Rotating Laparoscopic Suturing Needle Orthogonal Drive

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Solution Overview

Problem

Laparoscopic surgical procedures face challenges due to restricted movement and longer surgery times, particularly in suturing processes like laparoscopic sacrocolpopexy, which requires numerous sutures and extensive time for completion.

Innovation Solution

A suturing device with a specialized needle and drive system that allows for efficient, automated stitching and tightening of sutures, enabling surgeons to perform suturing procedures more quickly and efficiently by rotating the needle in a plane orthogonal to its axis, facilitating single-motion stitching and tensioning of sutures.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If traditional suturing methods are used in laparoscopic procedures, then the surgeon can perform suturing operations, but the procedure time increases significantly and surgical efficiency decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesurgical efficiencyVSAvoidprocedure duration

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The suturing device enables self-service automated suturing through the rotating needle mechanism that automatically catches and tensions sutures without requiring manual manipulation by the surgeon, thereby reducing procedure time and increasing surgical efficiency

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces traditional manual mechanical suturing with an automated rotating needle system that mechanically drives the suturing process, eliminating the need for manual needle handling and suture tensioning by the surgeon

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Ease of operation

If traditional suturing techniques are employed, then the surgeon can close tissue openings, but the restricted movement in laparoscopic space makes the process more challenging and time-consuming

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesuturing easeVSAvoidsuturing device complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The rotating needle mechanism introduces rotational motion in a plane orthogonal to the needle axis, adding a dimensional aspect to the suturing process that enables automated suture catching and tensioning without requiring complex manual manipulation in the constrained laparoscopic space

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Solution Approach 2:

The rotating needle serves multiple functions: it penetrates tissue, catches the suture material, and tensions the suture through rotation, consolidating multiple suturing actions into a single mechanical component that simplifies the overall operation

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentUS10945721B2Laparoscopic suturing devices, needles, sutures, and drive systems

Publication Date: 2021.03.16 REVIABLE SURGICAL INC

AI summary

Devices are provided for a suturing device used during laparoscopic surgical procedures. A suturing needle includes a shaft forming a rod axis; a curved body having a piercing tip at a first end and a base at a second end; and an arm extending radially from the shaft to the base of the curved body such that the curved body is positioned in a plane orthogonal to the rod axis of the shaft and rotatable about the shaft in the plane orthogonal to the rod axis. The suturing device includes a housing, a suturing needle, one or more sutures, a suture magazine configured to hold the one or more sutures, and a drive system, whereby the drive system may actuate the suturing needle to rotate in the plane orthogonal to the drive system, allowing the suturing needle to drive in to and out of tissue to apply a suture.