Pivotable Arm Wound Closure Device with Linkage Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current wound closure methods for puncture wounds and surgical incisions lack efficient and reliable systems for closing openings in tissue, particularly in minimally invasive surgical procedures, where precise and effective closure is necessary to ensure proper healing and minimize complications.
Innovation Solution
A wound closure system comprising an elongated shaft with pivotable arms and a linkage mechanism, along with a needle and sleeve assembly, that allows for the insertion and retrieval of sutures to close the wound by positioning the arms relative to the shaft and using needles to guide the sutures through tissue, facilitating the closure of the wound.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional wound closure methods are used, then the procedure is simple, but the closure precision and reliability are insufficient for minimally invasive surgical procedures
Solution Approach 1:
The closure device is divided into multiple functional segments: a shaft for insertion, pivotable arms for suture manipulation, and a linkage mechanism for controlled movement. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function efficiently, improving overall reliability while keeping the device manageable in complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The arms are designed to be pivotable relative to the shaft, allowing dynamic adjustment of the suture positioning. The linkage mechanism enables controlled pivoting between linear and angled positions, providing the adaptability needed for reliable wound closure in minimally invasive procedures.
2Measurement precision
If pivotable arms with linkage mechanism are used, then suture positioning precision is improved, but the device operation complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The linkage mechanism acts as an intermediary between the operator's input and the arms' movement. It translates simple linear motion into precise angular positioning of the arms, maintaining ease of operation while achieving high suture positioning precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The pivotable arms provide dynamic positioning capability, allowing precise adjustment of suture location. The linkage mechanism ensures this precision is achieved through controlled, smooth motion rather than complex manual manipulation.
3Productivity
If multiple arms and linkage mechanism are incorporated, then wound closure effectiveness is enhanced, but the device structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple arms are combined with a shared linkage mechanism and common shaft, allowing coordinated suture manipulation in a single integrated device. This merging improves wound closure efficiency by enabling simultaneous or sequential suture placement while avoiding the need for multiple separate instruments.
Solution Approach 2:
The device is segmented into functional modules (shaft, arms, linkage) that can be manufactured and assembled separately, then integrated into a complete system. This modular segmentation manages structural complexity while maintaining the productivity benefits of multiple arms working together.
Data Source
AI summary
A system includes a wound closure device having a shaft, proximal and distal arms coupled to the shaft, and one or more linkages coupling the proximal and distal arms. The arms are pivotable relative to the shaft between a linear position, wherein the arms and shaft are linearly aligned, a first pivoted position, wherein the proximal arm is pivoted in a first direction to pivot the distal arm in a second, opposite direction, and a second pivoted position, wherein the proximal arm is pivoted in the second direction to pivot the distal arm in the first direction. A suture including a first portion disposed about a first surface of the distal arm and a second portion disposed about a second surface of the distal aim is also provided.