Segmented Suture Needle for Minimally Invasive Port Site Closure
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for closing port site incisions after minimally invasive surgical procedures are highly skill-dependent and challenging, especially in navigating through multiple tissue layers without damaging internal organs, as they require precise manipulation of curved needles.
Innovation Solution
A closure device with a suture needle that can be moved between inactive and active positions, featuring a U-shaped configuration to facilitate safe insertion and suturing, reducing the risk of internal organ damage, and an actuation mechanism to control the needle's position and orientation for effective tissue penetration.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a curved needle is used for suturing port site incisions, then the needle can penetrate tissue layers, but the risk of damaging internal organs increases due to difficult control and high skill dependency
Solution Approach 1:
The device divides the needle into two separate sections: a curved section that remains inside the tubular body and a straight section that can be deployed. This segmentation allows the curved portion to safely navigate tissue layers while the straight portion provides controlled access for suturing, reducing the risk of organ damage while maintaining ease of manipulation.
Solution Approach 2:
The curved needle section is nested within the tubular body, which protects it during insertion and allows controlled deployment. The straight needle section can be extended from the curved section when needed, providing a safe storage mechanism that reduces operational complexity and improves safety.
2Ease of operation
If a straight needle is used for suturing, then the ease of manipulation is improved, but the ability to penetrate multiple tissue layers safely is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The needle is segmented into a curved portion for safe tissue layer penetration and a straight portion for controlled suturing. The curved section navigates through multiple tissue layers safely, while the straight section provides ease of manipulation for the actual suturing action.
3Ease of operation
If the needle is always extended for suturing, then the ease of manipulation is improved, but the risk of tissue damage during insertion increases
Solution Approach 1:
The curved needle section is nested within the tubular body during insertion, protecting it and preventing tissue damage. The straight needle section is only extended when the device is properly positioned, allowing ease of manipulation only when safe.
Solution Approach 2:
The tubular body is inserted first to establish a safe pathway, and only after proper positioning is the needle section deployed. This preliminary action of inserting the protective tubular body before needle deployment prevents tissue damage while maintaining subsequent ease of manipulation.
4Object-affected harmful factors
If the needle is retracted into the tubular body, then the risk of tissue damage is reduced, but the ease of suturing operation is worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The needle is segmented so that the curved portion remains retracted for safety while the straight portion can be deployed for suturing. This segmentation allows the retracted curved section to protect against tissue damage while the extended straight section maintains ease of suturing operation.
Data Source
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AI summary
A method and device are provided for closing a port site incision after a minimally invasive surgical procedure is performed. The closure device includes an access device and a suture needle. A body of the access device has a proximal portion and a distal portion and defines a channel that extends between the proximal and distal portions. A head of the access device is supported on the proximal portion of the body. The suture needle includes a shaft having a proximal portion and a distal portion, and a curved portion that extends from the distal portion of the shaft and includes a tip configured to penetrate tissue. The shaft extends through and is movable within a slot in the head to move the curved portion of the suture needle from an inactive position located within the channel to an active position positioned located externally of the channel.