Rotatable Needle Holder for Minimally Invasive Suturing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Surgical closure techniques using sutures can be challenging due to anatomic constraints, obstruction by blood or bodily fluids, and the proximity to nerve rootlets, especially when using minimally invasive methods, as traditional tools often lack maneuverability and visibility.
Innovation Solution
A suturing device with a handle, elongate body, and needle holder that includes a rotatable needle holder and actuator, allowing for precise placement and release of a needle and suture through a tubular retractor, facilitating suturing in tight spaces with enhanced visibility and maneuverability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If traditional suture tools are used in minimally invasive procedures, then the surgical closure function is achieved, but the maneuverability and visibility are insufficient due to anatomic constraints and obstructions
Solution Approach 1:
The device is divided into distinct segments: a handle portion for operator control, an elongate body for navigation, and a needle holder for suture deployment. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently for its specific function while maintaining overall maneuverability in constrained surgical spaces
Solution Approach 2:
The needle holder is configured to be rotatable relative to the elongate body, providing dynamic adjustment capability. This rotational freedom enables the surgeon to orient the needle holder at various angles to navigate around obstructions and access difficult-to-reach tissue areas during minimally invasive procedures
2Adaptability or versatility
If traditional suture tools are used, then basic suturing function is provided, but visibility and ability to navigate obstructions are limited
Solution Approach 1:
The device incorporates rotational freedom as an additional degree of freedom, allowing the needle holder to be oriented in multiple directions relative to the elongate body. This dimensional adjustment capability enables navigation around obstructions by changing the angular orientation rather than relying solely on linear movement, improving adaptability in three-dimensional surgical spaces
3Productivity
If minimally invasive techniques are used, then patient trauma is reduced, but maneuverability and visualization are compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The device combines multiple functions in a single integrated system: the handle provides control, the elongate body enables navigation through tissue, and the rotatable needle holder allows for precise suture placement. This multi-functional design maintains surgical efficiency by eliminating the need for multiple separate tools while adapting to the constrained access requirements of minimally invasive procedures
Data Source
AI summary
A suturing device include a handle, an elongate body, an actuator, and a needle holder. The elongate body connects with the handle. The actuator interacts with the elongate body and is operable between a first operating position and a second operating position. The actuator includes a manually operated member including an operator contact surface. The needle holder extends away from a distal end portion or is provided as part of the distal end portion of the elongate body. The needle holder includes a distal end section having a distal-most tip and defining a needle passage and a distal opening adjacent the distal-most tip. The needle passage is configured to receive at least a portion of an associated needle when the actuator is in the first operating position. The needle holder and the elongate body are rotatable with respect to the handle about a rotational axis.