Surgical End Effector Needle Advancement Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current endoscopic surgical devices lack efficient mechanisms for advancing and retracting needles into tissue while minimizing unintended contact with physicians and ensuring precise control during laparoscopic or endoscopic procedures.
Innovation Solution
The development of an end effector with a driver, clip assembly, needle assembly, and biasing element, where the clip assembly engages and disengages with the needle assembly to resist and overcome the biasing force, allowing controlled distal and proximal movement of the needle within an outer tube, and includes features like a spring-loaded safety cover to prevent unintentional contact.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a needle is advanced into tissue during endoscopic surgical procedures, then the surgical function is achieved, but the risk of unintended contact with physicians increases
Solution Approach 1:
The needle assembly is nested within the outer tube, which acts as a protective sheath. The outer tube can be repositioned to cover or expose the needle as needed, creating a nested configuration that protects the needle while maintaining surgical functionality. This resolves the contradiction by allowing the needle to be advanced into tissue when needed while providing a protective covering that prevents unintended contact with physicians.
Solution Approach 2:
The system employs dynamic repositioning of the outer tube relative to the needle assembly through mechanical cooperation with the driver. The outer tube can move between extended (protective) and retracted (surgical) positions, allowing the system to adapt between safety and functionality states. This dynamic capability resolves the contradiction by enabling the needle to be both protected and exposed as required by different surgical phases.
2Ease of operation
If a mechanism is added to advance and retract the needle, then control and safety are improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The outer tube serves multiple functions simultaneously: it protects the needle, guides its movement, and acts as part of the actuation mechanism through its mechanical cooperation with the driver. By merging these functions into a single component rather than using separate protective sheath, guide, and actuator components, the system improves control while limiting the increase in device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The driver assembly performs multiple roles: it advances the needle into tissue, controls the repositioning of the outer tube, and enables the reciprocating motion of the needle assembly. This multi-functional design allows a single component to provide the control needed for safe needle manipulation without requiring additional dedicated control mechanisms, thereby improving ease of operation while managing device complexity.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If the needle is retracted into the outer tube, then safety is improved, but the ability to perform surgical functions is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The needle assembly reciprocates between advanced and retracted positions through the mechanical cooperation between the driver and outer tube. This periodic motion allows the needle to be advanced into tissue for surgical function, then retracted for safety, and repeated as needed. The cyclic nature of this operation resolves the contradiction by enabling both surgical productivity and safety through repeated cycles of advancement and retraction.
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 safe advancement and retraction of needles during surgical procedures, reducing the risk of accidental needle sticks and standardizing surgical procedures by allowing for the use of various needle types and sutures, thus enhancing operational efficiency and safety.
Implementation Method 1
The biasing element is disposed in mechanical cooperation with the needle assembly and is configured to bias the needle assembly proximally
Data Source
AI summary
According to an aspect of the present disclosure, an end effector for use with a surgical device is provided. The end effector includes a driver, a clip assembly, a needle assembly, and biasing element. The clip assembly is disposed in mechanical cooperation with the driver. Rotation of the driver results in longitudinal translation of the clip assembly. The needle assembly is selectively engaged with the clip assembly. The biasing element is disposed in mechanical cooperation with the needle assembly and is configured to bias the needle assembly proximally.