Surgical Needle Loading Unit with Finger Support Structure
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current surgical suturing apparatuses face challenges in efficiently and precisely loading surgical needles, particularly in endoscopic and laparoscopic procedures, where precise positioning and secure attachment of needles with suture material are crucial for effective suturing.
Innovation Solution
A loading unit assembly with a support structure featuring fingers and a central crimped needle configuration, allowing for orthogonal orientation of the needle and secure attachment of suture material, along with alignment recesses and tabs for proper alignment with the surgical suturing apparatus, ensures stable and precise loading of the needle and suture material.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If a traditional needle loading mechanism is used, then the device structure is simple, but the needle positioning precision and secure attachment are insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The loading unit is divided into multiple functional components: a body portion for housing, a support structure with multiple fingers for positioning, and separate engagement features. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function optimally while maintaining overall precision without excessive complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The support structure acts as an intermediary between the needle and the loading unit body. The fingers with teeth provide a mediating engagement mechanism that secures the needle in precise positioning without requiring direct complex constraints from the main body.
2Reliability
If the needle is securely attached with multiple constraints, then the reliability of needle retention is improved, but the ease of operation for loading and unloading is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The support structure with fingers and teeth is pre-configured in the loading unit to automatically engage with the needle's grooves during insertion. This preliminary arrangement ensures reliable retention without requiring complex manual adjustment or multiple steps during the loading operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The needle's grooves and the fingers' teeth are designed to automatically engage with each other when the needle is inserted into the loading unit. The structure self-secures the needle through the orthogonal engagement of grooves and teeth, providing reliable retention without requiring additional fastening operations.
3Productivity
If the needle is oriented orthogonally with precise alignment features, then the suturing effectiveness is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The support structure uses asymmetric finger arrangement with specific teeth orientations that naturally guide the needle into the correct orthogonal position. The asymmetric grooves in the needle correspond to this asymmetric finger configuration, ensuring proper alignment through the asymmetric engagement pattern rather than symmetric constraints.
Solution Approach 2:
The needle is positioned orthogonally to the longitudinal axis of the support structure, utilizing a different spatial dimension for alignment. This orthogonal orientation allows the needle to be securely held in the correct suturing position without requiring complex multi-axis alignment mechanisms.
Data Source
AI summary
A loading unit assembly for use with a surgical suturing apparatus includes a surgical needle and a support structure configured for releasably securing the surgical needle. The support structure may include a first finger and a second finger adjacent to the first finger. The first and second fingers may define a first channel therebetween. The support structure may also include a third finger defining a seat portion and a back portion. The seat and back portions may be in facing relation with the first and second fingers. The third finger and the first and second fingers may define a second channel therebetween. The surgical needle may be loaded in the second channel and may be in abutment with at least the seat portion.