Suture Management Rack With Segmented Holders for Minimally Invasive Surgery

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Solution Overview

Problem

Suture management during minimally invasive surgical procedures, particularly aortic valve replacement, is challenging due to the need for efficient organization and untangling of multiple sutures, especially in narrowly accessible areas, requiring improved apparatuses that interact efficiently with modern surgical tools.

Innovation Solution

A rack system for suture management comprising multiple cassette locations with inside and outside holders, suture grooves, and connection points, along with an attachment feature, designed to be mounted on surgical equipment holders, facilitating organized suture handling and untangling.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If multiple sutures are managed manually during minimally invasive surgery, then surgical flexibility is maintained, but suture organization becomes difficult and tangling increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesuture organizationVSAvoidsuture management system

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The suture management system divides the management of multiple sutures into separate, organized segments. Each suture is individually held in designated holders (inside holder, outside holder) on the rack, preventing tangling while maintaining accessibility. This segmentation allows surgical staff to manage each suture independently rather than dealing with a tangled mass.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The rack system serves as an intermediary device between the surgical field and the sutures. It provides a structured platform with dedicated holders and grooves that mediate the organization and delivery of sutures to the surgical site, reducing the complexity of manual suture management while improving organization.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If a structured rack system is implemented for suture management, then suture tangling is reduced, but the complexity of the surgical setup increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesuture handling reliabilityVSAvoidrack system structure

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The rack system is designed with multiple functions integrated into a single device: it holds multiple sutures simultaneously, provides organized storage locations (cassette locations with inside and outside holders), includes grooves for suture routing, and offers attachment features for mounting on surgical equipment. This multi-functionality reduces the need for multiple separate devices while improving reliability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The rack system is prepared in advance with sutures pre-organized in designated holders and grooves before the surgical procedure begins. This preliminary organization ensures that sutures are ready for immediate use in the correct sequence, reducing tangling and improving handling reliability during the actual surgery.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Productivity

If sutures are kept accessible during surgery, then surgical speed is maintained, but suture tangling and disorganization increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesurgical efficiencyVSAvoidsuture accessibility

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The rack system employs a nested structure where multiple levels of organization are integrated: cassettes contain individual sutures, which are held in holders within cassette locations, all mounted on a central rack. This nesting allows multiple sutures to be stored compactly while maintaining easy accessibility to each individual suture when needed.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Solution Approach 2:

The rack system utilizes three-dimensional space efficiently by arranging sutures in multiple dimensions - vertically stacked cassette locations, horizontally arranged holders within each cassette, and depth-based organization with inside and outside holders. This dimensional organization allows rapid access to any suture without tangling, maintaining surgical efficiency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Data Source

PatentUS12376849B2Apparatus for suture management and methods thereof

Publication Date: 2025.08.05 LSI SOLUTIONS INC

AI summary

A rack and an apparatus for suture management are disclosed. The apparatus for suture management includes one or more racks, each rack including a plurality of cassette locations, each cassette location having an inside suture holder, an outside suture holder, and a cassette receiver. The apparatus for suture management also includes a plurality of suture grooves. The apparatus for suture management further includes a plurality of rack connection points. The apparatus for suture management also includes an attachment feature which may accept another surgical tool or mounting adapter.