Opposing Curved Needle Suturing Device for Vaginal Cuff Closure
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Solution Overview
Problem
Laparoscopic suturing, particularly for closing the vaginal cuff after a total laparoscopic hysterectomy, is challenging due to the required dexterity and coordination, leading to potential vaginal cuff dehiscence and bowel herniation, with significant inter-operator variability in surgical technique.
Innovation Solution
A tissue suturing device with a distal suturing head featuring oppositely oriented sets of curved needles and anchors, designed for introduction through the vagina to quickly and safely suture the vaginal cuff, utilizing a mechanism for deploying and retracting needles to secure sutures between tissue sections.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If manual laparoscopic suturing is performed, then the surgeon can close the vaginal cuff, but the procedure requires extensive dexterity and coordination training and shows significant inter-operator variability
Solution Approach 1:
The device enables self-aligning and self-suturing functionality where the opposing curved needles automatically position themselves relative to the vaginal cuff geometry, and the suturing action is facilitated by the device's inherent mechanical structure rather than requiring manual dexterity for needle manipulation and suture tying
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the manual mechanical skill-based suturing process with a mechanically automated system where actuators deploy and retract the curved needles, and mechanical linkages facilitate the suturing action, thereby substituting surgeon dexterity with device-driven mechanical action
2Productivity
If traditional laparoscopic suturing techniques are used, then the vaginal cuff can be closed, but the procedure time is extended and surgical efficiency is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The device pre-positions the opposing curved needles and sutures within the vaginal cuff before the actual closing action, with the needles and sutures already configured in place, allowing for rapid deployment and closure without the time-consuming steps of manual needle manipulation and suture placement
Solution Approach 2:
The suturing process is performed as a continuous mechanical action where the actuators deploy the needles, the sutures are pulled through the tissue in sequence, and the vaginal cuff is closed in one sustained operation rather than through multiple discrete manual steps, maintaining continuous useful action throughout the procedure
3Adaptability or versatility
If manual suturing is performed by different surgeons, then various techniques are applied, but this leads to significant inter-operator variability in surgical technique
Solution Approach 1:
The device provides a universal suturing mechanism that can be applied consistently across different surgical cases and operators, with the same mechanical deployment sequence and needle-suture configuration, thereby eliminating technique variations while maintaining adaptability to the vaginal cuff anatomy through the device's geometric design
Data Source
AI summary
In accordance with an aspect of the present disclosure, an apparatus for suturing tissue is provided that includes a body having a proximate end and a distal end. A suturing head is coupled to the distal end of the body, including a first set of curved needles, a second set of curved needles, and a plurality of sutures. A first end of a suture is coupled to one of the curved needles of the first set. A second end of the suture is coupled to one of the curved needles of the second set. The curved needles of the first set are oppositely oriented to the curved needles of the second set. The suturing head can be positioned between two substantially parallel sections of tissue. An actuator is coupled to the body to deploy the first and second sets of curved needles.