Annular Buttress Material for Circular Surgical Stapling
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Solution Overview
Problem
There is a need for annular support structures to be used in conjunction with annular or circular surgical stapling devices to prevent stenosis, reduce trauma, minimize leakage, and create a strong bond between tissues during anastomosis procedures, as existing technologies primarily focus on linear stapling and lack effective annular support solutions.
Innovation Solution
A surgical stapling device with a tubular body and anvil assembly, featuring a ring-like mounting structure made from elastomeric material that frictionally engages the staple cartridge assembly, and an annular buttress material secured by sutures, which is positioned to extend beyond staple receiving slots to provide additional support and stability during tissue joining.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If bare staples are used in direct contact with tissue, then the device complexity is reduced and the procedure is simpler, but the tissue integrity may be compromised and leakage risk increases
Solution Approach 1:
A buttress material is introduced as an intermediary layer between the staples and the tissue. This material distributes the mechanical stress and sealing forces across a broader area, preventing staple legs from concentrating force on small tissue areas. The buttress material acts as a mediator that maintains tissue integrity while allowing staple application, thereby resolving the contradiction between simple device design and reliable tissue sealing.
Solution Approach 2:
The solution combines two distinct materials: the metallic staple and the flexible buttress material. The composite structure leverages the sharp penetrating ability of metal staples while the flexible buttress material provides distributed sealing and reinforcement. This composite approach enables both simple staple application and reliable tissue integrity maintenance.
2Strength
If surgical supports are employed to reinforce tissue, then the tissue strength and sealing reliability improve, but the device complexity increases due to additional components
Solution Approach 1:
The buttress material is integrated with the staple cartridge assembly through a mounting structure that combines multiple functions: securing the buttress material, guiding staple deployment, and maintaining proper positioning. This merging of functions into a single integrated assembly reduces the perceived device complexity while providing enhanced tissue strength through the composite staple-buttress structure.
3Reliability
If annular buttress material extends beyond staple receiving slots, then the lumen support and prevention of stenosis improve, but the manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The mounting structure utilizes elastic material properties and friction-based retention rather than precise mechanical interlocking. The elastic mounting structure can accommodate reasonable variations in buttress material dimensions while maintaining secure attachment. This approach to parameter flexibility (using elastic deformation and friction ranges) reduces manufacturing precision requirements while still achieving reliable lumen support through proper buttress material positioning.
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
The solution effectively maintains the lumen integrity of anastomosed tissues, reduces trauma and leakage, and enhances the bonding strength between adjacent tissues by providing a secure annular support structure that complements annular surgical stapling devices.
Implementation Method 1
a ring-like mounting structure made from elastomeric material that frictionally engages the staple cartridge assembly
Data Source
AI summary
A buttress material and mounting structure assembly is provided for use with a circular surgical stapling device. The assembly comprises a ring-like mounting structure sized to have an outer diameter that frictionally engages a radial inner surface of a staple cartridge assembly, wherein the mounting structure is disposed within the radial inner surface of the staple cartridge assembly; an annular buttress material overlaying a tissue facing surface of the staple cartridge assembly, the annular buttress material defining an outer radial terminal edge extending radially beyond a pair of annular arrays of staple receiving slots, and a radial inner terminal edge extending across the mounting structure; and at least one suture securing the buttress material to the mounting structure.