Replaceable Tip Suturing Device for Articulated Needle Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Suturing in surgical procedures is time-consuming and tiring, especially in minimally invasive surgeries, due to the difficulty in manipulating suture needles in limited spaces and the complexity of tying knots, which can lead to increased surgical time and strain on surgeons.
Innovation Solution
A suturing system with a handle that transfers articulation motions to needle-grasping jaws via an axial movement of a shaft with axial stiffness and lateral flexibility, allowing for pre-bent or custom configurations, and featuring interchangeable clamp units to accommodate different suture needles, enabling easier and faster suturing with reduced strain.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If standard suturing techniques are used with manual needle manipulation, then precise control of suture placement is achieved, but surgical time increases and surgeon strain increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a needle driver device as an intermediary tool between the surgeon's hand and the suture needle. The needle driver includes a holder that secures the needle and a driver portion that mechanically advances the needle through tissue, reducing the manual manipulation required by the surgeon and thereby reducing surgical time while maintaining precision through controlled mechanical motion.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces portions of manual mechanical manipulation with an automated or semi-automated needle driver mechanism. The driver portion uses mechanical advantage (levers, cams, or linkages) to convert small input motions into controlled needle advancement, reducing the time and effort required for suturing compared to direct manual manipulation.
2Ease of operation
If manual manipulation of suture needles is performed in limited spaces, then suturing can be performed, but ease of operation decreases and surgeon strain increases
Solution Approach 1:
The needle driver serves as a mechanical intermediary that amplifies the surgeon's input force and motion. The driver portion translates small, controlled hand movements into effective needle advancement forces, making needle manipulation easier and reducing the strain required by the surgeon, especially in confined surgical spaces.
Solution Approach 2:
The needle driver incorporates movable and adjustable components that adapt to different needle sizes and tissue depths. The driver portion can be positioned and adjusted to optimize its mechanical advantage for each specific suturing task, improving ease of operation across various surgical scenarios.
3Adaptability or versatility
If standard needle holders are used, then suturing can be performed, but adaptability to different needle geometries is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The needle driver is designed with a universal holder portion that can accommodate multiple needle geometries and sizes through a standardized interface. The holder can be adjusted or configured to securely hold different needle types (e.g., curved, straight, various diameters), providing versatility without requiring multiple specialized tools, thus avoiding excessive device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The holder portion incorporates adjustable or reconfigurable elements that can be modified to match different needle geometries. This dynamic adaptability allows the same needle driver to work with various needle types by simply adjusting the holder configuration, enhancing versatility without proportionally increasing device complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
Medical suturing devices, systems, and methods will be useful for endoscopic or open surgeries, including ear, nose, and throat procedures. Articulation motions may be transferred from a handle to needle grasping jaws using an axial movement of a shaft. Portions of the devices may be disposable, replaceable, and/or reusable, with different needle-grasping jaws and/or different elongate extension bodies having different configurations optionally being selectably coupleably to an articulatable handle and housing so as to allow the user to configure the device for a particular procedure.