Anvil Buttress Loading System for Surgical Stapling
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current surgical stapling apparatus require cumbersome and costly manual attachment of surgical buttresses during procedures, which complicates the process and increases operational time.
Innovation Solution
A surgical buttress loading tool with an anvil and a spring assembly that includes a handle and actuator system, allowing for the simple and cost-effective attachment of surgical buttresses to the anvil by moving the actuator to engage and disengage the spring assembly, securely positioning the buttress on the anvil.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If manual attachment of surgical buttresses is used during procedures, then the surgical stapling apparatus can be operated, but the process becomes cumbersome and increases operational time
Solution Approach 1:
The surgical buttress is pre-loaded into the loading unit before the surgical procedure begins. The loading unit is prepared in advance with the buttress material positioned and secured, so that during the actual surgical procedure, the buttress can be quickly transferred to the anvil without requiring manual attachment steps in the operating room.
Solution Approach 2:
The loading unit serves as an intermediary device between the surgical buttress and the anvil. It provides a mechanism that facilitates the transfer of the buttress to the anvil through a simple loading action, eliminating the need for direct manual attachment by the surgeon during the procedure.
2Ease of manufacture
If manual attachment of surgical buttresses is used during procedures, then the surgical stapling apparatus can be operated, but the process becomes costly and complicated
Solution Approach 1:
The loading unit is designed to be compatible with multiple types of surgical buttresses and can be used with different anvil configurations. This universal design allows the same loading unit to handle various buttress materials and sizes, reducing the need for multiple specialized tools and simplifying the overall attachment process.
Solution Approach 2:
The loading unit incorporates a self-contained mechanism with springs and cam surfaces that automatically secure the buttress to the anvil when the loading action is performed. The spring-loaded fingers and cam-driven release mechanism provide self-service functionality, eliminating the need for additional manual manipulation or complex attachment tools by the surgeon.
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
Facilitates a straightforward and efficient attachment of surgical buttresses to the anvil, reducing procedural complexity and costs, while ensuring secure placement for tissue reinforcement.
Implementation Method 1
The anvil includes an anvil body including a spring assembly biased against a tissue facing surface of the anvil body
Data Source
AI summary
A surgical buttress loading system includes an anvil having a spring assembly biased against a tissue facing surface of an anvil body and a loading tool including a cavity configured to receive the anvil therein, a buttress cartridge including a surgical buttress releasably disposed thereon, an actuator, and a handle operably coupled to the buttress cartridge. When the anvil is positioned within the cavity of the loading tool and the handle is moved to from an unactuated position to an actuated position, the handle moves the actuator to from a retracted position to an extended position and into engagement with the spring assembly of the anvil to lift the spring assembly off of the tissue facing surface and then slides the buttress cartridge towards the spring assembly to move a proximal end portion of the surgical buttress between the spring assembly and the tissue facing surface.