The trend of less invasive solutions for surgical procedures brought about a broad and expanding adoption of endoscopic and laparoscopic surgery. Today, over 4,000,000 (4 million) laparoscopic procedures are performed annually. This trend will continue as improved and novel instrumentation and techniques are developed. Access cannula ports are placed by creating a puncture through the abdominal tissue to reach the peritoneal cavity. The umbilical access is routinely a puncture site of 10 mm to 12 mm. Due to the large size of the puncture wound, it is important at the end of the surgical procedure to close or approximate the puncture site at the interior abdominal wall (fascia tissue). An improper or non-existent closure can lead to a herniation of the bowel and/or bowel obstruction. Clinical studies indicate hernia rates range from 0.2 – 8%. The alarming increase of obese and overweight patients’ will only contribute to a higher incidence of herniation.
Another area of great concern is the skyrocketing cost of healthcare. Hospital cost containment is a major subject among the medical community. Surgical devices that provide multiple functions are a way to curtail cost. Reducing device complexity while improving ease-of-use also contributes to reducing overall procedure expenses by capitalizing on efficiency in the OR, improving device reliability, and greater safety for the patient.
Suture Ease LLC is contributing to the advancement of less-invasive solutions for surgery by developing a technology that will enhance the ease and safety for closure of cannula port puncture wounds. The Veress Closer system is an innovative device that combines elegant design with multi-functionality. The device may be used to achieve pneumoperitoneum at the outset of the laparoscopic procedure, similar to a traditional Veress needle. The device is then placed on the mayo stand, and latter used as a suture passing device at the end of the procedure to facilitate reliable closure of the fascia. The system is comprised of two elements, 1) a novel suture passing needle, 2) a suture placement guide. .
The suture passing needle includes a luer fitting for attachment to an insufflation source. The needle also houses a snare wire down the lumen of the inner stylet. The loop of the snare wire may be advanced to extend out a side exit at the distal end of the needle. The snare extension is perpendicular to the needle, thus providing an ideal target for grasping a suture tail. The ergonomic handle offers easy retraction and exposure of the snare wire.
The suture placement guide has expanding feet on the distal end for providing optimal placement of the guide in relation to the inner abdominal wall. This feature results in consistent placement of suture at a prescribed distance from the wound site.
The simplicity of the design allows for a cost effective solution to a challenging task.
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