Adaptive Control System for Surgical Instrument Staple Alignment

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing surgical instruments lack an adaptive control system that can efficiently manage the separate rotary closure and firing systems, leading to potential misalignment and malformation of staples during tissue stapling and cutting procedures.

Innovation Solution

The development of a surgical instrument featuring an adaptive control system that integrates sensors and a control circuit to ensure proper alignment of the anvil and staple cartridge, preventing staple malformation by adjusting the firing speed and monitoring staple formation in real-time.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If separate rotary closure and firing systems are used, then operational flexibility is improved, but alignment precision deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveoperational flexibilityVSAvoidalignment precision

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The control system receives feedback from sensors that detect the relative position between the anvil and staple cartridge, and automatically adjusts the firing system to compensate for misalignment, thereby maintaining alignment precision while preserving operational flexibility of separate rotary systems

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces purely mechanical alignment mechanisms with an adaptive control system that uses sensors and automated adjustment, allowing the separate rotary closure and firing systems to maintain precise alignment without complex mechanical coupling

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Manufacturing precision

If adaptive control system is added, then staple formation precision is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestaple formation precisionVSAvoiddevice complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The control system is designed to perform multiple functions including monitoring alignment, detecting misalignment, and automatically adjusting the firing system, thereby improving staple formation precision without requiring multiple separate systems that would increase complexity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent combines the alignment monitoring and adjustment functions into an integrated control system that works with the existing separate rotary closure and firing systems, improving precision while minimizing the increase in overall device complexity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentUS20250160829A1Surgical instrument comprising an adaptive control system

Publication Date: 2025.05.22 CILAG GMBH INTERNATIONAL

AI summary

A surgical instrument comprising a motor control system in communication with a closure motor and a drive motor is disclosed. The motor control system is configured to control the operation of the closure motor and the drive motor. The motor control system is configured to increase the clamping pressure applied by a first jaw during a second tissue cutting stroke as compared to the clamping pressure applied by the first jaw during a first tissue cutting stroke.