Adjustable Suture Crimp Tool with Variable Stop Mechanism
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Crimping devices face challenges in achieving precise crimping of sutures of varying sizes, as thicker walled crimp tubes can be difficult to deform adequately, leading to suture breakage or slippage, and existing tools often have fixed stops that are hard to reach, making it difficult for medical personnel to properly crimp tubes of different sizes.
Innovation Solution
An adjustable suture crimp tool with a constant, small wall thickness crimp tube and a variable stop mechanism allows for consistent crimp deformation across different suture sizes, ensuring proper crimping by allowing practitioners to set the stop according to the chosen suture and crimp tube size, using a dial or button mechanism to adjust the crimp tool's travel.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a fixed stop is used in the crimp tool, then the crimping distance is consistent, but it is difficult for medical personnel to reach the stop and adjust for different suture sizes
Solution Approach 1:
The stop mechanism is made adjustable rather than fixed, allowing medical personnel to modify the crimping distance according to different suture and crimp tube sizes. The stop can be repositioned along the shank to accommodate varying clinical requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The crimping parameter (distance between jaws) is made variable through the adjustable stop mechanism. This allows changing the crimping distance parameter to match different suture sizes and crimp tube wall thicknesses, optimizing the crimping process for each specific application.
2Strength
If thicker walled crimp tubes are used for 100 lb sutures, then the crimp tube can handle stronger sutures, but it becomes difficult to deform adequately
Solution Approach 1:
The crimp tool incorporates an adjustable stop that allows medical personnel to increase the crimping distance for thicker-walled crimp tubes. By extending the travel distance of the moving jaw, sufficient deformation force can be applied to adequately crimp thicker walls while maintaining the strength required for 100 lb sutures.
Solution Approach 2:
The crimping distance parameter is made variable to accommodate different crimp tube wall thicknesses. For thicker-walled tubes used with stronger sutures, the stop can be positioned to allow greater jaw separation and thus greater deformation during crimping, ensuring adequate compression without excessive force that could damage the suture.
3Reliability
If the crimp tube wall thickness varies with suture size, then the crimp tube can be optimized for each suture strength, but it makes crimping more difficult for medical personnel
Solution Approach 1:
Rather than varying crimp tube wall thickness, the invention uses a standardized crimp tube design combined with a dynamic adjustable stop. This allows the crimping process itself to be adapted to different suture sizes by adjusting the stop position, making the crimp tube deformation process accessible to medical personnel while maintaining reliable performance across all suture sizes.
Solution Approach 2:
A single crimp tube design with consistent wall thickness is used for all suture sizes, making the crimping process more accessible and easier to perform. The adjustable stop mechanism provides the necessary versatility to accommodate different suture sizes, eliminating the need for multiple specialized crimp tube designs.
Data Source
AI summary
An adjustable medical/veterinary suture crimp tool includes a stationary jaw at a distal end of fixed shank, a moveable jaw at a distal end of a linearly driven crossbar for deforming a crimp tube located between the stationary jaw and the moveable jaw, a first handle connected to a fixed shank, and a second handle pivotably connected to the fixed shank and configured to drive the crossbar linearly with respect to the fixed shank to crimp the crimp tube. A stop is configured to limit the extent of travel of the crossbar and a mechanism, cooperating with the stop, adjusts the extent of travel of the crossbar to vary the level of crimp tube deformation.