Steerable Suture Retriever Shaft Segmentation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current surgical instruments face challenges in minimally invasive procedures, particularly in endoscopic surgeries, due to limited space and difficulty in retrieving or manipulating sutures and similar surgical items within tight joint spaces, requiring a device that allows for steerability and ease of manipulation.
Innovation Solution
A surgical instrument with a shaft and handle system that includes an arcuate segment and a suture carrying element, allowing for simultaneous rotation and axial movement to position and retrieve sutures or other components, featuring a torque shaft for enhanced torsional stiffness and a capture portion that can be elastically deformed for effective suture handling.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a suture snare is used with suture passers to retrieve the suture within the joint space during endoscopic surgery, then suture retrieval is achieved, but deployment is challenging due to limited space within the joint
Solution Approach 1:
The shaft is divided into multiple segments including a first shaft portion, a second shaft portion, and a articulating segment that can rotate relative to each other. This segmentation allows the distal end to be steered independently from the proximal end, improving ease of manipulation in tight joint spaces while maintaining overall device functionality
Solution Approach 2:
The articulating segment is designed to be dynamically adjustable, allowing rotation between the first and second shaft portions. This dynamic capability enables the operator to change the orientation of the distal end during the procedure, enhancing ease of operation without requiring complete device replacement
Solution Approach 3:
The articulating segment introduces an additional rotational degree of freedom, transforming the shaft from a single-axis linear structure to a multi-dimensional steerable structure. This allows the distal end to access sutures from multiple angles within the confined joint space
2Adaptability or versatility
If the suture carrying element is made elastically deformable to be inserted into the lumen, then the suture carrying element can be constrained within the shaft, but the capturing portion must extend radially away from an axis to effectively grasp suture
Solution Approach 1:
The suture carrying element features localized functionality where the capture portion is specifically designed to extend radially away from the longitudinal axis when unconstrained, while the main body remains linear for insertion. This local adaptation allows effective suture grasping without compromising the overall simplicity of the insertion mechanism
Solution Approach 2:
The suture carrying element transitions between two dynamic states: a constrained linear configuration during insertion through the lumen, and an unconstrained configuration where the capture portion extends radially for suture engagement. This dynamic adaptability enables the element to satisfy both insertion requirements and grasping requirements
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables precise and efficient manipulation and retrieval of sutures and other surgical components within tight spaces, enhancing the ease of use and effectiveness in minimally invasive procedures such as arthroscopic and endoscopic surgeries.
Implementation Method 1
a suture carrying element comprising a main segment, a capture portion at a distal end, and an arcuate element segment proximal between the capture portion and the main segment, such that in an unconstrained configuration the capturing portion extends radially away from an axis of the main segment, the suture carrying element being elastically deformable into a constrained configuration when located within the lumen
Implementation Method 2
a shaft having a far portion, a near portion, and an arcuate shaft segment located between the far portion and the near portion such that a far end of the shaft extends radially away from an axis of the near portion
Implementation Method 3
an actuator housed in the handle and coupled to the main segment of the suture carrying element, the actuator being moveable relative to an axis of the handle simultaneously in a rotational direction and in an axial direction, such that the suture carrying element can be simultaneously rotated and advanced relative to the shaft using the actuator
Data Source
AI summary
A positioning and retrieval device manipulated by carrying element coupled to an handle and driven by an actuator that allows for axial movement and rotational movement of a capturing portion on the carrying element.