Endoscopic Suture Device for Digestive Tract Wound Closure
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current suturing techniques used in natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery (NOTES) face challenges in effectively suturing wounds within the digestive tract, leading to incomplete closure and potential complications such as food protrusion and tissue necrosis due to surface contact of tissue edges and lack of blood supply.
Innovation Solution
A suturing apparatus attached to an endoscope featuring a front arm and rear arm with a needle-like member, arm moving mechanism, and connection mechanism that allows for relative rocking and movement to engage and loop suture threads between tissue edges, ensuring proper closure and adhesion.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If outer faces of edges are sutured while facing each other in surface contact, then suturing can be performed at the cavity of digestive tract, but wound closure is incomplete and tissue adhesion is difficult
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of suturing outer faces of edges in surface contact, the invention inverts the approach by suturing end faces of edges while butting them against each other. This is achieved by positioning the incised part between the front arm and rear arm, and passing the suture thread through both edges so that end faces come into contact, mimicking conventional surgical suturing technique
Solution Approach 2:
The invention introduces a suture thread as an intermediary element to connect and secure the edges. The suture thread passes through both edges of the incised part and is tied to form a knot, creating a reliable mechanical connection that ensures complete wound closure and promotes tissue adhesion
2Reliability
If suturing is performed with laparoscope from body surface, then wound can be sutured, but scar remains on body surface
Solution Approach 1:
The invention replaces the mechanical system of laparoscopic suturing (requiring external incision and laparoscope insertion) with an endoscopic system that operates entirely within the digestive tract cavity. The endoscope with attached suturing apparatus can perform suturing through natural orifices, eliminating the need for external incisions and subsequent scarring
3Ease of operation
If edges are sutured in surface contact, then suturing can be performed endoscopically, but blood supply to sutured part is insufficient causing tissue necrosis
Solution Approach 1:
The invention inverts the suturing configuration from surface contact of outer faces to end-to-end contact of incised surfaces. By butting the end faces of edges against each other, the sutured structure restores normal tissue architecture and blood flow pathways, preventing ischemia and necrosis that occur with surface contact suturing
Data Source
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AI summary
Provided is a suturing apparatus for endoscope capable of suturing an opening of a wound, with an endoscope inserted into cavity of a digestive tract, to the same extent as the surgical operation. The suturing apparatus includes a front arm 11, a rear arm 12, arm moving means 13 for causing the front arm 11 and the rear arm 12 to move closer to or away from each other, and rocking means for relatively rocking the front arm 11 and the rear arm 12. The rear arm 12 includes a needle-like member 14 provided on a surface on a side of the front arm 11 so that an axial direction thereof becomes parallel with a direction in which the front arm 11 and the rear arm 12 are moved closer to or away from each other. The front arm 11 is provided with a housing space 16 capable of housing a tip of the needle-like member 14 when the front arm 11 and the rear arm 12 are moved closer to each other. Each of the housing spaces houses an engagement member 21 capable of being engaged with the needle-like member 14. The engagement members 21 housed in the respective housing spaces 16 are connected to each other by a suture thread 22.