Needle Holder Coupling for Minimally Invasive Suturing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Minimally invasive surgery, particularly single-port surgery, faces difficulties in handling surgical needles due to the complexity and inefficiency of existing needle holder couplings, which complicate the suturing process and lead to air leaks and unusual needle movement, making the procedure more challenging for surgeons.
Innovation Solution
A needle holder coupling with a displaceable tube and a distally arranged, elastically prestressed spring element that allows the surgical needle holder to be deflected relative to the tube's centerline, enabling easier insertion through a port and facilitating the use of conventional gripping devices, with options for a plug, plates, or hollow cylinders for needle retention, ensuring simplicity, robustness, and cost-effectiveness.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a needle holder coupling with spaced rods is used to support surgical suturing, then the suturing process is facilitated, but air leaks occur through the seal at the trocar
Solution Approach 1:
The gripping device is inserted through the tube of the needle holder coupling, with the distal end of the gripping device receiving the needle and the holding device being disposed at the distal end of the tube. This nested arrangement allows both devices to function simultaneously through a single port without compromising the seal, thereby facilitating suturing while preventing air leaks.
2Ease of operation
If two gripping devices guided parallel through the port are used to grip a surgical needle, then needle handling is improved, but the construction becomes complex and causes unusual needle movement
Solution Approach 1:
The instrument is divided into functionally independent components: a needle holder coupling with a tube and holding device, and a separate gripping device with forceps. The holding device is disposed at the distal end of the tube while the forceps are disposed at the distal end of the gripping device. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function independently, simplifying the overall construction while improving needle handling.
3Ease of operation
If the spring element is designed to be resilient in the lateral direction to facilitate insertion, then insertion through the port is easier, but the needle holder coupling is significantly displaced when the needle is inserted
Solution Approach 1:
The spring element is designed with directionally selective mechanical properties: it is resilient in the longitudinal direction to facilitate insertion through the port, but laterally stable to prevent significant displacement when the needle is inserted. This local differentiation of mechanical properties allows the spring element to provide insertion assistance while maintaining positional stability during needle manipulation.
4Adaptability or versatility
If conventional instruments are used for surgical suturing in single-port surgery, then the procedure can be performed, but handling becomes particularly difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The needle holder coupling is designed to work in conjunction with conventionally available gripping devices, making it compatible with existing surgical workflows and training. The holding device can be disposed at the distal end of the tube to receive the needle, while the gripping device with forceps can simultaneously manipulate the needle, combining the advantages of both specialized and conventional approaches for single-port surgical suturing.
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 solution simplifies the handling of surgical needles during minimally invasive surgery by maintaining a consistent distance between the needle holder and forceps, reducing air leaks, and allowing for the reuse of sterilizable components, thereby enhancing surgical efficiency and cosmetic outcomes.
Implementation Method 1
a spring element which is elastically prestressed outwards and on which spring element the device for holding the surgical needle is fastened
Implementation Method 2
As soon as the tube of the needle guard coupling has been guided through the port in the direction of the operating site, the spring element automatically pivots outwards due to the pretension
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to an instrument (1) for surgical suturing in minimally invasive surgery, in particular single-port surgery, comprising a gripping device (3) that can be inserted through a port (P) to a surgical site (O), the gripping device (3) having a forceps (4) for gripping a surgical needle (N) at its distal end (5) and a device (6) for actuating the forceps (4) at its proximal end (7), and a needle holder coupling (2) for such an instrument (1). To facilitate surgical suturing in minimally invasive surgery, a needle holder coupling (2) that can be inserted through the port (P) is provided. This needle holder coupling (2) includes a tube (9) enclosing the gripping device (3), at the distal end (10) of which a device (10) for holding the surgical needle (N) is arranged, spaced apart from the forceps (4) of the gripping device (3).