Anastomotic Ring Applier Sheath for Tissue Protection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional anastomotic ring applier devices often trap tissue between fingers or in the deployment mechanism during insertion and extraction, leading to potential pinching or tearing of tissue and compromising the integrity of the anastomosis.

Innovation Solution

An anastomotic ring applier device with a sheath that covers the ring deployment mechanism during insertion and extraction, preventing tissue from becoming trapped, and a mechanism where the sheath moves with the fingers to actuate the ring without requiring separate retraction steps.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If fingers or similar members are used to expand anastomotic rings, then the ring can be effectively deployed, but tissue may be trapped between the fingers during insertion and extraction

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvering deployment reliabilityVSAvoidtissue trapping

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

A sheath is introduced as an intermediary component between the fingers and the tissue. The sheath covers the fingers during insertion and extraction, preventing tissue from becoming trapped in the deployment mechanism while still allowing the fingers to effectively deploy the ring when the sheath is retracted.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The sheath is designed to be dynamic, allowing it to move between a retracted position (during deployment) and a covering position (during insertion and extraction). This dynamic positioning enables the sheath to protect against tissue trapping when needed while not interfering with ring deployment when retracted.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Object-affected harmful factors

If a sheath is used to prevent tissue trapping, then tissue safety is improved, but additional retraction steps are required

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetissue trapping preventionVSAvoidoperation steps

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The sheath retraction and ring deployment actions are merged into a single coordinated movement. When the sheath is retracted, the ring deployment mechanism is simultaneously actuated, eliminating the need for separate retraction steps and simplifying the overall surgical procedure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The sheath is pre-positioned to cover the deployment mechanism during insertion. The design allows the sheath to automatically move with the fingers during deployment, so no additional manual retraction steps are needed beyond the initial insertion and deployment actions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Object-affected harmful factors

If the sheath remains in position during extraction, then tissue trapping is prevented, but the deployment mechanism cannot be accessed

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetissue trapping preventionVSAvoiddeployment mechanism accessibility

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The sheath is designed with dynamic positioning capability, allowing it to move between a covering position during insertion/extraction and a retracted position during deployment. This dynamic behavior enables the sheath to protect against tissue trapping when needed while automatically making the deployment mechanism accessible when the surgeon initiates the deployment action.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentUS7632285B2Sheath for enabling insertion and extraction of anastomotic ring applier

Publication Date: 2009.12.15 ETHICON ENDO SURGERY INC

AI summary

A surgical tool or applier for deploying an anastomotic ring that comprises a handle connected to an elongate shaft that terminates in an anastomotic ring deployment mechanism, which is moveable from an unactuated position to an actuated position. In order to prevent tissue from becoming trapped in the ring deployment mechanism during insertion or extraction of the tool, a sheath is adapted to cover ring deployment mechanism during insertion and extraction. The sheath is moveable with the ring deployment mechanism from the unactuated position to the actuated position. The sheath may comprise an elastomeric material, a braided thread, or another material.