Rotating Needle Assembly for Laparoscopic Wound Closure
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for wound closure, particularly in laparoscopic procedures, are highly skill-dependent and risky due to the difficulty of advancing a needle through abdominal tissue layers without inadvertently injuring internal organs.
Innovation Solution
A surgical closure apparatus with a needle assembly that can be manually rotated between an unarmed and armed condition, allowing controlled passage through tissue layers, and a suture mechanism for secure wound closure, reducing the need for direct needle insertion through an access port.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a needle is advanced through the abdominal wall to close a wound, then wound closure is achieved, but the risk of inadvertently injuring internal organs increases
Solution Approach 1:
The needle is pre-loaded into the needle driver within the sealed access port before attempting wound closure. This preliminary positioning ensures the needle is ready for controlled deployment and prevents accidental needle manipulation outside the controlled environment, thereby reducing the risk of organ injury during the closure process
Solution Approach 2:
The needle driver acts as an intermediary device between the clinician and the needle. It provides a controlled mechanism for needle advancement through the abdominal wall, allowing precise control over needle trajectory and depth, which minimizes the risk of inadvertently contacting internal organs while still achieving effective wound closure
2Ease of operation
If direct needle insertion through an access port is used for wound closure, then closure is achieved, but the skill dependency and operational difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The device merges multiple functions into a single integrated system: the access port serves as both the entry point and the protective sealed environment, the needle driver combines needle holding, rotation control, and advancement mechanisms, and the suture mechanism integrates with the needle system. This consolidation simplifies the overall operation while maintaining necessary functionality
Solution Approach 2:
The needle driver incorporates rotational movement capability, allowing the needle to be rotated to different orientations (e.g., 0 degrees, 45 degrees, 90 degrees) before and during insertion. This dynamic adjustment enables the clinician to optimize needle orientation for different wound configurations and tissue layers, making the procedure more adaptable and easier to perform across various anatomical scenarios
3Productivity
If a needle is manipulated to cross through different layers of abdominal tissue, then proper wound closure is achieved, but the procedure becomes cumbersome and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The needle driver serves as a mediator that handles the complex task of navigating the needle through multiple tissue layers. It provides controlled advancement and rotation mechanisms that guide the needle through subcutaneous tissue, fascia, and muscle layers systematically, reducing the manual manipulation time and making the multi-layer penetration process more efficient
Solution Approach 2:
The needle is pre-loaded and pre-positioned in the needle driver before the closure procedure begins. This preliminary preparation eliminates the time required for needle manipulation and positioning during the actual closure, allowing the clinician to focus on the critical aspects of tissue approximation and suture placement, thereby improving overall procedural efficiency
Data Source
AI summary
A surgical closure apparatus for facilitating closure of a wound includes an outer member dimensioned for positioning within a wound opening and defining a central longitudinal axis, and having a first longitudinal passage and a second longitudinal passage, a needle assembly at least partially disposed within the first longitudinal passage of the outer member, and a suture configured for at least partially closing the wound opening and extending at least partially through the second longitudinal passage of the outer member. The needle assembly includes a needle drive and a suture needle mounted to the needle drive and coupled to the suture. The suture needle is adapted for rotational movement relative to the central longitudinal axis between an unarmed condition and an armed condition through manipulation of the needle drive. The suture needle is positioned for passage through tissue adjacent the wound opening when in the armed condition.