Suture technique training system

• US 10,650,703 B2
• Filed: 01/09/2018
• Issued: 05/12/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 01/10/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Truinject Corp.
• Original Assignee: Truinject Corp.
• Inventors: Rios, Gabrielle A., Foster, Clark B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Yen, Jason T
• Application Number:
  US15/865,833
• Publication Number:
  US 20180197441A1
• Time in Patent Office: 854 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/04 for suturing wounds; Holders or packages for needles or suture materials suture materials A61L17/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/0469 Suturing instruments for use in minimally invasive surgery, e.g. endoscopic surgery
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/0482 Needle or suture guides guides for drills, pins or wire A61B17/17; for puncturing needles A61B17/3403
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/06166 Sutures suture materials A61L17/00; manufacture of artificial threads D01D; treatment of threads D06M
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/3403 Needle locating or guiding means guides for suture needles A61B17/0482; guiding or tracking by nuclear magnetic resonance G01R33/285
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 23/28 for medicine
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 23/285 for injections, endoscopy, bronchoscopy, sigmoidscopy, insertion of contraceptive devices or enemas
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 23/30 Anatomical models G09B23/281 - G09B23/288 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 9/00 Simulators for teaching or training purposes for the use of weapons F41; computing aspects G06; protocols for games, networked simulations or virtual reality H04L67/131

Abstract

Systems and methods are disclosed for practicing suturing techniques on a training apparatus using a training tool. The training apparatus can include a three-dimensional tracking system to detect a position of the training tool. A processing unit can process the positional data to determine one or more performance parameters. The performance parameters can be output to a display.

Claims

1. A system for training clinicians to perform suturing procedures, the system comprising:

a training tool comprising at least one light-reflective marking;

a training apparatus representative of an anatomical structure and configured to receive the training tool;

a light emitter positioned in an internal portion of the training apparatus, the light emitter configured to illuminate the at least one light-reflective marking on the training tool when the training apparatus receives the training tool; and

a light detector positioned in the internal portion of the training apparatus, the light detector configured to detect light reflected by the at least one light-reflective marker of the training tool; and

a processing unit configured to receive and process an indication of the detected light from the light detector to determine one or more training parameters.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the training tool comprises a needle.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the needle comprises the at least one light-reflective marking.

4. The system of claim 2, wherein the training tool comprises a suturing material.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the suturing material comprises the at least one light-reflective marking.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the one or more training parameters comprises a location of the training tool.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the one or more training parameters comprises a depth of penetration.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the one or more training parameters comprises a tension force applied to the training tool.

9. The system of claim 1, the processing unit is configured to receive and process indications of the detected light from the light detector and generate a representation of a path of the training tool.

10. The system of claim 1, further comprising an output device configured to display the one or more training parameters.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the processing unit is in the interior portion of the training apparatus.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein the processing unit is remote from the training apparatus.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein the light emitter emits visible light.

14. The system of claim 1, wherein the light emitter emits non-visible light.

15. A method of training clinicians to perform suturing procedures, the method comprising:

suturing a training apparatus representative of an anatomical structure using a training tool, the training tool comprising;

a needle;

a suturing material; and

at least one light-reflective marking;

tracking the training tool by detecting light reflected from the tracking tool during suturing; and

processing the detected light to determine one or more training parameters.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising determining an accuracy of the suturing based on the one or more training parameters.

17. The method of claim 15, further comprising generating a representation of a path of the testing tool based on the one or more training parameters.

18. The method of claim 15, further comprising outputting the one or more training parameters to a display device.

19. The method of claim 15, further comprising determining a change in position of the suturing material during suturing by tracking at least one light reflective marking on the suturing material.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising determining a tension force applied to the training apparatus based on the change in position of the suturing material.