Offset Jaw Purse String Suture Instrument for Tissue Displacement

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current surgical instruments for placing purse strings during anastomosis procedures lack an efficient mechanism to clamp and suture tissue effectively, particularly in minimally invasive settings, where precise tissue manipulation and fixation of anvil assemblies are challenging.

Innovation Solution

A surgical device with an end effector featuring pivotably coupled jaws and longitudinally offset teeth that transition between open and approximated configurations to clamp tissue, displace sections outward, and facilitate suture placement, allowing for effective fixation of an anvil within the tissue.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If conventional surgical instruments are used for purse string suture placement, then the procedure can be completed, but tissue manipulation precision and anvil fixation security are insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetissue manipulation precisionVSAvoidanvil fixation security
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The instrument divides the suture placement function into separate modular components: a first jaw for initial tissue clamping and suture needle insertion, and a second jaw for tissue displacement and suture tightening. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized for its specific function, improving both precision and reliability of the overall procedure

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The first and second jaws are nested within a single instrument shaft, with the second jaw positioned distal to the first jaw. This nested configuration allows both functional components to be delivered through a minimally invasive access route while maintaining their individual operational capabilities for precise tissue manipulation and secure anvil fixation

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

2Object-affected harmful factors

If minimally invasive techniques are used for anvil rod mounting and tissue preparation, then patient trauma is reduced, but tissue clamping and suture placement become more difficult

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepatient traumaVSAvoidtissue clamping ease
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The instrument utilizes the longitudinal dimension along the shaft to accommodate multiple functional jaws at different positions. The first jaw is positioned proximal while the second jaw is positioned distal, allowing both to operate within the constrained minimally invasive access pathway while providing comprehensive tissue manipulation capabilities

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Solution Approach 2:

The instrument serves as an intermediary device that translates the surgeon's external manipulations into precise internal tissue interactions. The elongate shaft acts as a mediator to transmit forces and movements from the external handling interface to the internal jaw mechanisms, enabling effective tissue clamping and suture placement through minimally invasive access

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Device complexity

If a single jaw design is used for suture placement, then the instrument structure is simpler, but tissue displacement and suture securing effectiveness are reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinstrument structureVSAvoidsuture placement precision
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The instrument incorporates movable, articulating jaws that can dynamically adjust their positions and orientations relative to each other. The first and second jaws can independently articulate to accommodate varying tissue geometries and surgical requirements, providing adaptive precision without requiring an overly complex fixed structure

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The instrument merges multiple suture placement functions into a single integrated device. Both the first jaw (for initial clamping and needle insertion) and the second jaw (for displacement and tightening) are combined within one instrument, eliminating the need for multiple separate instruments while achieving comprehensive suture placement precision

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentEP3936060B1Purse string suture instrument
Publication Date: 2023.12.27 COVIDIEN LP
  • EP3936060B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3936060B1 patent drawingFigure 3
  • EP3936060B1 patent drawingFigure 4~5

AI summary

A purse string suture instrument includes an end effector with first and second jaws disposed at a distal portion of an elongate tubular shaft. The first and second jaws are pivotably coupled to each other and to the elongate tubular shaft. The first and second jaws are spaced apart and define a gap therebetween. First and second pluralities of teeth extend perpendicularly from the first and second jaws respectively, and the first plurality of teeth is longitudinally offset from the second plurality of teeth. The first and second jaws are transitionable between open and approximated configurations. The approximated configuration is adapted to clamp tissue in the gap between the first and second jaws, thereby displacing sections of tissue outwardly between the first and second pluralities of teeth.