Endoscopic Tissue Grasper with Pivotable Needle Arm
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing endoscopic suturing systems face challenges in achieving a small profile for delivery while providing a large opening and closing angle and sufficient needle force for tissue piercing, which complicates surgical procedures due to bulkiness and limited maneuverability.
Innovation Solution
An endoscopic treatment device with a flexible member connected to a proximal handle assembly and a distal cap assembly, featuring a needle assembly with a pivotally coupled needle holder arm and a push rod mechanism for precise tissue manipulation, allowing for both piercing and retrieval of needles within a compact design.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a rigid alignment structure is used for the needle recovery member, then the needle can be reliably recovered, but the system becomes bulky and difficult to use in endoscopic procedures
Solution Approach 1:
The needle holder arm is made pivotally coupled to the cap assembly rather than rigidly fixed, allowing it to dynamically adjust its position and orientation during needle recovery. This pivotable connection enables the arm to accommodate the curved needle's path while maintaining a compact system profile suitable for endoscopic use.
2Strength
If the tissue grasping arm is designed to grasp thick tissue, then tissue grasping capability is improved, but the system becomes bulkier
Solution Approach 1:
The tissue grasping function is separated from the needle holder arm by introducing a distinct tissue grasper component. This segmentation allows the needle holder arm to remain compact while the dedicated grasper provides sufficient strength for thick tissue manipulation, reducing overall system bulk.
3Length of moving object
If a small profile is used for delivery, then ease of endoscopic insertion is improved, but the opening and closing angle and needle force are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The needle holder arm utilizes rotational movement in an angular dimension rather than linear extension to achieve large opening and closing angles. This dimensional change allows the arm to maintain a compact linear profile suitable for endoscopic delivery while providing sufficient angular range and needle force through rotational actuation.
Data Source
AI summary
An endoscopic tissue grasper device includes a flexible tubular member, a flexible shaft extending through the tubular member, a proximal handle for moving the shaft and tubular member relative to each other, and a distal helical coil having a sharpened end for engaging tissue. The tissue grasper is advanced through a working channel of an endoscope, engaged relative to tissue, and retracted to pull tissue into a path of a movable needle coupled at a distal end of the endoscope so that the needle can be passed through the tissue. The needle is preferably provided with a suture so that as the needle is passed through the tissue a stitch is formed.