DEVICE AND METHOD FOR CINCHING SUTURES AND A QUICK-RELEASE MECHANISM

Abstract

A flat or rounded or ellipsoidal or cylindrical or smooth device or body with no sharp edges for cinch suture knotting to secure sutures/lines/wires/threads and the like. The body eliminates the need for fastening or deploying manual knots. The suture knotting device comprises male and female separable parts that secure a catheter or any device or tissue or tissue to the skin or any body tissue. The separable parts can be gently pulled or twisted apart to adjust or remove the suture, depending on the clinical condition to thereby avoid pinching or cutting of skin and trauma to tissue while removing the device. The suture knotting device helps to deploy, adjust and remove sutures without requiring any sharp objects or a suture removal kit. The device allows a wide range of dexterity and maneuvering for physicians or nurses with ease and less pressure.

Claims

1. A cinch suture knotting device, comprising: a male half having a closed end; a female half configured to cooperate with both ends of a suture thread, the female half having a blind distal end; a longitudinal projection extending from an end of the male half, the longitudinal projection having a tapered end that allows the female half to snugly fit onto the male half; and a plurality of ridges formed on an exterior surface of the male half and an exterior surface of the female half that provide a gripping surface to a medical user, wherein the suture knotting device allows reversible deployment and removal of the suture thread without requiring any sharp objects.

2. The cinch suture knotting device as recited in claim 1, wherein the female half comprises a central lumen or canal which runs along the length of the female half to receive the suture threads.

3. The cinch suture knotting device as recited in claim 1, wherein the suture threads pass from a central connecting end of the female half.

4. The cinch suture knotting device as recited in claim 1, wherein the tapered end of the longitudinal projection has a broad end at a base of the projection and a narrow end at a tip.

5. The cinch suture knotting device as recited in claim 1, wherein the female half has a wider central lumen or canal adapted to receive the projection extending from the male half.

6. The cinch suture knotting device as recited in claim 5, wherein the wider central lumen or canal houses the tapered end of the male half.

7. The cinch suture knotting device as recited in claim 4, wherein the male half and the female half are adapted to house a snap-on mechanism or twisted mechanism or the like.

8. The cinch suture knotting device as recited in claim 1, wherein the suture knotting capsule is slid closer to an intended contact surface and the female half is fastened snugly onto the male half to trap the suture threads.

9. The cinch suture knotting device as recited in claim 1, wherein either the male half or the female half can be gently pulled or twisted away either to release or adjust the suture threads.

10. The cinch suture knotting device as recited in claim 1, wherein the suture knotting capsule is coated with antimicrobial and/or bio-absorbable material.

11. A cinch suture knotting device, comprising: a male half having a closed end; a female half configured to allow both ends of a suture thread to pass, the female half having a blind distal end; a longitudinal projection extending from the end of the male half, the longitudinal projection having a tapered end that allows the female half to snugly fit onto the male half; and a plurality of ridges formed on an exterior surface of the male half and an interior and exterior surface of the female half that provide a gripping surface to a medical user, wherein the suture knotting device allows reversible deployment and removal of the suture thread without requiring any sharp objects.

12. A method for using a cinch suture knotting device comprising the steps of threading opposing ends of a suture through a female half of the cinch suture knotting device; positioning the female half of the device in relation to an anatomical site so as to absorb a desired amount of slack in the opposing ends; snugly fitting a male half of the device onto the female half over the opposing ends, thereby frictionally engaging the opposing ends.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising the steps of: separating the male from the female halves, thereby loosing and releasing frictional forces that secured the opposing ends so that a quick release feature is enabled.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0024] The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of the specification, illustrate an embodiment of the invention, and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the disclosure.

[0025] FIG. 1 is an exploded view of a suture knotting capsule or device in accordance with an exemplary embodiment.

[0026] FIG. 2 illustrates a front view of a cylindrical suture knotting capsule in accordance with an exemplary embodiment.

[0027] FIG. 3A illustrates the top views of the male and female halves of the capsule in accordance with an embodiment.

[0028] FIG. 3B illustrates the bottom views of the male and female halves of the capsule in accordance with an embodiment.

[0029] FIG. 4 illustrates an exploded view of a flat suture knotting capsule in accordance with an alternative embodiment.

[0030] FIG. 5A illustrates the top views of the male and female halves of a flat suture knotting capsule in accordance with the alternative embodiment.

[0031] FIG. 5B illustrates a bottom view of the male and female halves of a flat suture knotting capsule in accordance with the alternative embodiment.

[0032] FIGS. 6-18 are a stepwise series of drawings illustrating a method of using the suture knotting capsule to secure end regions of a suture.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0033] Various embodiments will be described in reference to the accompanying drawings. Wherever possible, the same or similar reference numerals are used in the drawings and the description to refer to the same or like parts or steps.

[0034] The present disclosure solves problems arising from the prior art described above. It is an object of the present disclosure to provide a flat or rounded or ellipsoidal or cylindrical, or smooth form of device with no sharp edges to secure a catheter or any other device to the skin or any body tissue and to thereby eliminate manual knots and need for sharp instruments for removal.

