Surgeons are often faced with the challenge of securely closing the abdominal wall without injuring the intestines. Retractors traditionally used to protect the intestines must be removed before the incision is completely closed, leaving the surgeon to carefully make the final stiches without damaging these structures. A disc of the new material. Image credit: David PutnamBowel perforations or a hernia at the incision site may occur, requiring additional surgeries.

A device engineered at Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, eliminates these complications. The new tool, composed of polyethylene glycol and dihydroxyacetone (DHA), is left behind in the abdominal cavity, allowing the final sutures to be made with protection still in place. Testing confirmed that the device dissolved within three hours of the surgery, leaving no scarring or signs of toxicity.

The next step will be to try to replicate the results with additional preclinical testing. Commercial development will be pursued if further study shows the device to be safe and effective. Cornell University has filed a patent for the device.