Minimally Invasive Suturing Device With Deployable Needle Track
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Solution Overview
Problem
Minimally invasive surgery (MIS) poses challenges in suturing due to limited space, visualization, and mobility, making it difficult for surgeons to manipulate small needles and sutures accurately, with risks of accidental needle pricks and internal organ penetration.
Innovation Solution
A hand-held suturing device with a deployable needle track that allows the suturing needle to follow a circular arc, enabling precise control and protection from accidental needle exposure, and internal organ penetration, while fitting through small cannulas for minimally invasive procedures.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If manual suturing technique is used in minimally invasive surgery, then the surgeon can place sutures with direct control, but the surgeon is exposed to accidental needle pricks and contamination risks
Solution Approach 1:
A needle driver with a needle retaining member is introduced as an intermediary device. The needle retaining member engages with the needle tail and maintains secure holding during the entire suturing process, eliminating the need for the surgeon to directly handle the needle while still providing precise control for suture placement.
Solution Approach 2:
The needle retaining member is designed to automatically engage with the needle tail through a cam mechanism that activates when the needle is inserted into the driver. This self-engaging feature ensures the needle is securely retained without requiring additional manual intervention or complex locking procedures.
2Reliability
If the surgeon directly handles the needle for suturing, then precise manipulation is possible, but the needle may penetrate internal organs or vessels causing serious infection
Solution Approach 1:
The needle driver serves as a controlled intermediary between the surgeon and the needle. It provides a stable platform for needle manipulation with defined movement constraints, reducing the risk of uncontrolled needle deviation that could lead to penetration of internal organs while maintaining sufficient precision for accurate suture placement.
Solution Approach 2:
The manual dexterity-based needle control is replaced with a mechanical system comprising the needle driver, needle retaining member, and cam mechanism. This mechanical system provides consistent, repeatable needle manipulation with built-in safety features that prevent excessive movement or deviation.
3Productivity
If the surgeon releases and re-grasps the needle for each stitch, then continuous suturing can be performed, but the process is time-consuming and increases exposure risk
Solution Approach 1:
The needle retaining member maintains continuous engagement with the needle throughout the entire suturing process, from initial insertion to final suture placement. This continuous holding eliminates the need to release and re-grasp the needle between stitches, enabling uninterrupted suturing action and significantly reducing the time required for the procedure.
Solution Approach 2:
The needle retaining member is designed to be discarded after a single use, while the needle itself is recovered and can be reused for subsequent stitches. This approach eliminates the need to re-grasp the needle by allowing the retaining member to stay engaged with the needle throughout the procedure, thereby increasing productivity without compromising safety.
4Object-affected harmful factors
If a small puncture is made for minimally invasive surgery, then patient pain and disability are reduced, but the cannula has limited inside diameter making instrument manipulation difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The suturing device is segmented into distinct functional components: a needle driver portion for manipulation, a needle retaining member for secure holding, and a needle channel for needle passage. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized for its specific function while maintaining a compact overall size that fits through small cannulas.
Solution Approach 2:
The needle is nested within the needle channel of the needle driver, and the needle retaining member is nested within the driver structure. This nested arrangement minimizes the external dimensions of the device, allowing it to pass through small cannulas while still providing the necessary functional space for secure needle retention and precise manipulation.
Data Source
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AI summary
Devices and methods for minimally invasive suturing are disclosed. One suturing device for minimally invasive suturing includes a proximal section a distal end, and an intermediate region therebetween. The device includes a suture head assembly having a suturing needle with a pointed end and a second end. The suturing needle is capable of rotating about an axis approximately perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the device, wherein the pointed end of the suturing needle is positioned within the suture head assembly prior to deployment of guides that are adapted and configured to guide the needle around a circular path when advanced by a drive mechanism having a needle driver for engaging and rotating the suturing needle.