Surgical Suturing Latch Mechanism for Minimally Invasive Procedures
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Solution Overview
Problem
Suturing in surgical procedures is time-consuming and tiring, especially in minimally invasive surgeries, and poses a risk of needle sticks to surgeons and staff, with existing modifications often increasing costs or reducing surgeon control.
Innovation Solution
A suturing system comprising a cartridge with grasping jaws and a drive unit that allows for efficient needle manipulation with alternating jaw grasping, enabling faster suturing and reduced risk through ergonomic design and easy sterilization, using a cartridge and drive unit interface with a latch mechanism for secure engagement and release.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If traditional suturing techniques are used, then surgeon control over needle placement is maintained, but the procedure is time-consuming and tiring
Solution Approach 1:
The suturing device is divided into separate functional modules: a handle assembly for manual operation, a linkage mechanism for motion transmission, and a cartridge assembly containing the needle and jaws. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently and enables faster needle manipulation through coordinated motion of the separate segments.
Solution Approach 2:
The device employs dynamic linkage mechanisms that convert simple back-and-forth motion of the handle into complex coordinated motions of the needle and jaws. The linkage system creates alternating grasping actions and needle insertion/extraction cycles, enabling rapid suturing operations while maintaining surgeon control through direct mechanical coupling.
2Reliability
If traditional suturing techniques are used, then needle manipulation is possible, but the risk of needle sticks to surgeons and staff increases
Solution Approach 1:
The device introduces intermediary components between the surgeon's hands and the needle: the handle assembly serves as a mediator that controls needle insertion and extraction, while the cartridge assembly with its jaw mechanisms provides an intermediate holding structure. This intermediary system reduces direct exposure of the surgeon to the needle while maintaining precise control over needle manipulation.
Solution Approach 2:
The cartridge assembly is designed to hold and position the needle automatically through its jaw mechanisms, reducing the need for the surgeon to directly manipulate the needle. The self-contained cartridge system with integrated holding mechanisms minimizes needle stick risk by eliminating the need for direct hand-to-needle contact during critical operations.
3Adaptability or versatility
If suturing is performed in minimally invasive surgery, then internal surgical sites can be treated, but manipulation of the needle becomes more difficult due to limited space
Solution Approach 1:
The device addresses the limited space problem in minimally invasive surgery by organizing components in multiple dimensions: the handle assembly provides ergonomic hand control in one dimension, the linkage mechanism transmits motion through a second dimension, and the cartridge assembly with its articulated jaws operates in a third dimension. This multi-dimensional arrangement allows precise needle manipulation within constrained surgical spaces while maintaining surgeon control.
4Ease of manufacture
If a modular cartridge and drive unit system is used, then sterilization is facilitated, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The suturing device is segmented into distinct sterilizable components: a disposable cartridge assembly containing the needle and jaws, and a reusable handle assembly with linkage mechanisms. This segmentation allows the cartridge to be sterilized independently and disposed of after use, while the handle can be sterilized and reused multiple times, simplifying the overall sterilization process despite the increased number of parts.
Solution Approach 2:
The cartridge assembly is designed as a disposable component that can be easily sterilized and then discarded after single use. This approach simplifies sterilization by allowing complete separation of the consumable needle-containing portion from the reusable handle, enabling thorough sterilization of the cartridge without compromising the complexity management of the overall system through standardized disposable interfaces.
Data Source
AI summary
Suturing systems may comprise a cartridge and a drive unit which are detachable from each other. The cartridge often has a cartridge body, a plurality of jaws, and a cartridge interface. The drive unit has a drive unit body, a linkage, and a drive unit interface which will typically include a latch. A latch input is coupled to the latch so that a movement of the input moves the latch to the released position. The cartridge interface or the drive unit interface includes a channel while the other includes a shaft which is fittingly receivable in the channel. Opposed motions of the input and cartridge during cartridge removal avoid inadvertent detachment during use.