Air Damping Closure Mechanism for Medical Stapler Jaw Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing medical staplers suddenly separate the staple cartridge and anvil after firing, which can damage surrounding tissues due to the rapid opening of jaws.
Innovation Solution
A closure driving mechanism with a one-way air damping structure, where a cavity within the cylinder body contains a one-way valve that opens to allow air in during closure and closes to compress air during opening, slowing down the jaw opening process.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the staple cartridge and anvil are separated quickly after firing, then the operation efficiency is improved, but the surrounding tissues may be damaged due to excessive force
Solution Approach 1:
A buffer structure is introduced as an intermediary element between the anvil and the driving mechanism. This buffer absorbs and controls the separation force, converting the harmful sudden impact into a controlled, gradual separation process that protects surrounding tissues while maintaining operational efficiency
Solution Approach 2:
The separation speed and force parameters are changed from a sudden, high-velocity separation to a controlled, gradual separation. The buffer structure modifies the force parameters over time, allowing the anvil to separate at a safe rate that prevents tissue damage while still achieving the necessary operational speed
2Loss of time
If the head assembly opens rapidly after firing, then the cycle time is reduced, but the force applied to tissues becomes excessive and damaging
Solution Approach 1:
The buffer structure serves as a mediator that decouples the rapid closing action from the separation action. It allows the head assembly to open quickly in terms of overall cycle time while controlling the instantaneous force applied during separation, thus resolving the contradiction between speed and force
3Device complexity
If the jaws separate suddenly, then the mechanical simplicity is maintained, but the control precision over separation speed is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The buffer structure is a relatively simple mechanical component that introduces controlled friction and elastic deformation into the separation process. This adds minimal complexity while significantly improving the precision of separation control, as the buffer's physical properties naturally regulate the separation speed without requiring complex control systems
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
Prevents excessive force from damaging tissues by slowly opening the jaws after firing, ensuring controlled separation of the staple cartridge and anvil.
Implementation Method 1
a closure driving mechanism with a one-way air damping structure, where a cavity within the cylinder body contains a one-way valve that opens to allow air in during closure and closes to compress air during opening, slowing down the jaw opening process
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure provides a closure driving mechanism and a medical stapler including the same. The closure driving mechanism includes a driving part and a cylinder body, the driving part is connected with a closure pulling sheet of the stapler, and a cavity provided with a one-way valve is formed inside the cylinder body. When the driving part moves toward a distal side of the stapler, a volume of the cavity is decreased, the one-way valve is closed, and the driving part drives the closure pulling sheet to move distally, so as to open a head assembly of the stapler. Since the driving part is subjected to a resistance of compressed air in the cavity, a movement speed of the driving part is decreased, and the head assembly is opened slowly to prevent a force of opening the head assembly being too large to damage surrounding tissues.