Helical Needle Roller Drive for Minimally Invasive Suturing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional surgical anastomosis procedures, such as coronary artery bypass graft (CABG), involve invasive surgery with significant scarring, discomfort, and prolonged recovery due to large incisions and sternum breaking, necessitating less traumatic suturing methods.
Innovation Solution
A suturing apparatus with counter-rotating rollers that drive a helically-shaped needle to eccentrically revolve around a roller, allowing it to pierce and suture tissues through a minor incision, using a drive mechanism to translate along a guide track.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If conventional surgical anastomosis procedures are used, then suturing can be performed, but significant scarring, discomfort, and prolonged recovery occur due to large incisions and sternum breaking
Solution Approach 1:
The suturing apparatus divides the suturing operation into discrete mechanical actions: the needle performs piercing and suture formation through minimal tissue disruption, while the counter-rotating rollers provide controlled motion. This segmentation allows the suturing function to be isolated from the need for large incisions, as the needle can access tissue through smaller openings.
Solution Approach 2:
The helical needle acts as an intermediary between the surgeon and the tissue, delivering the suture filament through minimal incisions. The counter-rotating rollers serve as intermediaries to control the needle's motion, enabling precise piercing and suture formation without requiring direct manual manipulation through large openings.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If a helically-shaped needle is driven by counter-rotating rollers, then minimally invasive suturing is achieved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system employs dynamic counter-rotating rollers that move in opposite directions to drive the helical needle through eccentric motion. This dynamic mechanism allows the needle to perform piercing and suture formation motions through minimal incisions, reducing tissue trauma while the controlled counter-rotation manages the complexity through predictable mechanical interaction.
Solution Approach 2:
The helical geometry of the needle changes the parameter of motion from simple linear piercing to eccentric circular motion, enabling the needle to create sutures through minimal tissue disruption. The counter-rotation of rollers controls these parameter changes, allowing controlled piercing and suture formation that reduces tissue trauma despite the added mechanical complexity.
3Productivity
If the needle is driven eccentrically around the roller, then suture formation is facilitated, but the control precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The counter-rotating rollers automatically generate the eccentric motion required for suture formation through their own rotation. The needle, engaged between the rollers, naturally follows an eccentric path as the rollers rotate in opposite directions, eliminating the need for external control mechanisms. This self-service approach facilitates efficient suture formation while the mechanical interaction of the rollers provides inherent motion control.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Facilitates minimally invasive suturing by reducing trauma and recovery time, applicable to various surgical procedures beyond CABG, including arteriovenous fistula formation and intestinal coupling.
Implementation Method 1
opposing sides of a shaft of a needle are engaged between parallel faces of first and second rollers
Implementation Method 2
The needle is revolvable eccentrically around the first roller responsive to counter-rotation of the first and second rollers
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed embodiments include apparatuses, systems, and methods for driving a needle to facilitate suturing, such as may be performed in a surgical anastomosis procedure. In an illustrative embodiment, an apparatus includes a frame. First and second rollers are rotatably mounted parallel with each other in the frame and are configured to engage therebetween a shaft of a needle formed in a helical shape. The first and second rollers are configured to counter-rotate. The needle is revolvable eccentrically around the first roller responsive to counter-rotation of the first and second rollers. A drive mechanism is secured to the frame and is configured to move the frame.