Abstract: The interactive action between suture needle and liver tissue is investigated by using a biological materials testing machine to simulate the surgical suturing operation. The energy equilibrium equations are established according to the force analysis of the suture needle in the two phases of no tissue break phase and tissue break phase. Based on the energy balance equations and the particular puncture tests, the effects of different insertion velocities, needle cross-section shapes and diameter size on the energy dissipation of crack spread in the liver tissue are studied. The results show that with the increasing insertion velocity, the resistance of needle puncturing its surrounding tissue increases, which results in the energy consumption enhance. However, the puncture force reveals a decrease trend with the increasing insertion velocity. The needles with triangle cross-section tip and larger diameter size show higher resistance against the surrounding tissue, which result in bigger puncture force and more energy consumption in the process of suturing operation.

Key words: energy dissipation, insertion velocity, porcine liver, puncture force, suture needle