Adjustable Anvil Mechanism for Surgical Stapler

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing surgical stapling instruments face challenges such as unintentional detachment of jaw members, exposure of cutting members, and difficulty in adjusting staple height, which can increase surgical time and complexity.

Innovation Solution

A surgical stapling instrument with pivotably connected jaw members and a locking mechanism to prevent detachment, along with an adjustable anvil to modify staple deformation height, and a housing to cover the cutting member when detached.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of repair

If the jaw members are made separable for easy cleaning and sterilization, then the ease of manufacture and maintenance is improved, but the reliability decreases due to unintentional detachment

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of cleaning and sterilizationVSAvoidjaw member detachment prevention

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of repairVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The latch mechanism is engaged in advance to secure the jaw members together before the surgical procedure begins, preventing unintentional detachment during use while allowing easy separation for cleaning and sterilization when needed

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Device complexity

If the anvil is made fixed relative to the staple cartridge, then the device complexity is reduced, but the adaptability decreases as staple height cannot be adjusted

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveanvil positioning mechanismVSAvoidstaple height adjustment

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The anvil is designed with adjustable positioning relative to the staple cartridge, allowing it to be moved between fixed and adjustable states. This enables staple height adaptation for different surgical requirements while maintaining structural integrity through a controlled adjustment mechanism

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

3Ease of operation

If the cutting member is exposed for easy access, then the ease of operation is improved, but the safety decreases due to potential tissue damage

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecutting member accessibilityVSAvoidtissue damage from exposed cutting member

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

A protective cover is introduced as an intermediary element between the cutting member and the surrounding tissue. The cover can be selectively positioned to protect the tissue when the cutting member is not in use, while allowing easy access to the cutting member when needed for the surgical procedure

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS12274446B2Surgical stapler with apparatus for adjusting staple height

Publication Date: 2025.04.15 CILAG GMBH INTERNATIONAL

AI summary

A surgical stapling instrument including a staple sled which can be advanced and/or retracted relative to first and second jaw members, wherein the staple sled can be configured to deploy staples from a staple cartridge in one of the first and second jaw members. In at least one embodiment, the other of the first and second jaw members can include an anvil having at least one forming surface which can be configured to deform the staples as they are deployed from the staple cartridge. In at least one form of the invention, the anvil can be movably adjustable relative to the staple cartridge in order to adjust the distance in which the staples are deformed. In various embodiments, the anvil can be adjusted by a slidable adjusting plate and/or a rotatable cam.