Endoscopic Stitching Device Single-Hand Operation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current surgical suturing devices are cumbersome for single-hand operation during endoscopic procedures, making it difficult to efficiently pass a suture needle through tissue with minimal operational requirements.
Innovation Solution
A surgical stitching device featuring an axial rod, first and second drive shafts, a suture needle with a blunt and penetrating end, and a tool assembly with jaws and securing members that transition between open and closed configurations to securely hold and maneuver the suture needle for single-hand operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If traditional surgical suturing devices are used, then the suture needle can be manipulated, but the device becomes cumbersome for single-hand operation
Solution Approach 1:
The device is divided into distinct functional modules: a handle assembly, a drive shaft, a tool assembly with jaws, and a suture needle. Each component performs a specific function and can be independently manipulated, allowing the surgeon to operate the device with one hand while maintaining control over each segmented function.
Solution Approach 2:
The drive shaft acts as an intermediary component that transmits rotational motion from the handle assembly to the tool assembly. This intermediary mechanism allows the surgeon's hand movements to be efficiently translated into precise movements of the suture needle and jaws, enabling single-hand operation without direct manual manipulation of each component.
2Productivity
If the device is designed for single-hand operation, then operational efficiency improves, but the mechanism for securing and maneuvering the suture needle becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The jaws and securing members are merged into an integrated tool assembly that performs multiple functions simultaneously. The jaws grip the suture needle while the securing members hold the suture material, allowing the surgeon to manipulate both the needle and suture with a single hand without requiring separate mechanisms for each function.
Solution Approach 2:
The jaws and securing members are designed with dynamic movement capabilities, allowing them to open and close in response to surgeon input. This dynamic design enables the surgeon to quickly secure and release the suture needle during the suturing process, improving operational efficiency without requiring overly complex static mechanisms.
3Reliability
If the device includes multiple components for needle manipulation, then the suture needle can be securely held, but the overall device becomes more cumbersome
Solution Approach 1:
The securing members are nested within the jaw structure, with the securing members positioned inside or along the jaws. This nested arrangement allows multiple components to occupy the same spatial envelope, reducing the overall device size while maintaining the reliability of needle securing through the combined action of jaws and securing members.
Data Source
AI summary
A surgical stitching device is configured for single hand operation that enables passage of a suture needle through tissue with minimal operational requirement. The surgical needle is selectively securable to first and second jaws that are pivotably coupled to each other. When the first and second jaws are in an open configuration, in which, the first and second jaws are spaced apart, the suture needle is detachably secured to the first and second jaws. When the first and second jaws are in a closed configuration, in which, the first and second jaws are approximated, the suture needle is detachably secured to one of the first and second jaws and is detached from the other one of the first and second jaws. Such single hand operation facilitates procedures such as, e.g., extraterritorial loop suture closure.