Suturing Device Rotating Needle Transfer Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
In minimally invasive surgeries like laparoscopic surgery, direct suturing of narrow areas is challenging and often results in operator fatigue and potential tissue damage, as traditional methods require manual dexterity and can be inefficient.
Innovation Solution
A suturing device with a pair of rotating operation units that engage and disengage to transfer a suturing needle through a suture area, supported by a driving unit for continuous operation, reducing operator fatigue and improving efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If manual suturing is performed by an operator, then professional competence and control are maintained, but operator fatigue increases and suturing efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The suturing device enables self-service operation through automated needle transfer between the first and second suturing operation units. The driving unit automatically advances the suturing needle through tissue and transfers it between units without requiring manual repositioning, allowing the system to perform suturing tasks autonomously while the operator merely needs to load the initial needle and thread.
Solution Approach 2:
The suturing device divides the suturing function into separate operational units. The first suturing operation unit performs the initial suturing, and upon needle exhaustion or thread end, the driving unit automatically transfers the needle to the second suturing operation unit, which continues the suturing process. This segmentation eliminates the need for operator intervention during needle replacement.
2Productivity
If a single suturing operation unit is used, then device structure is simple, but continuous suturing cannot be performed without manual intervention
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple suturing operation units (first and second units) into a single integrated device with a common driving unit. Both units share the same driving mechanism and needle transfer system, allowing them to function as a coordinated pair. This merging approach enables continuous suturing capability while avoiding the complexity of completely separate devices.
Solution Approach 2:
The driving unit serves as an intermediary mechanism that coordinates between the first and second suturing operation units. It manages the needle transfer process, controlling when and how the needle moves from one unit to the other, thereby enabling seamless continuous operation without requiring complex independent control systems for each unit.
3Productivity
If the suturing needle is manually repositioned between operations, then device structure is simple, but suturing continuity is interrupted and efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The needle transfer mechanism employs dynamic, movable components including a rotatable driving unit that can pivot between positions to access both the first and second suturing operation units. The transfer path allows the needle to move dynamically through a defined trajectory, enabling automatic repositioning without fixed mechanical constraints that would complicate the device structure.
Data Source
AI summary
A suturing device for surgery according to the present invention includes: a body unit; a pair of suturing operation units which are supported by a frontal end of the body unit and are rotated between a first mode, in which the pair of suturing operation units are tooth-engaged to each other with a suture area therebetween so that a suturing needle supported by any one of the pair of suturing operation units penetrates through the suture area and is transferred to the other suturing operation unit, and a second mode, in which the suturing needle supported by the other suturing operation unit in the first mode is transferred to any one of the pair of suturing operation units; and a driving unit for providing a driving force to at least one of the pair of suturing operation units so that the pair of suturing operation units are rotated between the first mode and the second mode.