Nested Medical Needle for Hernia Suture Guidance

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Solution Overview

Problem

The existing suture guide needles used in laparoscopic percutaneous extraperitoneal closure (LPEC) procedures are difficult to maneuver due to the need to puncture and manipulate the needle with a suture attached to the tip, making the procedure challenging and time-consuming.

Innovation Solution

A medical needle comprising a loop member, a threading member, and a puncturing member, where the loop member is inserted into the threading member, and the threading member is inserted into the puncturing member, allowing for separate handling of the suture and facilitating the puncturing and perforation steps without the suture extending from the tip of the puncturing needle.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If a suture guide needle with suture attached to the tip is used for puncturing and manipulation, then the suture can be guided along the hernia orifice, but the procedure becomes extremely difficult and time-consuming due to the need to manipulate the needle with suture attached during all steps

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of puncturing and manipulationVSAvoidprocedure time

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The needle is divided into three separate members: a puncturing member for puncturing, a threading member for threading the needle, and a loop member for capturing the suture. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function independently, eliminating the difficulty of manipulating a single needle with suture attached throughout the entire procedure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The three members are configured in a nested structure where the loop member can be inserted into the threading member, and the threading member can be inserted into the puncturing member. This nested configuration allows the members to be stored compactly together while enabling sequential deployment during the procedure, reducing procedure time and complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

2Reliability

If the suture is attached to the needle tip during puncturing, then the suture can be guided, but the manipulation and perforation steps become extremely difficult to perform

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesuture guidance accuracyVSAvoidease of manipulation

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

By separating the suture attachment function (loop member) from the puncturing and threading functions (puncturing member and threading member), the invention allows the suture to be reliably captured at the appropriate stage without interfering with the ease of puncturing and manipulation in earlier stages.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The puncturing member is designed with a pre-formed opening that allows the needle to be threaded through before the suture is attached. This preliminary action of creating the puncture path separately from suture attachment makes the manipulation step much easier while ensuring reliable suture guidance in the subsequent threading step.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Productivity

If a single needle with suture attached is used for all steps, then the procedure can be completed, but the complexity of the procedure increases significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprocedure efficiencyVSAvoidneedle structure complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

While the device consists of multiple components, segmenting the needle into three specialized members actually reduces procedural complexity by assigning specific functions to each component. The puncturing member handles only puncturing, the threading member handles only threading, and the loop member handles only suture capture, making each step simpler and more intuitive than using a single multi-functional needle.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The nested configuration of the three members allows them to be stored and handled as a compact unit, reducing the practical complexity of managing multiple separate components. The members can be inserted into one another for storage and then deployed sequentially during the procedure, maintaining ease of handling while providing specialized functionality for each step.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Data Source

PatentUS10588621B2Medical needle

Publication Date: 2020.03.17 COSMIC M E

AI summary

The purpose of the present invention is to provide a medical needle with which, compared to a conventionally known suture thread guide needle, puncture, handling, and perforation are easy when guiding a suture thread along a hernia orifice beneath the skin, and therefore, the medical needle enables the execution of an LPEC method using simpler procedures. The purpose is accomplished by a medical needle comprising: a loop member provided with a loop needle the distal end of which has a loop-shaped structure, and a grip part the outer diameter of which is larger than the outer diameter of the loop needle; a threading member that is provided with a tubular threading needle and a tubular grip part the outer diameter of which is larger than the outer diameter of the threading needle, and that is configured so that the loop member can pass through the threading member from the distal end thereof; and a puncturing member that is provided with a tubular puncture needle the distal end of which has a sharp-angled structure and a tubular grip part the outer diameter of which is larger than the outer diameter of the puncture needle, and that is configured so that the threading member can pass through the puncturing member from the distal end thereof.