Helical Needle Suturing Apparatus with Counter-Rotating Rollers
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional surgical anastomosis procedures, such as coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgeries, involve invasive methods that result in significant scarring, discomfort, and prolonged recovery times due to large incisions and sternotomy, which increases the risk of infection and trauma.
Innovation Solution
A suturing apparatus and method utilizing a frame with counter-rotating rollers to engage and rotate a helically-shaped needle, allowing for precise suturing of passages with minimal invasive techniques by guiding the needle along a drive track to reduce tissue trauma and promote faster healing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If conventional surgical anastomosis procedures are performed with large incisions and sternotomy, then surgeons can access and suture passages, but this causes significant scarring, discomfort, and increased infection risk
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the traditional mechanical approach of large incisions and manual suturing with a robotic system that uses a helically-shaped needle and counter-rotating rollers to perform minimally invasive anastomosis. The robotic apparatus can suture passages through small incisions without requiring sternotomy, thereby reducing scarring and infection risk while maintaining surgical capability
2Productivity
If conventional invasive surgery is performed, then passages can be connected and reconnected, but this requires significant recovery time for healing
Solution Approach 1:
The robotic suturing system enables minimally invasive anastomosis procedures that connect passages through small incisions, avoiding the need for large incisions and sternotomy. This substitution of surgical approach dramatically reduces recovery time while maintaining the ability to complete complex surgical procedures
3Manufacturing precision
If a helically-shaped needle is rotated between counter-rotating rollers, then the needle can be precisely controlled to suture passages, but this requires a complex drive mechanism
Solution Approach 1:
The robotic system segments the suturing function into distinct modular components: a helically-shaped needle, counter-rotating rollers for rotation control, and a drive mechanism for translation. This segmentation allows precise control of the needle while organizing the complexity into manageable, functionally-separated modules
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses dynamic counter-rotating rollers that can independently rotate to control the helical needle's rotation, combined with translational movement of the rollers. This dynamic control mechanism achieves precise needle positioning through coordinated rotational and translational motion, managing complexity through functional dynamics
4Object-affected harmful factors
If minimally invasive techniques are used, then trauma and recovery time are reduced, but the ability to perform complex suturing may be limited
Solution Approach 1:
The robotic system substitutes traditional manual suturing tools with a specialized helically-shaped needle mechanism that can be precisely controlled. This mechanical substitution maintains full suturing capability for complex anastomosis procedures while enabling minimally invasive access through small incisions, thereby reducing tissue trauma without limiting surgical versatility
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
The apparatus enables minimally invasive suturing procedures, reducing trauma, recovery time, and infection risk by allowing for precise and efficient connection of passages with smaller incisions, thereby improving surgical outcomes.
Implementation Method 1
opposing sides of a shaft of a needle are engaged between parallel faces of first and second rollers... The first and second rollers are counter-rotated to cause the helically-shaped needle to revolve
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 configured to counter-rotatably support two generally parallel rollers. A first roller supported by the frame has a flat surface configured to rollably engage a first face of a shaft of a helically-shaped needle. A second roller supported by the frame has a grooved surface defining a groove that is configured to at least partially receive a second face of the shaft. The bottom of the groove has a bottom width at least as wide as the second face and bounded by sides extending to a groove opening at the grooved surface having a surface width that is wider than the second face.