Minimally Invasive Suturing Device With Perpendicular Needle Rotation
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
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 suture head assembly that can be laterally articulated and a 'locomotive-type' drive mechanism, allowing the suturing needle to rotate perpendicular to the device's axis, enabling precise control and visualization without external motive sources, and protecting the needle from direct handling.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If manual suturing technique is used in minimally invasive surgery, then the surgeon can place stitches, but the surgeon faces limited space, limited visualization, and limited mobility making the task extremely difficult
Solution Approach 1:
A needle driver with a needle carrier serves as an intermediary device between the surgeon and the suturing needle. The needle carrier holds and manipulates the needle, providing mechanical advantage and improved control while the surgeon operates the driver through a cannula in minimally invasive surgery
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces direct manual manipulation of the needle with a mechanical needle driver system. The driver incorporates a rotatable needle carrier that can be actuated to drive the needle through tissue, substituting the surgeon's direct hand manipulation with a mechanical assistance system
2Reliability
If the surgeon directly handles the needle, then the needle can be manipulated, but accidental needle pricks pose infection risk and the needle may penetrate internal organs
Solution Approach 1:
The needle carrier acts as an intermediary between the surgeon and the needle. The surgeon manipulates the needle driver which in turn manipulates the needle through the carrier, creating a buffer that reduces direct handling risks while maintaining control
Solution Approach 2:
The needle driver system is designed to be self-contained with the needle carrier automatically holding and releasing the needle during the suturing process. The mechanism includes features that guide the needle through tissue and control its movement without requiring direct surgeon contact with the sharp needle
3Object-affected harmful factors
If a cannula with small inside diameter is used, then minimally invasive surgery is achieved, but instruments are smaller and longer making precise manipulation difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The needle driver is divided into segmented components including a handle portion, a shaft portion, and a needle carrier assembly. This segmentation allows the instrument to be inserted through a cannula while maintaining functional sections that can manipulate the needle with precision despite the constrained access
Solution Approach 2:
The needle carrier is designed to rotate about an axis perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the needle driver. This rotational movement in a different dimension allows the needle to be driven through tissue in a direction that is not simply along the length of the instrument, enabling precise manipulation through the cannula
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus and method for minimally invasive suturing is disclosed. A suturing device for minimally invasive suturing includes an elongated barrel having a proximal end, a distal end, and a longitudinal axis therebetween; a suture head assembly extending from the distal end of the elongated barrel; a suturing needle having a pointed end and a blunt end, the suturing needle capable of rotating about an axis approximately perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the elongated barrel, wherein the pointed end of the suturing needle is positioned within the suture head assembly prior to and after rotation of the suturing needle; and an actuator extending from the proximal end of the elongated barrel to actuate a drive mechanism having a needle driver for engaging and rotating the suturing needle.