Disposable Suture Cutter with Coordinated Blade Motion
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing surgical suture cutters are unreliable for cutting high-strength sutures due to dulling of knife edges, requiring frequent tool changes during procedures, especially in confined spaces like arthroscopic surgeries.
Innovation Solution
A disposable suture cutter with a hollow shaft and a blade system featuring a sharpened inclined cutting edge that moves in a coordinated dorsal and longitudinal motion, utilizing a spring mechanism for efficient cutting and a design that allows for reliable cutting of high-strength sutures close to tissue without the need for large tools.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a knife edge suture cutter is used to cut high strength sutures, then the cutting action is simple and the device is compact, but the knife edge dulls quickly making the cutter unreliable
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the cutting mechanism from a simple knife edge to a coordinated two-dimensional motion system where the blade moves both longitudinally and dorsally. This parameter change in motion trajectory allows the cutting edge to maintain effectiveness on high strength sutures without dulling quickly, resolving the reliability issue while keeping the device compact
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces dynamic coordinated motion between longitudinal and dorsal movements of the blade. The blade is biased dorsally by a spring and moves longitudinally when actuated, creating a complex two-dimensional cutting path. This dynamic motion system maintains cutting reliability on high strength sutures while preserving device compactness
2Reliability
If multiple disposable suture cutters are used during a procedure to maintain reliability, then cutting reliability is maintained, but costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a universal suture cutter design that can reliably cut all suture types including high strength materials throughout an entire procedure. The coordinated two-dimensional motion mechanism provides multi-functional cutting capability that eliminates the need for multiple specialized cutters, reducing both quantity and cost while maintaining reliability
3Reliability
If large hand tools are used to cut high strength suture materials, then cutting reliability is improved, but the tools cannot be used in confined surgical spaces
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs dynamic coordinated two-dimensional motion of a compact blade within a small profile device. The blade's longitudinal and dorsal movements create an effective cutting action comparable to larger tools, while the overall device maintains a compact size suitable for arthroscopic and other confined space surgeries
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 effectively cuts high-strength sutures throughout a surgical procedure without frequent tool changes, maintaining reliability and reducing costs by using a single device for the duration of the surgery.
Implementation Method 1
a spring extension providing a biasing force to at least partially effectuate a proximal longitudinal movement of said distal blade portion
Data Source
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AI summary
A suture cutting device is provided, the device suitable for cutting high strength suture materials used in arthroscopic surgeries. The device includes a blade (12) having distal blade portion movable within a distal suture guide, the distal suture guide including a lateral suture guide slot (54). The distal blade portion includes a dorsal recess (70) that, in combination with an upper wall of an enclosed blade guide slot, controls an amount of dorsal movement of a cutting edge during a longitudinal movement of the cutting edge. The combined dorsal movement and longitudinal movement of the cutting edge creating a sliding/slicing movement of the cutting edge against a suture in the suture guide slot. At least a proximal blade portion and an extension blade portion are made of a single blade, those portions defining a spring, contacting a trigger, and effectuating a movement from a first position to a second position.