Automatic Suturing Apparatus for Minimally Invasive Valve Fixation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current heart valve replacement surgeries are time-consuming and invasive, requiring numerous individual sutures to be placed and tied, which prolongs ischemic time and recovery, and increases the risk of infection and pain.
Innovation Solution
An automatic suturing apparatus that deploys multiple sutures simultaneously, secures them, and cuts them with a singular action, allowing for minimally invasive valve replacement or repair by expanding and collapsing through a small incision, reducing the need for traditional individual suture placement and tying.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If multiple individual sutures are placed and tied separately in conventional valve replacement surgery, then secure fixation of the prosthetic valve is achieved, but the surgical time is prolonged and ischemic time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple individual suture operations into a single integrated device that can place and secure multiple sutures simultaneously. The suturing device incorporates multiple needles and suture delivery mechanisms that work together to achieve secure fixation of the prosthetic valve while dramatically reducing the time required compared to conventional sequential suture placement.
Solution Approach 2:
The suturing device is segmented into multiple independent but coordinated components, including multiple needles, suture delivery channels, and activation mechanisms. Each segment can function independently to place individual sutures, while the overall system operates in unison to complete the fixation process efficiently, resolving the contradiction between secure fixation and reduced surgical time.
2Manufacturing precision
If traditional individual suture placement is used, then precise suture positioning is achieved, but the number of surgical steps increases and procedure complexity rises
Solution Approach 1:
The suturing device serves multiple functions within a single integrated system: it positions multiple needles precisely, delivers sutures through controlled channels, secures the prosthetic valve, and can be activated by a single operator. This multi-functionality maintains precise suture positioning while reducing overall procedure complexity by eliminating the need for multiple separate suture placement steps.
3Ease of operation
If cardiopulmonary bypass with heart arrest is used for valve replacement, then adequate surgical exposure and control are achieved, but patient risk and recovery time increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the complex mechanical system of cardiopulmonary bypass and heart arrest with a streamlined suturing device that can perform rapid valve fixation. By substituting the need for prolonged cardiac arrest with an efficient single-action suturing mechanism, the device maintains adequate surgical control while significantly reducing patient risk and recovery time associated with extended bypass procedures.
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed herein is an automatic suturing apparatus wherein triggers activate suturing and securing of the tissue of a patient. Also disclosed herein is an automatic suturing apparatus wherein triggers activate suturing and securing of a valve to tissue of a patient. Systems and kits for using the automatic suturing apparatus are included herein. Also disclosed are methods of suturing a tissue or a valve to tissue using an automatic suturing apparatus.