Finger-Guided Suture Device for Intracorporeal Placement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Intracorporeal suturing during surgery is challenging due to the difficulty in visualizing and accessing target locations within the body, especially when they are angled or deep, making it hard for surgeons to manipulate suturing instruments effectively.
Innovation Solution
A suture fixation system comprising a finger-guided introducer with a zip line and a delivery device that allows precise placement of an anchor into a target landmark within the body, even if it cannot be visually seen, by attaching the introducer to a finger and using a delivery device that moves along the zip line to position the anchor.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If the surgeon uses finger to dissect tissue and form a space to access the target location, then the surgeon can palpate and identify the target location, but the space must be large enough to receive both the finger and the suturing instrument which increases the complexity of the procedure
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a delivery device as an intermediary tool that can be guided through the tissue space formed by the finger. The delivery device includes a guide catheter that follows the finger's path to reach the target location, allowing the suture to be deposited without requiring the surgeon to manually manipulate instruments through the confined space. This mediator resolves the contradiction by enabling precise target access while simplifying the overall procedure.
2Length of moving object
If the target location is disposed inside the patient's body at an angle that is difficult to reach, then the surgeon can access deep anatomical structures, but it becomes challenging to deliver surgical instruments to the target location
Solution Approach 1:
The delivery device employs a curved or flexible guide catheter that can navigate through angled and tortuous tissue pathways. The catheter's flexible structure allows it to follow the natural contours of the tissue and reach deep, angled target locations that would be inaccessible to rigid instruments. This curvature principle resolves the contradiction by enabling access to deep structures while maintaining ease of instrument delivery.
3Area of stationary object
If the target location cannot be visualized by the surgeon, then the surgeon can work within confined spaces, but delivering surgical instruments to the target location becomes challenging
Solution Approach 1:
The finger serves as both the dissection tool and the guidance mechanism. The surgeon uses their finger to create the tissue space and palpate the target location, then guides the delivery device along the same finger path. The finger essentially guides itself to the target, eliminating the need for separate visualization tools. This self-service approach resolves the contradiction by enabling work in confined spaces without requiring visual confirmation of the target location.
Data Source
AI summary
A method of placing a suture through tissue includes placing a band on a finger of a user, where the band is attached to a head of a suturing device, and employing the finger and the device in identifying an intracorporeal tissue landmark and placing the head of the suturing device at the intracorporeal tissue landmark. The method additionally includes engaging a throat of the head of the suturing device with the intracorporeal tissue landmark, and ejecting a needle out of a needle exit port and through the tissue. The needle exit port is located on a proximal portion of the head of the suturing device.