Helical Needle Suturing End Effector for Variable Length Tissue Closure
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
There is a need for surgical instruments that can securely fasten portions of body organs or tissue together along varied lengths, particularly lengths less than 30 mm, to reduce patient trauma and medical costs in surgical procedures.
Innovation Solution
A suturing end effector with moveable jaw members and a helical needle that creates a helical path to draw suture through tissue, accompanied by a suture cutter and knife mechanism for precise tissue closure, and a loading unit with a drive mechanism to articulate and advance the needle and knife for continuous suture formation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If traditional staplers are used to fasten tissue, then tissue can be secured along fixed lengths (30mm, 45mm, or 60mm), but the instrument cannot adapt to variable lengths especially less than 30mm
Solution Approach 1:
The needle is designed to rotate about its longitudinal axis during advancement, creating a dynamic helical motion that enables variable length suturing. The rotation mechanism allows the needle to traverse different path lengths through tissue, providing adaptability for tissue fastening lengths less than 30mm while maintaining a relatively simple instrument structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The needle follows a helical (curved) path through tissue rather than a straight line, with the helix defined by multiple rows of wells in the jaw members. This curved trajectory enables the needle to create continuous sutures of variable length, improving adaptability without requiring complex adjustable mechanisms.
2Measurement precision
If manual stitching with needle and suture is used, then tissue can be fastened with precision, but the surgical procedure time is significantly increased
Solution Approach 1:
The manual stitching action is replaced by an automated needle rotation and advancement mechanism driven by a drive shaft. The system automatically creates the helical suture path and draws suture through tissue, maintaining precision while dramatically reducing surgical procedure time compared to manual stitching.
Solution Approach 2:
The needle rotation and suture deployment occur in continuous motion as the needle advances through tissue, eliminating the stop-and-start nature of manual stitching. This continuous action maintains precise suture placement while reducing overall procedure time by eliminating manual repositioning and tying steps.
3Productivity
If the helical needle draws suture through tissue by rotation, then continuous sutures can be formed efficiently, but the needle cannot be easily repositioned or adjusted during the process
Solution Approach 1:
The needle is designed with rotational freedom about its longitudinal axis, allowing it to dynamically adjust its orientation as it advances through tissue. This rotational capability enables continuous suture formation while also allowing the needle to be repositioned by simply rotating it to different angular positions before advancement, improving ease of operation without sacrificing productivity.
Data Source
AI summary
A suturing end effector includes a first jaw member, a second jaw member, and a helical needle. The first and second jaw members are moveable relative to one another between open and closed configurations. Each of the first and second jaw members defines a first row of wells that define a helical path when the first and second jaw members are in the closed configuration. The helical needle is rotatable through the helical path between retracted and extended positions. The helical needle is configured to draw a suture through tissue between the first and second jaw members when the helical needle is rotatably advanced through the helical path and configured to be independently moveable relative to the suture when retracted from the advanced position to the retracted position.