Endoscopic Suture Apparatus with Retractable Capture Rod
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current suture apparatus and methods for endoscopic surgery are inefficient, as they require manual manipulation and reloading of needles, limit suture placement to perpendicular arcs, and struggle with precise tissue approximation and fixation, especially in confined spaces.
Innovation Solution
A suture apparatus with a handle, actuator, capture rod, and cannula shaft that allows for the capture, seating, and controlled release of sutures within a trocar, enabling precise tissue approximation and fixation with enhanced maneuverability and reduced need for manual reloading.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If traditional needle holders are used in endoscopic surgery, then the surgeon can perform suturing, but the apparatus cannot retrieve the needle from the body cavity and requires manual manipulation
Solution Approach 1:
The suture apparatus is designed to be self-sufficient by automatically retrieving the needle from the body cavity after suture deployment. The needle, attached to the suture material, is pulled back through the cannula shaft by the retraction means, eliminating the need for manual needle retrieval and manipulation by the surgeon.
Solution Approach 2:
The needle and suture material are extracted from the body cavity through the cannula shaft after completing the suture task. The retraction means actively pulls the needle and suture back through the cannula, removing them from the surgical site without requiring separate manual retrieval steps.
2Adaptability or versatility
If semi-circular needles are used with endoscopic needle holders, then suturing can be performed, but the needles must be driven in arcs perpendicular to the device axis
Solution Approach 1:
The cannula shaft is designed with dynamic flexibility, allowing it to be bent and oriented in various directions. This enables the needle to be driven through tissue in different orientations including arcs parallel to the trocar axis, rather than being restricted to perpendicular arcs only.
Solution Approach 2:
The apparatus transitions from fixed perpendicular arc motion to multi-dimensional needle movement capability. The flexible cannula shaft allows needle insertion in multiple planes and orientations, adding dimensional flexibility to the suture placement process.
3Manufacturing precision
If current suture apparatus are used, then tissue approximation can be achieved, but the procedure requires time-consuming manual reloading and positioning
Solution Approach 1:
The needle is pre-attached to the suture material in a ready-to-use configuration before insertion into the body cavity. The suture material is positioned along the needle, and the entire assembly is loaded into the cannula shaft in advance, eliminating time-consuming manual reloading and positioning steps during the procedure.
Solution Approach 2:
The needle and suture material are combined into a single integrated assembly that is inserted and deployed together. This merging of components eliminates the need for separate loading and positioning operations, reducing procedural time while maintaining precise suture placement.
4Ease of operation
If the needle and suture combination is dropped in the body cavity, then the needle can be located and positioned, but this process is difficult and time consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The apparatus performs self-service by automatically retrieving the needle from the body cavity through the cannula shaft using the retraction means. This eliminates the difficult and time-consuming manual process of locating and positioning the needle after it has been deployed.
Solution Approach 2:
The retraction means continuously pulls the needle and suture material back through the cannula shaft in a single continuous action, rather than requiring intermittent manual manipulation and positioning steps. This continuous retrieval process significantly reduces the time and difficulty of needle recovery.
Data Source
AI summary
A suture apparatus having a housing, actuator and capture rod, the actuator being engaged to the capture rod to form an actuator-capture rod assembly, an elongated cannula shaft having a lumen that extends through the shaft, and capture rod retraction means, the housing including an internal region that is configured to receive and support the capture rod retraction means, actuator proximal end and actuator rod distal end therein, wherein said capture rod retraction means is in communication with said actuator. The actuator-capture rod assembly and capture rod retraction means being positioned and configured to transition from a retracted position to an extended position when an actuation force is applied to the actuator and return the retracted position by the retraction means when the actuation force is released.