[0035] According to an exemplary embodiment, FIG. 1 refers to a suture knotting capsule or device 100. The suture knotting capsule 100 comprises a male half 101, a female half 102, a longitudinal projection 103, and a plurality of ridges 104. It will be appreciated that the term ‘half’ is used in a non-limiting manner.

[0036] The suture knotting device 100 allows reversible adjustment, deployment, and removal of the suture thread without requiring any sharp objects.

[0037] The male half 101 has a closed end. The female half 102 is configured to allow both ends of the suture thread to pass through. It has a blinded distal end. Specifically, the male half 101 and the female half 102 each comprise a central lumen 105 or canal which runs along the length of the male half 101 or the female half 102 to receive the suture threads. Both ends of the suture threads can pass from the central connecting ends of the female half 102 to exit at either side of the halves.

[0038] The longitudinal projection 103 is preferably formed or extruded at the end of the male half 101. It has a tapered end that allows the female half 102 to fit onto the male half easily and snugly 101. Specifically, the tapered end of the longitudinal projection 103 has a broad end at the base 106 and a narrower end at the tip 107. This allows the female half 102 to easily cooperate with the male half 101 to form one unit that is variously referred to herein as a suture knot capsule or device.

[0039] The female half 102 comprises a wider central lumen or canal 105. The wider central lumen or canal 105 houses the tapered end of the male half 101 and thereby snugly fits at its base. The male half 101 and the female half 102 can also cooperate by using a snapping mechanism or twisted mechanism or the like. The plurality of ridges 104 formed on the exterior surface of the male half 101 and the female half 102 provide a gripping surface to the medical user. The plurality of ridges on the interior surface would permit sutures/lines/tubes/wires of different caliber to get snugly trapped.

[0040] After receiving the suture ends, the suture knotting device 100 may be slid closer to an intended contact surface. The female half 102 is fastened snugly onto the male half 101 to trap the suture threads and thereby secure the system. The male half 101 or the female half 102 can be gently pulled or twisted away, either to release the suture threads or to adjust a knot. Preferably, the suture knotting device 100 can be coated with antimicrobial material in non-invasive placements and have (optionally) bio-absorbable material in invasive placements.

[0041] FIG. 2 depicts a front view of the suture knotting capsule 200 where the male half 201 is snugly fitted to the female half 202 at the connecting end 204. The outer surface of the suture knotting capsule has a plurality of ridges 203 to provide a gripping surface to the medical user.

[0042] According to another exemplary embodiment of the invention, FIGS. 3A and 3B depict top and bottom views of the male and female halves of the suture knotting capsule 300. The female half 302 is a cap-like structure that comprises a wider lumen or canal with an open end 304 that optionally provides a slot for suture threads and houses gradually tapering male projection where the female half 302 snugly fits on the male half 301 at its base.

[0043] According to another exemplary embodiment, FIG. 4 is an exploded view of a flat suture knotting capsule 400. The male half 401 has a closed end. The female half 402 is configured to allow each end of the suture threads to pass therethrough. Specifically, the female half 402 comprises an open end 403 with central lumen or canal that accommodates the suture thread. The longitudinal projection 404 at the end of the male half 401 has a tapered end that allows the female half 402 to easily snugly fit onto the male half 401. The tapered end of the longitudinal projection 404 has a broad end at the base 405 and a narrow end at the tip 406 which allows the female half 402 to easily snug fit with the male half 401 to form one unit i.e., a capsule knot. The plurality of ridges 408 are formed on the exterior surface of the male half 401 and the female half 402 provide a gripping surface to the medical user.

[0044] FIGS. 5A and 5B refer to the top and bottom views of the male and female halves of the suture knotting capsule 500. The male half 501 has a lumen or canal with a closed end 502. Further, the female half 503 is a cap-like structure with a wider lumen or canal functioning with an open end 504 that acts as a slot for suture threads. The female half 503 accommodates a gradually tapering male projection so that the female half 503 snugly fits on the male half 501 at its base. Specifically, the male 501 and female halves 503 assume a relatively flat form factor.

[0045] Numerous advantages of the present disclosure may be apparent from the discussion above. In accordance with the present disclosure, a flat or cylindrical or circular, or universally shaped suture knotting capsule secures sutures, permits real-time adjustment, and eliminates the need for manual knots. The suture knotting capsule further comprises male and female separable parts to secure a catheter or any device to the skin or any body tissue. Such separable parts can gently be pulled or twisted apart to adjust or remove the suture depending on the clinical condition to thereby avoid pinching or cutting of skin or trauma to tissue while removing the suture thread. The suture knotting capsule helps deploy, adjust and remove sutures without requiring sharp objects or a suture removal kit. It allows a wide range of dexterity and maneuvering for healthcare team members with ease and less pressure. The suture knotting capsule is easily adaptable and operable in instrument or organ crowded areas with varied thickness, stiffness, and material.

[0046] It will readily be apparent that numerous modifications and alterations can be made without departing from the principles underlying the invention, and all such modifications and alterations are intended to be embraced by this application.