Expandable Balloon Holder for Endoscopic Suture Traction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing suturing methods within confined hollow organs, such as the digestive tract, face challenges in effectively stitching wounds due to limited traction capabilities of suture threads.
Innovation Solution
A traction tool with a flexible endoscope and expandable balloon holder allows for enhanced traction of suture threads by winding them around a distal shaft, utilizing a first holder at the distal end and a second expandable holder closer to the proximal end, enabling efficient wound closure within confined spaces.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Force
If a conventional endoscopic needle holder is used to perform suturing, then the tool can grasp the suture needle and perform basic needle work, but the traction force of the suture thread is insufficient to sufficiently stitch wounds in confined hollow organs
Solution Approach 1:
The second holder is provided inside the first holder, creating a nested structure where the expandable balloon holder is positioned within the main needle holder body. This nested configuration allows the traction mechanism to be integrated within the existing suturing tool structure, increasing pulling force without proportionally increasing overall device complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The second holder is designed to be expandable in the radial direction, transforming from a compact state for insertion to an expanded state for providing traction. This dynamic expansion capability allows the tool to adapt its structure during the procedure, increasing the surface area for winding the suture thread and thereby increasing traction force only when needed
2Force
If the second holder is expanded in the radial direction to increase suture thread traction, then the pulling force is sufficiently increased, but the device complexity and operational complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The second holder is designed to be expandable and contractible through the winding and unwinding of the suture thread itself. As the suture thread is wound around the second holder, the expansion is driven by the thread tension rather than requiring a separate expansion mechanism, allowing the tool to self-regulate its expansion state based on the suturing process needs
Data Source
AI summary
A traction tool for performing traction of suture thread under a flexible endoscope is provided. The tool includes a shaft, a first holder which is provided at a distal end of the shaft and is configured to hold the suture thread or a suture needle attached to the suture thread, and second holder which is provided closer to a proximal end side of the shaft than the first holder and to which the suture thread is hooked. The second holder is expandable in a radial direction of the shaft.