Nested Shaft Suture Grasper for Minimally Invasive Retrieval
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current wound closure devices face challenges in efficiently retrieving and managing sutures within internal surgical sites, particularly during minimally invasive procedures, due to limitations in penetrating and grasping sutures through tissue effectively.
Innovation Solution
The development of a suture grasper with a tissue-penetrating tip and spring fingers that can transition between configurations to facilitate suture penetration, grasping, and retrieval, along with a suture passer that allows for selective deployment and retrieval of suture ends within internal surgical sites.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a tissue-penetrating tip is used to penetrate through tissue, then penetration capability is improved, but device complexity increases due to multiple shafts and components
Solution Approach 1:
The suture grasper employs a nested shaft configuration where an inner shaft is disposed within an intermediate shaft, which is in turn disposed within an outer shaft. This nested arrangement allows multiple functional components to be integrated in a compact manner, enabling the tissue-penetrating tip to effectively penetrate through tissue while maintaining a manageable overall device structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The device is divided into distinct functional segments including the inner shaft with tissue-penetrating tip, the intermediate shaft with spring fingers, and the outer shaft. Each segment performs a specific function (penetration, grasping, and structural support), which simplifies the overall design by assigning dedicated roles to each component rather than requiring a single complex structure.
2Ease of operation
If spring fingers are made movable between spread and compressed positions, then suture grasping capability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The spring fingers are designed to be movable between a spread position and a compressed position, transitioning from a static to a dynamic structure. This dynamic configuration allows the spring fingers to actively engage and grasp the suture material by moving into the spread position, then compress back to secure the grasp, providing effective suture control without requiring overly complex mechanical systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The spring fingers utilize elastic recovery properties to automatically return to their compressed position after being spread, providing self-service functionality. This elastic mechanism eliminates the need for additional actuators or complex control systems to reset the grasping elements, simplifying the overall device while maintaining effective suture grasping capability.
3Measurement precision
If multiple shafts are made selectively translatable, then suture retrieval precision is improved, but ease of operation decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The device separates the translation control of different shafts into distinct functional zones: the inner shaft translates for penetration, the intermediate shaft translates for spring finger positioning, and the outer shaft translates for overall deployment. This segmentation allows each shaft to be controlled independently for precise suture retrieval while maintaining relatively simple operational sequences for the user.
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
Enables efficient and precise closure of wounds by allowing for effective penetration, grasping, and retrieval of sutures, improving the reliability and efficiency of wound closure procedures.
Implementation Method 1
an intermediate shaft having a plurality of spring fingers movable between a spread position, wherein the spring fingers extend radially outwardly from the inner shaft, and a compressed position, wherein the spring fingers are approximated about the inner shaft
Data Source
AI summary
A suture grasper for retrieving a suture from an internal surgical site includes an inner shaft defining a tissue-penetrating tip, an intermediate shaft disposed about the inner shaft, and an outer shaft disposed about the intermediate shaft. The intermediate shaft defines a plurality of spring fingers movable between a spread position, wherein the spring fingers extend radially outwardly from the inner shaft, and a compressed position, wherein the spring fingers are approximated about the inner shaft. The outer shaft is selectively translatable relative to the inner shaft and the intermediate shaft for moving the spring fingers between the spread position and the compressed position.