Suturing Needle Drive With Force Damping and Magnetic Propulsion
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional suturing apparatuses lack a mechanism to dampen or absorb excess forcible urging applied to the needle after it engages the needle stop, which can damage the apparatus and impair suture placement accuracy, and they often require user-driven force throughout the needle's travel path without independent operation.
Innovation Solution
A suturing apparatus with a needle drive mechanism that includes a compressible member and a magnetic drive, allowing the needle to be driven between retracted and extended conditions, with the magnetic drive assisting or independently moving the needle, and a compressible member to absorb excess force, reducing the need for continuous user input.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional needle drive is used without damping mechanism, then device complexity is reduced, but excess forcible urging damages the apparatus and impairs suture placement accuracy
Solution Approach 1:
A damping mechanism is integrated into the needle drive assembly to absorb excess forcible urging before it can damage the apparatus. The damping mechanism includes elements that dissipate kinetic energy when the needle engages the needle stop, preventing damage while maintaining simplicity.
Solution Approach 2:
A damping element serves as an intermediary between the needle drive actuator and the needle assembly. This intermediary component absorbs excess force during needle engagement, protecting the apparatus from damage while allowing the needle drive to remain relatively simple in structure.
2Measurement precision
If user-driven force is required throughout needle travel path, then device complexity is reduced, but accuracy in substrate capture and suture placement is impaired
Solution Approach 1:
The needle drive incorporates a magnetic drive mechanism that automatically propels the needle through a portion of its travel path without requiring continuous user force. The magnetic field generates the necessary force to move the needle, allowing the system to operate autonomously during the critical precision phase of needle insertion.
Solution Approach 2:
The mechanical system of continuous user-driven force is partially replaced with a magnetic drive mechanism. The magnetic field substitutes for manual mechanical force during the needle's travel path, enabling precise substrate capture and suture placement without requiring sustained user manipulation.
3Ease of operation
If magnetic drive is added to assist or independently operate needle drive, then ease of operation is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
A magnetic drive mechanism is integrated into the needle drive assembly to replace or assist manual mechanical force. The magnetic field generates the necessary propulsive force for needle movement, significantly improving ease of operation while adding only moderate complexity compared to fully manual systems.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution provides controlled needle movement, reducing apparatus damage and improving suture placement accuracy by absorbing excess force and allowing independent needle operation, enhancing the suturing process.
Implementation Method 1
a magnetic drive operable to move the needle. In particular embodiments the magnetic drive can be coupled to the needle drive of the suturing apparatus to generate a magnetic attraction force which assists in or independently moves the needle from the retracted condition toward the extended condition
Implementation Method 2
The needle drive can include a compressible member configured to absorb excess forcible urging applied to the needle drive after the needle engages a needle stop to terminate travel of the needle
Data Source
AI summary
A suturing system including apparatus and methods for disposing a suture in a substrate comprising a needle configured to engage and carry a suture ferrule through the substrate to dispose the suture in the substrate between a substrate first location and a substrate second location. In particular embodiments, the suturing apparatus can include a structure to dampen excess forcible urging or absorb forcible urging applied after the needle engages a needle stop to terminating travel of the needle, and/or a magnetic drive to assist forcible urging on the needle drive or independently generate force sufficient to independently operate the needle drive or provide a combination of forces over the travel path of the needle to both assist forcible urging, and at a particular point in the travel path of the needle, independently operate the needle drive.