Curved Needle Suturing Device for Minimally Invasive Surgery
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current minimally invasive cardiac surgery techniques face challenges in remotely delivering and reliably placing sutures for neochordal replacement, due to the difficulty in manipulating a suture needle through small openings between ribs.
Innovation Solution
A minimally invasive surgical suturing device featuring a ferrule holder, a latch spring with biased latches, curved needle arms, and a needle control wire that moves the needle arms on an arcuate path through a tissue gap, allowing for remote and precise suture placement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Length of moving object
If a suture needle is manipulated with forceps through a minimally invasive opening, then the procedure can be performed with smaller incisions, but the operation becomes difficult and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the manual forceps-based needle manipulation system with a specialized delivery device that uses a control wire and cam mechanism. The curved needle is attached to the control wire and advanced through the minimally invasive opening using rotational and pushing motions, eliminating the need for forceps manipulation through small incisions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the operational parameters by using a curved needle design that can be rotated and pushed through tissue along an arcuate path. The needle's curvature and the delivery device's rotational capability allow it to navigate through small openings and deliver sutures to difficult-to-reach locations without requiring large incisions or complex forceps manipulation.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If traditional suture placement methods are used through small openings, then minimally invasive surgery can be performed, but the procedure time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs preliminary action by pre-attaching the curved needle to the control wire within the delivery device before insertion. The needle is positioned and oriented in advance, allowing for rapid deployment through the minimally invasive opening without requiring time-consuming manipulation or repositioning during the procedure.
Solution Approach 2:
The specialized delivery device with its cam mechanism and control wire system replaces traditional forceps-based suture placement. This mechanical system enables faster and more efficient needle delivery through small openings, reducing procedure time while maintaining the benefits of minimally invasive surgery.
3Manufacturing precision
If a specialized suturing device with curved needle arms is used, then suture placement precision is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the suturing function into separate components: a delivery device for needle insertion, a curved needle for suture delivery, a control wire for manipulation, and a cam mechanism for actuation. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized for its specific function, improving overall precision while making the complex device more manageable and potentially reusable.
Solution Approach 2:
The curved needle arms and arcuate delivery path are designed to match the natural curvature of tissue and the minimally invasive opening geometry. This curvature enables precise suture placement in difficult-to-reach locations while the standardized curved design can be manufactured efficiently, balancing precision requirements with device complexity.
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 device enables efficient and precise placement of sutures in minimally invasive surgery, facilitating neochordal replacement and reducing the complexity and time required for the procedure, thereby improving surgical efficiency and patient recovery.
Implementation Method 1
a latch spring comprising at least one latch biased to cover the at least one ferrule holder
Implementation Method 2
a cam coupled to the needle control wire for selective engagement with a follower region on the latch spring
Data Source
Figure 1A
Figure 1B
Figure 2A
AI summary
A suturing device for minimally invasive surgery is disclosed. The device has at least one ferrule holder. The device also has a latch spring comprising at least one latch biased to cover the at least one ferrule holder. The device further has a needle comprising one or more curved needle arms. The device also has a needle control wire coupled to the needle for moving the one or more curved needle arms on an arcuate path through a tissue gap. The device further has a cam coupled to the needle control wire for selective engagement with a follower region on the latch spring.