Technology Acquisition Opportunity: “Tubular Structure Ligator” And “Self Knotting Suturing Instrument”

We, at IIPRD, apart from handling core Intellectual Property (including Patent), and allied Legal matters, additionally focus heavily on Technology Licensing and Commercialization mandates, and accordingly are currently working with Dr. Vivek Harihar, a medical surgeon, on the potential sale/ license of his two patent-pending technologies with applications in medical-surgical procedures.

1. Tubular Structure Ligator

This is a new type of surgical instrument which is very easy to operate especially in a limited operating field and consumes less time. This instrument can ligate and cut tubular organs and tubular structures or tissues simultaneously in a single sitting. This instrument can be used for Minimally Invasive Surgeries (Laparoscopic/ Thoracoscopic & Robotic Surgeries) and also can be utilized in conventional open surgeries.

The dissection of the target organ and ligating the blood vessels supplying it is difficult and time-consuming. Application of sutures or clips requires meticulous dissection of tissue, during which, the adjacent vital structures may get damaged. Sometimes clip dislodges itself from the applicator jaw into the abdominal cavity even before applying, which is considered as a loss and is a commonly observed problem in Minimally Invasive Surgeries. Slippage of sutures and dislodgement of clip in the abdominal cavity may cause hemorrhage, stump leak, clip cholelithiasis, abscess formation, bowel perforation, etc., in the postoperative period.

It can be used in many surgeries (like Appendectomy, Cholecystectomy, Splenectomy, Bowel resection, Nephrectomy, Female sterilization, Varicose vein surgery, Thyroidectomy, Brain aneurysm clamping, for taking venous grafts in cardiac bypass surgery, and other various surgeries) in different fields of surgery like General surgery, Gynaecological surgeries, Gastro-intestinal surgeries, Neurosurgery, Urology, Vascular surgeries, and Cardiac surgeries. With this instrument, the complete appendectomy procedure can be done in 3 to 5 minutes. This instrument is very useful in surgery, where access to target tissue will be very difficult. In such situations, this instrument can be easily negotiated into the deeper planes, without meticulous dissection or causing any injury to the neighboring tissues. Hence dissecting of the tissue is minimized and as well as the surgical complications.

For further information on this technology, refer to: here

2. Self-Knotting Suturing Instrument

This is a revolutionary suturing surgical instrument in which needle holders and sutures are assembled within it to perform uninterrupted interlocking continuous suturing on its own. This instrument has an inbuilt needle and suture system in it and is capable of making multiple knots on its own, thus, making the suturing procedure very easy especially in a limited operating field,s and consumes less time. Minimally Invasive Surgeries (Laparoscopic & Robotic Surgeries) apart from conventional open surgeries.

Suturing of body tissues in a deeper plane by the presently available conventional, Laparoscopic and robotic instruments is a time-consuming and technique of difficult procedure. With the presently available suturing instruments there are several difficulties like grasping the tissue firmly, putting the sutures securely, and recapturing the needle without causing injury to the neighboring tissues. The currently available instruments are difficult to operate and a Surgeon needs a long time to master the technique. As the operative space available in laparoscopic and robotic surgery is very minimal, thus are chances of needle pricking and injuring the surrounding vital organs such as the small and large intestine, urinary bladder, and blood vessels which may cause perforation and bleeding respectively. During the suturing procedure, the needle may be lost in the abdominal cavity or the deeper tissue planes, which may cause serious complications and it is very difficult to retrieve the missing needle, hence a surgeon spends a lot of time during this process.

With this instrument, it is easy to perform suturing in deeper planes, where the available space is very minimal or deep. The instrument has a relatively simple mechanical design and can be used in different surgical branches like Minimally Invasive Surgeries, General surgery, Gynaecological surgeries, Bariatric surgery, Gastro-intestinal surgeries, Emergency trauma care, and all other open surgeries. As the suturing needle is fixed to the instrument, there are no chances of the detachment of the needle during surgery and hence, a chance of losing a needle inside the abdominal cavity is totally absent.  The chances of injuring vital organs like small & large intestines, urinary bladder, Blood vessels, and other vital organs are very minimal. Needle holders, pickup forceps, and other accessories needed for suturing are not necessary for the functioning of the given invented instrument, thus, the instrument can be operated by a single hand, so that the other hand of the surgeon is quite free for tissue dissection and clearing the operative field. Unlike in conventional suturing, the chances of needle prick injury to operating or assisting surgeons and its complications such as acquiring HIV, HBsAg, HCV, and other infections are eliminated.

For further information on this technology, refer to: here