Adhesive Tape Buttress Attachment for Surgical Staplers

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing surgical stapling apparatus require secondary materials and increased firing forces to release surgical buttresses, as they typically rely on knife blades to cut through additional structures, which is inefficient and material-intensive.

Innovation Solution

The use of adhesive tape strategically placed over central longitudinal slots on staple cartridges and anvil plates to securely attach surgical buttresses, allowing the firing force to break the adhesive bond and release the buttresses without the need for knife blades or additional materials.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If knife blade is used to cut through secondary materials and mounting structures to release surgical buttress, then surgical buttress can be released from stapling apparatus, but firing forces are increased and material usage is increased

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebuttress releaseVSAvoidfiring force

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSForce

Solution Approach 1:

The patent removes the knife blade cutting function entirely by extracting the mechanical cutting mechanism. Instead, a soluble adhesive composition is used that dissolves in response to irrigation fluid or bodily fluids, allowing the buttress to be released without physical cutting and without requiring additional firing force.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the mechanical cutting system (knife blade) with a chemical dissolution system (soluble adhesive). The adhesive bond is broken through chemical interaction with irrigation fluid or bodily fluids rather than mechanical force, eliminating the need for high firing forces and complex cutting mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Ease of operation

If knife blade and secondary materials are used to release surgical buttress, then surgical buttress can be released from stapling apparatus, but device complexity and material usage are increased

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebuttress releaseVSAvoidapparatus structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts and removes the knife blade component entirely from the stapling apparatus. The mounting structure is simplified to only include the soluble adhesive composition, eliminating the need for complex secondary materials and mounting mechanisms while maintaining effective buttress attachment and release.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent merges the adhesive bonding function and the release mechanism into a single soluble adhesive composition. This eliminates the need for separate mounting structures and knife blades, simplifying the overall device while maintaining the ability to securely attach and easily release the buttress.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Ease of operation

If knife blade is used to cut mounting structure to release surgical buttress, then surgical buttress can be released, but material usage is increased

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebuttress releaseVSAvoidmaterial consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSLoss of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses a soluble adhesive composition that is designed to be temporary and disposable. The adhesive naturally dissolves in response to irrigation fluid or bodily fluids, eliminating the need for durable mounting structures and knife blades. This reduces material consumption while maintaining the temporary attachment needed for the surgical procedure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

This method reduces material usage and firing forces required for releasing surgical buttresses, providing a more efficient and streamlined process for tissue joining and separation.

Implementation Method 1

An adhesive tape is disposed over the central longitudinal slot of each of the staple cartridge and anvil plate and configured retain the respective surgical buttress atop the respective tissue contacting surface

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectAdhesive bonding: Adhesive

Implementation Method 2

the surgical buttress is laser welded to the adhesive tape

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectLaser welding: Laser Beam Welding

Data Source

PatentUS10828034B2Buttress attachment to the cartridge surface

Publication Date: 2020.11.10 COVIDIEN LP

AI summary

An end effector for use with a surgical apparatus. The end effector comprising a staple cartridge having a tissue contacting surface defining a central longitudinal slot and an anvil plate having a tissue contacting surface defining a central longitudinal slot. A surgical buttress releasably disposed on the tissue contacting surfaces of each of the staple cartridge and anvil plate. An adhesive tape is disposed over the central longitudinal slot of each of the staple cartridge and anvil plate and configured retain the respective surgical buttress atop the respective tissue contacting surface.