Suturing Device State Indicator for Minimally Invasive Needle Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing surgical suturing devices face challenges in minimally invasive cardiac surgery, particularly in manipulating sutures through small openings, and lack visual feedback for continuous operation awareness during procedures like neochordal replacement.
Innovation Solution
A surgical suturing device with a handle, actuation lever, and indicator window provides visual feedback through a state indicator, allowing for remote suture delivery and reliable placement, enabling continuous operation without interruptions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Duration of action of moving object
If a surgical suturing device is used for minimally invasive surgery, then patient recovery time is reduced, but it becomes difficult and time-consuming to manipulate the suture needle through small openings
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a remote delivery system with a delivery catheter as an intermediary tool to manipulate the suture needle through small openings. The delivery catheter includes a needle holder that can grasp and position the suture needle, and an actuation mechanism that allows the operator to control needle deployment from a distance, making minimally invasive manipulation feasible
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces direct manual manipulation of the suture needle with a mechanically automated delivery system. The actuation lever and cam mechanism automatically advance the needle through the tissue and deploy the ferrule, eliminating the need for complex manual manipulation through small openings while maintaining surgical precision
2Reliability
If interruptions occur during surgical procedure, then surgical staff must resume precisely where they left off, but continuous awareness of device mode is lacking
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates a visual feedback system with an indicator window that displays the current operational state of the device (e.g., needle position, ferrule deployment status). This continuous visual feedback ensures that surgical staff can immediately understand the device mode upon resumption, preventing information loss during interruptions and enabling accurate continuation of the procedure
3Productivity
If automated suturing device is used, then running stitch operation is enabled, but visual feedback for continuous operation awareness is absent
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses color-coded indicators in the indicator window to represent different device states (e.g., different colors for needle retraction, advancement, ferrule engagement). These visual color changes provide immediate, intuitive feedback about the automated suturing device's current state, maintaining continuous operation awareness without reducing surgical productivity
Data Source
AI summary
A suturing device for minimally invasive surgery includes a state indicator coupled to a portion of a needle. When the needle displaces between a first needle position and a second needle position along a needle axis in a first actuation cycle, the needle rotates about the needle axis from a first rotational position to a second rotational position such that the state indicator transitions from a first visual indication to a second visual indication. When the needle displaces between the first needle position and the second needle position along the needle axis in a second actuation cycle, the needle rotates about the needle axis from the second rotational position to a third rotational position, and the state indicator transitions from the second visual indication to a third visual indication.