Published Technical Disclosure Archive

Enhanced Devices and Methods for Suture Placement

Publication ID: 24-11857179_0001_PTD
Published: November 07, 2025
Category:Direct Improvements & Enhancements

Legal Citation

pr1or.art Inc., “Enhanced Devices and Methods for Suture Placement,” Published Technical Disclosure No. 24-11857179_0001_PTD, Published November 07, 2025, available at https://archive.pr1or.art/24-11857179_0001_PTD
This technical disclosure describes improvements that would be readily apparent to a Person Having Ordinary Skill In The Art (PHOSITA) when considered in combination with the foundational architecture disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 11,857,179.

Summary of the Inventive Concept

Improved devices and methods for suture placement, providing enhanced stability, precision, and efficiency in tissue repair, particularly in spinal surgery.

Background and Problem Solved

The original patent disclosed devices and methods for suture placement, but had limitations in terms of needle stability, precision, and efficiency. The new inventive concept addresses these limitations by introducing frictional engagement of the curved needle at multiple points, controlled needle advancement and retraction, and a malleable needle that can be bent to follow a curved path.

Detailed Description of the Inventive Concept

The enhanced devices and methods for suture placement comprise a suturing device with an elongate body and a retractable needle holder, configured to frictionally engage a curved needle at multiple points, ensuring improved stability and precision of suture placement. The device features an actuator that enables controlled needle advancement and retraction, reducing the risk of tissue damage and improving surgical efficiency. Additionally, the device can be used in minimally invasive spinal surgery, accurately locating and repairing dural sac tears, thereby reducing surgical complications and improving patient outcomes. The malleable needle allows for more precise and flexible suture placement in complex tissue geometries.

Novelty and Inventive Step

The new claims introduce the concept of frictional engagement of the curved needle at multiple points, controlled needle advancement and retraction, and a malleable needle that can be bent to follow a curved path, which are not present in the original patent. These features provide a significant improvement in stability, precision, and efficiency of suture placement, making the new inventive concept novel and non-obvious.

Alternative Embodiments and Variations

Alternative embodiments of the inventive concept could include varying the design of the needle holder, the type of actuator used, or the material composition of the malleable needle. Variations could also include adapting the device for use in different surgical procedures or anatomical locations.

Potential Commercial Applications and Market

The enhanced devices and methods for suture placement have significant commercial potential in the medical device industry, particularly in the fields of spinal surgery and minimally invasive procedures. The target market includes hospitals, surgical centers, and medical device manufacturers.

CPC Classifications

SectionClassGroup
A A61 A61B17/0625
A A61 A61B17/0469
A A61 A61B17/062
A A61 A61B17/06004
A A61 A61B17/06066
A A61 A61B17/06109
A A61 A61B17/06114
A A61 A61B2017/00738
A A61 A61B2017/00867
A A61 A61B2017/00946
A A61 A61B2017/0472
A A61 A61B2017/0474
A A61 A61B2017/0608
A A61 A61B2017/06052
A A61 A61B2017/06057

Field of Art

Surgical Instrumentation and Medical Device Design, specifically focused on minimally invasive surgical techniques for tissue repair, with emphasis on suture placement devices for neurological and spinal procedures

Person of Ordinary Skill (PHOSITA) Profile

A biomedical engineer or medical device designer with advanced degree, 5-7 years of experience in surgical instrument design, familiar with minimally invasive surgical techniques, material science, and mechanical engineering principles applied to medical devices

Obviousness Rationale

The published technical disclosure represents predictable variations of the source patent's core suturing device technology, employing standard design modifications that would be readily apparent to a skilled practitioner. The PTD extends the original device's functionality through incremental improvements in needle engagement, advancement control, and surgical application that represent logical engineering progressions. These variations demonstrate standard problem-solving approaches within medical device design, utilizing known techniques to enhance existing surgical instrumentation.

Obvious Combinations & Variations

Source Patent Element
Curved needle passage with frictional needle retention in a suturing device
PTD Variation
Introducing multiple frictional contact points and a malleable needle that can be dynamically shaped
Obviousness Reasoning
A PHOSITA would recognize that increasing frictional engagement points and needle malleability represents a predictable design optimization to improve needle stability and surgical precision, using known mechanical engineering principles
Source Patent Element
Suture placement method for dural repair during spinal surgery
PTD Variation
Adding a controlled actuator for precise needle advancement and retraction
Obviousness Reasoning
Implementing a controlled mechanical advancement mechanism is a standard engineering solution to improve surgical instrument precision, representing an obvious enhancement to existing suture placement techniques
Source Patent Element
Basic suturing device for tissue repair
PTD Variation
Incorporating a tubular retractor for minimally invasive surgical approaches
Obviousness Reasoning
Adapting surgical instruments for minimally invasive techniques is a well-established trend in medical device design, representing an obvious extension of existing technology to improve surgical outcomes
Source Patent Element
Curved needle suturing mechanism
PTD Variation
Developing a training system with simulated tissue model and feedback mechanisms
Obviousness Reasoning
Creating training systems that simulate surgical devices is a predictable technological progression, using known simulation and feedback technologies to enhance surgical education
35 U.S.C. § 103 Summary: Based on the teachings of US Patent 11857179, the present published technical disclosure demonstrates that the claimed variations in suture placement device design would have been obvious to a person having ordinary skill in the art at the time of invention. The incremental improvements in needle engagement, device control, and surgical application represent predictable extensions of existing surgical instrumentation technology, thus rendering potential derivative claims non-patentable under standard obviousness analysis.

Original Patent Information

Patent NumberUS 11,857,179
TitleDevices and methods for suture placement
Assignee(s)DURATAP LLC