Offset Loop Knot Setter with Actuated Closure
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Solution Overview
Problem
The tying of suture knots is a time-consuming and tedious process in surgery, requiring multiple knots to be tied, and existing devices lack an efficient mechanism for securely grasping and managing sutures.
Innovation Solution
A surgical knot setter with an elongated shaft, a laterally and longitudinally offset loop, and a pivotally mounted closure that can be actuated to open and close, allowing for easy passage and retention of sutures, featuring a guide surface and a biasing mechanism to maintain knot security without manual pressure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If multiple knots are tied manually to secure sutures, then knot security is improved, but surgical time and effort increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The closure mechanism automatically secures the suture within the loop without requiring manual knot tying by the surgeon. The actuator-driven closure moves independently to grasp and retain the suture, making the system self-servicing for the knot-securing function.
Solution Approach 2:
The closure acts as an intermediary between the surgeon's actuator input and the suture retention function. Instead of direct manual knot tying, the surgeon operates the actuator which mediates the closure movement to secure the suture automatically.
2Ease of operation
If existing suturing devices are used to grasp and pass sutures, then suture passage is enabled, but secure grasping and management of sutures is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The device separates the suture passage function (loop and gate opening) from the suture retention function (closure mechanism). The closure can be independently actuated to grasp and secure the suture after it has been passed through the gate opening, providing both ease of passage and reliable retention.
Solution Approach 2:
The closure is designed to be movable between open and closed positions through actuator operation, allowing dynamic control over suture retention. This dynamic mechanism enables the closure to adapt from a permissive state (open) for suture passage to a restrictive state (closed) for secure retention.
3Ease of operation
If a loop structure is positioned at the distal end of the shaft, then suture access is improved, but manual pressure and control become more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The manual pressure and control required for suture retention is replaced by an actuator-driven mechanical system. The actuator provides controlled movement of the closure through a transmission mechanism (crank and drive shaft), substituting complex manual dexterity requirements with a structured mechanical actuation system.
Solution Approach 2:
The actuator and its transmission mechanism serve as intermediaries between the surgeon's input and the closure movement. This intermediary system translates simple actuator operation into precise closure movement, reducing the complexity of direct manual control while maintaining effective suture access.
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
Facilitates efficient knot tying by allowing secure suture management and automatic closure, reducing the time and effort required for surgeons to tie multiple knots during surgeries.
Implementation Method 1
Biasing can be provided for biasing the closure to the closed position
Implementation Method 2
A spiral groove can be provided in the crank and a pin in the groove. The pin is connected to a trigger, such that movement of the trigger moves the pin to contact the spiral groove and rotate the crank and drive shaft
Data Source
Figure 1
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AI summary
A surgical knot setter includes an elongated shaft having a long axis and proximal and distal portions. A tip is provided at the distal end of the shaft. The tip has a loop with an interior loop opening and a gate opening for permitting ingress and egress of a suture into the loop opening. The loop is laterally offset from the long axis and distal to the distal end of the shaft, such that the loop is laterally and longitudinally offset from the distal end of the shaft. A closure is provided for selectively opening and closing the gate opening between open and closed positions to selectively permit or prevent the suture from passing through the gate opening. An actuator moves the closure between the open and closed positions. A method for tying suture knots is also disclosed.