Development of a new flat needle and a reduced surface coating thread for endoscopic suturing

Area of Science:

• Minimally Invasive Surgery
• Surgical Instrumentation
• Biomaterials

Background:

• Intracorporeal suturing in endoscopic surgery presents challenges with needle manipulation and suture security.
• Conventional curved needles are difficult to position, and low-friction sutures can lead to knot slippage.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and evaluate a novel flat needle (F-needle) and a reduced silicone-coated thread for improved endoscopic suturing.
• To assess the ease of grasping, needle orientation, and knot security compared to conventional methods.

Main Methods:

• A new flat needle (F-needle) and a reduced silicone-coated thread were created.
• Ten surgeons evaluated needle grasping time and angle.
• Knot security was tested by determining the minimum knots required to prevent slippage under tension.

Main Results:

• The F-needle was grasped significantly faster and with less angular error than the round needle (R-needle).
• The reduced silicone-coated thread required fewer knots to achieve secure fixation compared to conventional threads.
• The new needle-thread combination demonstrated improved handling and knot stability.

Conclusions:

• The flat needle (F-needle) offers superior grasp accuracy and speed for endoscopic procedures.
• The reduced surface coating on the thread enhances knot security, mitigating slippage issues.
• This novel combination of a flat needle and specialized thread is beneficial for advancing endoscopic suturing techniques.