Suture Clip Deployment Device for Endoscopic Surgery
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current suture clip deployment methods are time-consuming and prone to inconsistent tensioning, especially during endoscopic surgery, as they require multiple steps and instruments to secure sutures, and often necessitate knot-tying in limited spaces.
Innovation Solution
A suture clip delivery device loaded with multiple clips that can be successively deployed onto sutures using a mandrel and actuation mechanism, featuring resilient flaps and tabs for secure engagement, and an optional electrical heating element for cutting sutures, allowing for efficient and precise suture clip placement without the need for knots.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If multiple suture clips are deployed using conventional methods with multiple instruments, then suture securing can be achieved, but the procedure becomes time-consuming and complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple suture clip delivery functions into a single integrated device. The delivery device includes a handle, shaft, and deployment mechanism that can deliver multiple suture clips sequentially through a single instrument, eliminating the need for multiple separate instruments and reducing procedural complexity while maintaining productivity
Solution Approach 2:
The delivery device is designed with multi-functionality to perform multiple suture clip deliveries, suture tensioning, and cutting functions through a single device. The device can deliver suture clips to multiple different sutures sequentially and includes mechanisms for both tensioning and cutting sutures, making it a universal tool that replaces multiple specialized instruments
2Ease of operation
If conventional suture knot-tying is performed in limited endoscopic spaces, then sutures can be secured, but the procedure becomes difficult and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the complex mechanical process of knot-tying with a simpler clip-based securing mechanism. The suture clip device uses a deployment mechanism that advances clips along sutures and secures them through friction engagement of resilient flaps, eliminating the need for manual knot-tying operations that are difficult to perform in limited endoscopic spaces
Solution Approach 2:
The suture clip mechanism is designed to be self-securing through friction engagement. The resilient flaps automatically engage with the suture material through friction when the clip is deployed, eliminating the need for manual manipulation and knot-tying by the surgeon, thereby reducing surgical time and improving ease of operation in confined spaces
3Manufacturing precision
If suture clips are deployed manually one at a time, then precise placement can be achieved, but the process becomes inconsistent and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The delivery device incorporates feedback mechanisms including visual indicators that show the operator how many suture clips remain to be delivered and the status of the deployment mechanism. This feedback ensures consistent and accurate placement of each suture clip while maintaining high productivity, as the operator can monitor progress and ensure proper deployment without manual inspection of each individual clip placement
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
The device reduces surgical time and exposure by enabling rapid, consistent suture clip deployment and tensioning, improving ease of use in confined anatomical spaces and eliminating the need for knot-tying, thus enhancing procedural efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
one or more resiliently deformable flaps that project radially inwardly from the annular outer body and define a suture engagement aperture for frictionally engaging one or more sutures passing therethrough
Implementation Method 2
an optional electrical heating element for cutting sutures
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed herein are suture clip delivery devices that can be loaded with several flat, disk-shaped suture clips and can deploy the suture clips one after another onto respective sutures without reloading the device with additional suture clips. An exemplary device includes a handle portion with an actuation mechanism that is coupled to a shaft portion that holds and deploys the suture clips. The shaft portion includes a mandrel on which the suture clips are mounted and a retainer that restricts the suture clips from moving proximally when the actuation mechanism pulls the mandrel proximally, which causes a distal-most suture clip to slide off the mandrel and be deployed onto one or more suture. The mandrel and remaining suture clips can them move distally to prepare to deploy the next suture clip.