Trocar Catch Arm for Suture Thread Capture
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional surgical procedures face challenges in efficiently and accurately suturing tissue openings created by trocar assemblies, particularly due to limited visibility and complexity in managing suture threads during closure, which can lead to increased surgical time and risk of tissue damage.
Innovation Solution
The development of suturing trocar assemblies equipped with deployable catch arms that can capture and reposition suture threads, facilitating their secure attachment and detachment from needles within the tissue, thereby simplifying the suturing process and enhancing visibility and predictability during tissue closure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If conventional suturing methods are used with trocar assemblies, then surgical procedures can be performed, but the complexity of managing suture threads increases and visibility during tissue closure is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The suturing device is segmented into distinct functional components: a needle for inserting the suture thread, a catch arm for capturing and holding the thread, and a trocar assembly for accessing the surgical site. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function efficiently, reducing the overall complexity of suture thread management during the procedure.
Solution Approach 2:
The catch arm acts as an intermediary mechanism between the needle and the suture thread. It captures the thread from the needle and holds it in a controlled manner, facilitating smooth transitions during suturing operations. This intermediary component simplifies the interaction between the surgeon's manipulations and the suture thread, improving ease of operation.
2Productivity
If conventional suturing methods are used with trocar assemblies, then tissue openings can be closed, but surgical time is increased due to difficulty in managing suture threads
Solution Approach 1:
The needle is designed to pre-load the suture thread in a ready-to-deploy configuration. The catch arm is positioned to immediately capture the thread as it emerges from the needle, eliminating delays associated with manual thread handling. This preliminary preparation of the suturing components enables faster tissue closure and reduces overall surgical time.
Solution Approach 2:
The catch arm automatically captures and secures the suture thread as it is deployed from the needle, without requiring additional manual intervention. This self-service mechanism reduces the time surgeons spend manually managing suture threads, thereby increasing productivity and reducing surgical time.
3Reliability
If conventional suturing methods are used with trocar assemblies, then tissue closure can be achieved, but the risk of tissue damage increases due to limited visibility and control
Solution Approach 1:
The catch arm serves as a controlled intermediary that holds the suture thread in a stable, visible position during the suturing process. This intermediate holding mechanism provides the surgeon with better control and visibility of the thread's position relative to the tissue, reducing the risk of accidental tissue damage while maintaining reliable tissue closure.
Solution Approach 2:
The suture thread is designed with high-visibility characteristics, and the catch arm provides a stable platform for the thread to be clearly seen during the procedure. This enhanced visibility allows the surgeon to precisely track the thread's position and movement, reducing the risk of tissue damage while ensuring reliable closure.
Data Source
AI summary
A trocar assembly includes a cannula assembly, an obturator assembly, and a catch arm. The cannula assembly has a housing, a cannula, and a working channel defining a longitudinal axis from a proximal opening to a distal opening. The obturator assembly includes a proximal head, a distal tip, and a shaft extending therebetween. The catch arm is selectively moveable from a retracted position to a first and second deployed positions and is configured to releasably capture a suture thread. In the retracted position, the catch arm is positioned radially inward from the first deployed position. In the first deployed position, the catch arm is positioned radially outward from the retracted position. In addition, the catch arm is configured to be moved a predetermined distance from the first deployed position to the second deployed position and release the captured suture thread therefrom.