Suture Spool Locking Mechanism for One-Handed Tension Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Surgical procedures face challenges in managing sutures to prevent tangling and maintaining desired tension, as existing solutions do not provide efficient one-handed operation for locking and releasing suture spools.
Innovation Solution
A suture instrument with a handle and locking mechanism that includes a split post and tangs to securely hold and release a suture spool, allowing for single-handed operation by sliding a cover to tighten or release tension through a locking mechanism involving radial grooves and tapered fins.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a locking mechanism is added to hold the suture spool, then the suture tension can be maintained, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The locking mechanism is divided into separate functional components: a locking arm with locking surface that engages with a corresponding locking feature on the spool, and a release mechanism. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function independently, maintaining reliability while keeping the overall structure manageable and not overly complex.
Solution Approach 2:
The locking arm acts as an intermediary element between the handle and the spool. It translates the user's input motion into the appropriate locking or releasing action on the spool, providing a simple mechanical mediation that achieves reliable tension maintenance without requiring a complex integrated mechanism.
2Ease of operation
If a one-handed operation mechanism is implemented, then the ease of operation improves, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The release mechanism is designed to be automatically activated when the user performs the natural motion of removing their hand from the handle. The geometry of the handle and release mechanism works together so that the simple act of hand removal triggers the release action, making the system self-serve the user's need to release the spool without requiring additional complex controls.
Solution Approach 2:
The release mechanism utilizes dynamic motion rather than static positioning. As the user's hand moves away from the handle during natural operation, this dynamic motion is converted into the triggering action for release. The mechanism exploits the natural dynamics of hand movement to achieve automated release, improving ease of operation without adding complex static control systems.
3Ease of operation
If the spool can be freely rotated, then the ease of operation improves, but the suture may tangle
Solution Approach 1:
The locking mechanism operates periodically, alternating between locked and unlocked states. During the locked state, the spool is secured to prevent tangling. During the unlocked state, the spool can be freely rotated for suture dispensing. This periodic switching between constraints and freedom allows the system to prevent tangling while maintaining ease of operation during the appropriate phases.
Solution Approach 2:
The locking mechanism is activated in advance before suture dispensing begins. By securing the spool in a locked state prior to use, the system prevents tangling from occurring during the procedure. The locking action is performed preliminarily to establish a safe state before any suture handling occurs, preventing the harmful effect rather than reacting to it.
Data Source
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AI summary
An apparatus including a suture instrument including a handle and a post extending from the handle, the handle including a cavity; a cover slidably attached to the handle to cover the cavity; a post extending upward from a bottom surface of the cavity; and a suture spool removably positioned over the post; wherein the post includes a force member configured to provide upward force on the spool when the cover is slid off of the spool.