Direct-Driven Needle Suturing Device for Puncture Wound Closure

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional wound closure devices for puncture wounds, particularly those used in surgical procedures, are often cumbersome due to complex mechanisms for deploying and retracting suturing needles, making the extension and retraction process difficult.

Innovation Solution

A suturing device with a housing, a rod, and a ferrule assembly that includes a needle configured for translation through a guide lumen, allowing for a male-female friction fit engagement with a ferrule to securely hold a suture, facilitating easy insertion and removal of the ferrule through tissue, and adjustable rod length for varying tissue thicknesses.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If conventional mechanisms are used for deploying and retracting needles, then needle deployment function is achieved, but device complexity increases and ease of operation deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of needle deploymentVSAvoidcomplexity of deployment mechanism
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The needle is extracted as a separate, disposable component that can be easily attached to and removed from the device body. The needle carrier allows the needle to be independently handled and replaced without affecting the main device structure, simplifying the deployment process while maintaining functionality.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The device is segmented into distinct functional modules: a reusable device body housing, a needle carrier mechanism, and a disposable needle with suture. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently and simplifies the overall operation by allowing the needle to be deployed as a separate unit.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Ease of operation

If complex mechanisms are used for needle retraction, then needle control is achieved, but ease of operation deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of needle retractionVSAvoidcomplexity of retraction mechanism
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The needle is completely extracted from the device after use by simply detaching it from the needle carrier. This eliminates the need for complex retraction mechanisms, as the needle is designed to be easily removed and replaced rather than retracted and reused.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The needle is designed as a disposable component that is replaced rather than retracted or reused. This approach simplifies the device structure by eliminating complex retraction mechanisms while ensuring sterile, single-use needles for each procedure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

3Adaptability or versatility

If fixed rod length is used, then device structure is simplified, but adaptability to varying tissue thicknesses deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveadaptability to tissue thicknessVSAvoidcomplexity of adjustment mechanism
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The rod length is made dynamically adjustable rather than fixed. The rod can be extended or retracted to different lengths and locked in position, allowing the device to adapt to varying tissue thicknesses while maintaining a relatively simple structural design.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The adjustable rod mechanism provides multi-functionality, allowing the same device to be used for different tissue thicknesses and anatomical locations. This universal design increases adaptability without requiring multiple specialized devices.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentEP2314227B1Wound closure device including direct-driven needle
Publication Date: 2019.10.30 COVIDIEN LP
  • EP2314227B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2314227B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP2314227B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

A suturing device includes a housing, a rod, a ferrule assembly, and a needle. The housing defines a guide lumen extending longitudinally therethrough. The rod is engaged with the housing and extends distally therefrom. The ferrule assembly is disposed at a distal end of the rod and is configured to releasably retain a ferrule therein. The ferrule is adapted to retain of a portion of a suture therein. The needle is configured for translation through the guide lumen defined within the housing. A distal end of the needle is configured to engage the ferrule within the ferrule assembly for removal of the ferrule from the ferrule assembly.