability to perform intricate procedures via relatively small incisions. There are currently approximately 2.5 million laparoscopies done annually in the U.S. alone. However, more complex laparoscopic surgeries often require larger trocars and, in turn, larger incisions which increase the possibility of postoperative complications such as trocar site hernias. Successful closure of larger trocar sites reduces the possibility of such complications. While a number of needle and suture based devices have been developed to facilitate trocar site closure, they can be cumbersome and imprecise in use and may cause extreme pain due to incorporation of the peritoneum in closure.
Technology
UofL researchers are developing an inexpensive and effective trocar site closure device that is relatively easy to manufacture and operate as part of a single port procedure. It involves a novel onetime use biodegradable site closure cinching system for rapid deployment that is completely enclosed within a reusable applicator tool.
As seen in images A-H, the device is extended through the length of the trocar (grey) until it has exited the opposite end and bioabsorbable cinching arms (yellow) have expanded. Barbed grappling ends of the cinching arms are then engaged into the undersurface of the abdominal wall and the trocar is removed, as shown in images C-D. This novel system should mechanically engage the fascia tissue without significantly penetrating the tissue, reducing postoperative discomfort. Via controls at the devices proximal end, tension is applied to traverse the arms proximally through the bioabsorbable collet (red); thereby, closing the trocar site. Once the site is sufficiently closed, the shearing attachment (blue) is traversed within the inner sleeve (green) to cut portions of the cinching arms within the collet. The inner sleeve and shearing attachment are then extended until the sleeve comes in contact with the device collet, thereby relieving the press fit of the outer sleeve and disconnecting the collet and cinching arm assembly from the device.
Technology Status
- IP Status: US and International (PCT) patent applications pending
- Development Status: Functional computational models and working prototypes developed. In vivo animal model feasibility studies to be completed in Fall 2014.
- Fields of Use Available: All
- 国家/地区
- 美国
