Suture Cutter Attached to Tissue Forceps

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional suturing instruments require frequent exchanges during surgical procedures, leading to interruptions and increased burden on the surgical team during counting routines.

Innovation Solution

A suture cutter device that securely couples to the base of a grasping type forceps, allowing for integrated suture cutting functionality, thereby reducing the need for instrument exchanges.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If conventional suturing instruments are used separately for suture cutting, then the cutting function is available, but frequent instrument exchanges are required during surgical procedures

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesurgical efficiencyVSAvoidtime for instrument exchanges

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The suture cutter device is integrated with the tissue forceps to form a combined instrument. The forceps shaft serves as the handle, and the cutter assembly attaches to the tip, merging the grasping and cutting functions into a single instrument that can be used continuously without exchange.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The integrated device performs multiple functions: the forceps portion grasps and manipulates tissue while the attached cutter portion cuts sutures. This multi-functional design eliminates the need for separate instruments and reduces the number of exchanges required during surgical procedures.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Reliability

If multiple counting routines are performed during surgical procedures, then accurate inventory tracking is achieved, but the surgical team burden increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecounting accuracyVSAvoidcounting procedure complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

By combining the suture cutter with the tissue forceps into a single integrated instrument, the number of separate items that need to be counted and tracked is reduced. This simplifies the counting routine while maintaining accuracy, as fewer instrument exchanges occur to track.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Ease of operation

If separate instruments are used for suture cutting, then the cutting function is provided, but the surgical team must manage multiple instrument exchanges

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinstrument handling convenienceVSAvoidtime for instrument passing

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The suture cutter device integrates the cutting function directly onto the tissue forceps, allowing the surgical team to use a single instrument for both grasping and cutting operations. This eliminates the need to pass separate instruments back and forth, improving ease of operation and reducing time loss.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentUS12290256B1Suture cutter device and method of use

Publication Date: 2025.05.06 GINN LONNIE J

AI summary

A suture cutter device for alleviating the number of instrument exchanges during a closing routine of a surgical procedure is disclosed. The suture cutter device comprises of a top segment and a bottom segment. The top segment includes front and rear panels, a plurality of knife blade supports, and a plurality of attachment pin holes. The bottom segment includes a plurality of alignment pins. During use, a knife blade is secured between the plurality of knife blade supports, and the fixed hinge of a tissue forceps is securely coupled to the top segment via a fastening mechanism.