Inflatable Balloon Suturing Device Centering
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing suturing devices face challenges in accurately centering and positioning themselves at large apertures in the body, leading to inefficiencies and potential tissue damage due to off-center placement.
Innovation Solution
A suturing device with an inflatable balloon coupled to multiple arms and needles, where the balloon is inflated to physically move the needle towards a target position, ensuring precise placement and centering within the aperture.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If an inflatable balloon is used to position the suturing device at large apertures, then the positioning accuracy is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The device is divided into separate functional modules: an inflatable balloon component for positioning, a suturing device component for stitching, and a delivery system component for insertion. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently while working together as an integrated system, resolving the contradiction by making the complex positioning function modular and manageable.
Solution Approach 2:
The balloon is inflated to establish the correct positioning and orientation of the suturing device before the actual suturing action is performed. This preliminary positioning action ensures that subsequent needle punctures occur at the intended locations on the tissue, achieving high positioning accuracy without requiring complex real-time adjustment mechanisms during the suturing process.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the balloon size and shape are changed to improve positioning, then the positioning flexibility is improved, but the needle puncture positioning accuracy deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
Different regions of the balloon are designed with specific geometric characteristics optimized for their local function: the overall balloon shape provides adaptability to different aperture sizes, while specific localized features on the balloon surface maintain consistent needle puncture positioning. This local quality differentiation resolves the contradiction by allowing global flexibility without compromising local precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The balloon acts as an intermediary element between the delivery system and the tissue. It provides a stable, controllable interface that can be inflated to various shapes for positioning flexibility, while its surface geometry is specifically designed to maintain accurate needle puncture locations regardless of the inflation state, thus mediating between flexibility requirements and precision requirements.
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
The solution enables effective localization and precise suturing of large apertures by ensuring the suturing device is accurately positioned, improving efficiency and minimizing tissue damage.
Implementation Method 1
An inflatable balloon is positioned in an area enclosed by the arm, such that inflating the balloon physically moves a needle towards the needle target
Data Source
AI summary
A suturing device uses an inflatable balloon coupled to multiple arms and needles to place sutures at appropriate positions. In preferred embodiments the suturing device includes an elongated body having a working end, a controlling end, and a lumen. The elongated body is coupled to an arm having a distal end with a needle target, which is used to place a suture in an appropriate position relative to the aperture. An inflatable balloon is positioned in an area enclosed by the arm, such that inflating the balloon physically moves a needle towards the needle target.