Suturing Instrument Needle Dock for Minimally Invasive Surgery
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current surgical suturing instruments face challenges in accurately positioning and orienting needles during minimally invasive procedures due to limited visibility and the need for frequent re-grasping and re-positioning of needles, especially in endoscopic and laparoscopic surgeries, where mechanical jaws are cumbersome and difficult to manage.
Innovation Solution
A suturing instrument featuring a cannulated handle and shaft with a needle dock that securely holds a needle attached to suture, allowing for precise manipulation and orientation, with the needle being docked and undocked by securing the suture in a V-shaped notch on the handle, facilitating efficient and consistent suturing without the need for mechanical jaws.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If mechanical jaws are used to grasp and release the needle, then the needle can be manipulated, but the surgeon must repeatedly position and re-grasp the needle which is difficult and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the needle from the jaws and places it in a dedicated needle dock at the distal end of the shaft. The needle dock provides a fixed, predetermined orientation for the needle, eliminating the need for repeated grasping and re-positioning by the surgeon. The needle remains securely held in the dock throughout the procedure.
Solution Approach 2:
The needle is pre-positioned and pre-oriented in the needle dock before the suturing procedure begins. The dock is designed with a specific geometry that automatically orients the needle in the correct position, so no additional positioning actions are needed during the procedure.
2Measurement precision
If the needle is held in mechanical jaws, then it can be manipulated, but accurate positioning and orientation is difficult via two-dimensional camera view
Solution Approach 1:
The needle dock is designed with specific local geometric features that provide predetermined orientation and positioning for the needle. The dock's structure creates a unique, reproducible position for the needle tip and shaft, ensuring accurate alignment without requiring visual adjustment by the surgeon.
3Reliability
If mechanical jaws are used to grasp the needle, then the needle can be held, but there is risk of dropping the needle which is difficult to locate and retrieve
Solution Approach 1:
The invention removes the needle from the grasp of mechanical jaws and secures it in a dedicated needle dock that is part of the instrument structure. The dock provides secure retention through its geometric design, and if the needle is accidentally dislodged, it remains attached to the suture which is visible and can be easily followed to retrieve the needle.
4Adaptability or versatility
If the instrument is designed for minimally invasive procedures, then access to tissue is improved, but the direction of access is limited and manipulation is more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The instrument is segmented into distinct functional components: a handle for manipulation, a shaft for transmission, and a needle dock at the distal end for needle securing. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently - the shaft can be made flexible or articulating to navigate tight spaces while the needle dock maintains precise needle positioning.
Solution Approach 2:
The instrument incorporates dynamic elements such as articulating joints or flexible shaft sections that allow the distal end to be oriented in different directions while maintaining a stable handle position. This enables access to tissue from limited incisions while preserving the surgeon's ability to manipulate the needle precisely.
Data Source
AI summary
A suturing instrument having a dock at the end for receiving and securing a needle attached to a suture. The suturing instrument includes a cannulated handle attached to the proximal end of a cannulated shaft. The proximal end of a needle is removably received and securely received in the curved needle dock formed on the distal end of the shaft. The suture attached to the needle passes through the shaft and out the proximal end of the handle. Once the instrument is inserted into the body (usually through a cannula), the suture is retracted at the proximal end of the instrument handle, which draws the attached needle into the needle dock. The suture dock preferably has a compound curvature which prevents substantial rotation of the needle upon insertion.