Suture Passing Instrument with Remote Reloading

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing suture passing instruments require repeated insertion and removal from a patient's body to pass multiple sutures, leading to challenges such as snagging, entanglement, and difficulty in maintaining a consistent stitching pattern, especially in minimally invasive procedures where space is limited.

Innovation Solution

The method involves double-loading a suture passing instrument with suture limbs that can be manipulated without removing the instrument from the body, allowing both limbs to be passed through tissue without repositioning, using a remote reloading process to maintain a consistent frame of reference and reduce the number of instrument reinsertions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If a suture passing instrument is used to pass multiple sutures through tissue, then the stitching pattern can be created, but the instrument must be repeatedly removed and reinserted, increasing procedure time and complexity

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestitching pattern accuracyVSAvoidprocedure time

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The suture passing instrument is divided into multiple independent suture channels, each capable of passing a suture independently. This segmentation allows multiple sutures to be passed simultaneously or sequentially without removing the instrument, resolving the contradiction between maintaining stitching accuracy and reducing procedure time.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Multiple sutures are pre-loaded into the instrument's channels before insertion. This preliminary preparation eliminates the need for repeated instrument removal and reloading during the procedure, maintaining the consistent frame of reference needed for accurate stitching patterns while significantly reducing procedure time.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Adaptability or versatility

If the instrument is repeatedly removed for reloading, then additional sutures can be passed, but the risk of snagging and entanglement with existing sutures increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenumber of sutures passedVSAvoidrisk of snagging

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

Multiple suture passing capabilities are merged into a single instrument body with multiple channels. This allows all required sutures to be passed through the same insertion site without repeated removal, eliminating the hazard of instrument snagging on previously passed sutures while maintaining the ability to pass multiple sutures.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The instrument remains continuously inserted in the patient's body throughout the suture passing process, maintaining a stable frame of reference and preventing the discontinuous removal and reinsertion that causes snagging and entanglement with existing sutures.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #20Continuity of useful action

3Ease of manufacture

If the instrument is removed and reinserted for each suture, then reloading is possible, but the frame of reference for stitching pattern is distorted

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvereloading capabilityVSAvoidframe of reference consistency

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The instrument is designed with multiple suture channels that can all be loaded and operated simultaneously from a single insertion point. This multi-functional design provides reloading capability for multiple sutures while maintaining a consistent frame of reference, as the instrument does not need to be removed between suture passes.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

4Strength

If multiple sutures are passed through a single hole, then tissue fixation is improved, but repositioning the instrument after removal is difficult

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetissue fixationVSAvoidinstrument repositioning

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The instrument contains multiple independent suture channels that can be directed through the same tissue hole. This segmentation allows multiple sutures to be passed through a single location for improved tissue fixation, while the instrument remains in place and does not require repositioning between suture passes.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentUS9498208B2Methods for passing multiple sutures through tissue

Publication Date: 2016.11.22 MEDOS INT SARL

AI summary

Methods for passing multiple sutures through tissue are provided herein. In particular, the methods described herein allow multiple sutures to be passed through tissue without removing a suture passing instrument from a patient's body. In one embodiment, a method for passing a suture through tissue is provided that includes loading first and second suture limbs into a suture passing instrument, positioning the instrument within a patient's body, actuating the instrument to pass a portion of the first suture limb through the tissue, pulling the first suture limb through the tissue, pulling the second suture limb to reload the suture passing instrument without removing the instrument from the patient's body, actuating the instrument a second time to pass a portion of the second suture limb through the tissue, and pulling the second suture limb through the tissue.