Arthroscopic Suture Cutter with Rotating Axial Blade Control
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing suture cutting devices face challenges in accessing and cutting sutures in narrow, confined, and difficult-to-reach body regions like joints without causing damage to surrounding tissues, and often require large incisions that increase recovery time and infection risk.
Innovation Solution
A low-profile suture cutting device with a rotatable and axially translatable cutter, equipped with an actuator for controlled cutting, which can push surgical knots and secure sutures for precise cutting near the knot, utilizing mechanisms like gear assemblies, cam assemblies, and threaded collars for simultaneous or separate rotation and axial movement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a large opening is made to expose the area requiring surgical repair, then the surgeon can access and cut sutures easily, but the patient experiences increased recovery time and greater infection risk
Solution Approach 1:
The device is divided into separate functional components: a long slender shaft for accessing confined spaces, a cutter assembly for cutting sutures, and a knot pusher assembly for positioning knots. This segmentation allows the device to reach deep into joints through small incisions while maintaining full cutting functionality
Solution Approach 2:
The cutter assembly incorporates a rotating blade with cutting edges positioned at the distal end of the shaft, concentrating the cutting function exactly where needed within the joint. The blade can rotate to cut sutures from multiple angles without requiring the surgeon to make larger incisions for better access
2Volume of moving object
If a small device is used to access confined spaces like joints, then incision size is minimized, but it becomes difficult to provide sufficient cutting force without damaging surrounding tissues
Solution Approach 1:
The cutter assembly features a rotating blade that can spin at controlled speeds to cut sutures. The rotation is driven by a mechanism that allows the blade to achieve sufficient cutting speed and force despite the small overall device size. The dynamic rotation enables the blade to cut through suture material efficiently without requiring excessive static force that could damage surrounding tissues
Solution Approach 2:
The device combines multiple functions into a single integrated system: the shaft, cutter assembly, and knot pusher assembly work together as one unit. This merging allows the device to maintain a compact size for accessing confined spaces while still providing sufficient cutting force through the coordinated action of its components, particularly the rotating blade mechanism
3Manufacturing precision
If the cutter is designed to rotate and move axially for precise cutting, then cutting precision is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The cutter assembly is designed with both rotational and axial movement capabilities. The rotating blade can spin to cut sutures while simultaneously moving axially along the shaft to reach different depths within the joint. This dynamic multi-directional movement provides precise cutting control without requiring an overly complex mechanism, as the rotational and axial motions are integrated into a unified cutter assembly
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables efficient and precise cutting of sutures in confined spaces with reduced tissue damage, allowing minimally invasive procedures that minimize recovery time and infection risk.
Implementation Method 1
The cutter is operationally coupled to a threaded collar that is configured to rotate and axially translate the cutter
Implementation Method 2
The suture cutting device includes a gear assembly configured to rotate and/or axially translate the cutter
Implementation Method 3
The suture cutting device includes a cam assembly configured to rotate and/or axially translate the cutter
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2A~2C
Figure 2D~2E
AI summary
Suture cutting devices to be used arthroscopically, for example, in an arthroscopic knee surgery may be operated with a control for rotating a cutter to cut a suture, for example, once a knot is placed in the suture. The rotatable cutter may also be configured to axially translate during a suture cutting procedure. The rotation and axial translation of the cutter may be separately or simultaneously executed. The suture cutting devices may be configured to push the knot within the suture and secure the suture for cutting near the knot. The suture cutting devices may include a holding tube and mandrel for securing the suture, for example, prior to cutting.