Suture Passer With Solid Tip and Side Channel
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing surgical instruments for passing suture through tissue often face issues such as tissue entrapment, resistance during piercing, and instrument failure due to a distal needle opening, and they do not allow suture to slide within the device, increasing the risk of suture damage and tissue snagging.
Innovation Solution
A surgical instrument with a shaft assembly and a suture snare that allows the suture to slide within the instrument, featuring a non-cannulated distal piercing tip and a side channel that deviates from the needle tip axis, enabling a wider capture area and reducing the risk of pinching or trapping, while maintaining suture security and preventing instrument failure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a distal needle opening is used in suture passing instruments, then suture can be passed through tissue, but tissue entrapment and tearing occur at the needle opening
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the distal needle opening entirely, extracting the problematic feature that caused tissue entrapment. The needle is made solid at the distal end, eliminating the source of tissue snagging and tearing while maintaining the ability to pass suture through alternative means.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a suture passer mechanism as an intermediary device that works in conjunction with a solid needle. The passer captures and manipulates the suture without requiring a distal opening, thereby mediating between the need for suture passage and the need to avoid tissue damage.
2Ease of operation
If a distal needle opening is used, then suture manipulation is enabled, but instrument strength is reduced and bending occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The distal opening is removed from the needle structure, converting it from a hollow cannulated needle to a solid needle. This extraction of the opening restores the needle's structural integrity and strength while the suture manipulation function is transferred to the suture passer mechanism.
3Reliability
If suture is clamped down to maintain capture, then suture security is improved, but suture damage risk increases
Solution Approach 1:
The suture passer employs a dynamic capture mechanism that can transition between open and closed states. The snare or loop can be opened to allow suture passage and closed to secure the suture without excessive clamping force, adapting its state to the operational requirements at each moment.
Solution Approach 2:
The capture mechanism changes its geometric parameters dynamically - the snare radius and opening angle are adjusted during operation. When capturing, the snare is open with large dimensions; when securing, it closes to a smaller configuration that maintains grip without excessive compressive force on the suture.
4Reliability
If a large profile instrument is used to prevent suture sliding, then suture security is improved, but tissue snagging and tearing increase
Solution Approach 1:
The suture passer utilizes a flexible snare or loop structure that can conform to the suture and capture it securely. This flexible capture mechanism provides adequate suture security without requiring a large rigid instrument profile, thereby minimizing tissue snagging and tearing.
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure concerns a surgical instrument for manipulating suture. In particular, the present disclosure relates to an instrument for passing suture through tissue. There is described a surgical instrument having a shaft and a handle connected to the proximal end of the shaft. The shaft is formed from a tubular member having a proximal end and a distal end, with a lumen extending between the proximal and distal ends, and a tip distal to the tubular member. The shaft also includes a distal portion having an opening in a sidewall, proximal to the tip. The opening is in communication with the lumen through a side channel. The instrument further includes a suture snare, the snare being slidably receivable within the lumen and side channel, and movable between extended and retracted positions for capturing suture.