Surgical Needle Holder With Perpendicular Latch Alignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional Castroviejo-style needle holders suffer from misalignment of latching mechanisms, leading to inconsistent grip on sutures and increased failure rates, which can cause damage during surgical procedures and result in longer surgery times.
Innovation Solution
A surgical needle holder with a rotating latch mechanism extending perpendicularly from one handle and a contact surface on the other, engaging beneath a hook to ensure consistent locking and prevent misalignment, using leaf springs for biasing and a strong, perpendicular latch/lock mechanism.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a traditional Castroviejo-style latching mechanism is used, then the needle holder can be manufactured with simple components, but the latching mechanism misaligns over time causing unreliable needle holding
Solution Approach 1:
The latch mechanism transitions from a longitudinal alignment (1D) to a perpendicular engagement (2D), where the latch extends perpendicularly from one handle and engages with a contact surface on the other handle, creating a more stable spatial relationship that prevents misalignment over time
Solution Approach 2:
The latching mechanism is divided into separate functional segments: a latch component extending perpendicularly from one handle and a contact surface on the other handle, allowing independent manufacturing and assembly while ensuring precise alignment through their perpendicular relationship
2Strength
If the latch mechanism components are made from thin steel, then the manufacturing cost is reduced, but the components wear and move causing failure to hold needles tightly
Solution Approach 1:
The latch mechanism employs a composite construction with a perpendicular latch arm and a contact surface, where the geometric configuration provides structural strength without requiring excessive material thickness, achieving both durability and manufacturability
3Reliability
If the jaws are made short and textured for firm grip, then the needle holding capability is improved, but the overall handle length is reduced affecting maneuverability
Solution Approach 1:
The jaws are localized with textured surfaces and optimized dimensions specifically for needle engagement, while the handles maintain appropriate lengths for maneuverability, creating different functional qualities in different parts of the instrument
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 improved latching mechanism ensures consistent and precise holding of sutures, reducing failure rates and surgery time, enhancing precision and timeliness in surgical procedures.
Implementation Method 1
a pair of leaf spring sections extending from the opposed handles for biasing the needle gripping clamp jaws away from each other
Data Source
AI summary
Surgical needle holders comprise a pair of opposed needle gripping clamp jaws pivotally secured via a pivot, a pair of opposed handles, a pair of leaf spring sections extending from the opposed handles for biasing the needle gripping clamp jaws away from each other, and a rotating latch mechanism extending perpendicularly from one of the opposed handles and a contact surface extending from the other of the opposed handles for engaging and disengaging the same, thereby locking the pair of gripping clamp jaws in surface-to-surface arrangement. Methods of using the same are further provided.