Angled Staple Bays for Minimally Invasive Surgical Staplers
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional surgical staplers for minimally invasive surgery are limited by the perpendicular orientation of staple bays, which restricts the size of staples that can be deployed and wastes space within the stapler due to lateral movement of bays, limiting the depth and efficiency of staple deployment.
Innovation Solution
The stapler holder features angled staple bays and surfaces, allowing deeper bays and increased surface area, enabling staples to be ejected at a greater lateral distance from the centerline, and optionally staggered or overlapping bays to optimize internal layout, potentially incorporating a feeder belt with staples oriented perpendicular to the angled surface.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If staple bays are oriented perpendicular to the upper surface, then the structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but the size of deployable staples is limited and space utilization is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The staple bays are oriented at an angle (e.g., 45 degrees) relative to the upper surface rather than perpendicular to it. This asymmetric orientation allows the bays to extend deeper into the staple holder while still ejecting staples through the upper surface, thereby increasing both staple size and space utilization without complicating the manufacturing process
Solution Approach 2:
By changing the orientation angle of the staple bays from perpendicular (90 degrees) to an angled configuration (e.g., 45 degrees), the design utilizes the third dimension (depth) more effectively. This dimensional change allows deeper staple bays to be defined within the same staple holder diameter, enabling larger staples to be deployed while maintaining compact overall dimensions
2Volume of moving object
If bays are moved laterally inward to increase size, then larger staples can be accommodated, but space laterally outward from the bays is wasted
Solution Approach 1:
The angled orientation of staple bays creates an asymmetric layout where the bays can be positioned to optimize both their size and the utilization of lateral space. This asymmetric configuration eliminates wasted space by allowing bays to extend toward the periphery of the staple holder while maintaining proper ejection geometry
Solution Approach 2:
By changing the orientation parameter (angle) of the staple bays, the design optimizes the balance between bay size and space utilization. The angled configuration allows bays to be larger while simultaneously improving lateral space efficiency, as the oblique orientation enables more efficient packing within the circular staple holder boundary
Data Source
AI summary
An exemplary surgical stapler may include a staple holder, including an upper surface with two substantially-planar angled surfaces positioned lateral to and angled relative to each other. The staple holder may include staple channels within it, and each staple channel may open to a corresponding angled surface. The stapler may also include at least one feeder belt extending into the staple holder and staples frangibly affixed to the feeder belt. Generally, at least one staple is held within a corresponding staple channel of the staple holder.