Disposable Loading Unit Anvil Release Mechanism for Surgical Staplers
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing endoscopic surgical staplers with disposable loading units struggle to operate effectively in thicker tissues, as increased loads can lead to firing system failure and potential patient injury due to jamming of the blade during the stapling process.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of an articulatable disposable loading unit with a novel anvil release assembly, featuring a single camming pin and pin cleat configuration, allows for easy disengagement of the axial drive assembly and anvil assembly when jammed, enabling safe release of tissue and preventing tool assembly detachment from the patient.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the surgical stapler is used on thicker tissues, then the stapling capability is improved, but the firing system reliability deteriorates due to increased loads causing blade jamming
Solution Approach 1:
The firing system is divided into separable components: the disposable loading unit (DLU) containing the blade and tissue, and the reusable handle assembly. This segmentation allows the blade to be easily replaced and the DLU to be discarded after a single use, preventing accumulated damage and ensuring consistent performance on thick tissues without compromising overall system reliability
Solution Approach 2:
The disposable loading unit is designed as a single-use component that is discarded after one firing cycle. This eliminates the risk of blade jamming affecting subsequent operations, as each new DLU provides a fresh, reliable blade. The low cost of the disposable unit compared to the entire surgical system allows for this safety strategy
2Ease of operation
If the blade becomes jammed in thicker tissue, then the stapling function fails, but the tool assembly may detach from the patient causing injury
Solution Approach 1:
The blade is extracted from the reusable handle assembly and placed within the disposable loading unit. When jamming occurs, the entire DLU can be quickly removed and replaced, taking the jammed blade out of the system without requiring complex extraction procedures. This prevents the handle assembly from becoming detached from the patient while eliminating the jammed component
Solution Approach 2:
The disposable loading unit is pre-assembled with the blade in a ready-to-use configuration that includes built-in safety features. The DLU is designed to be inserted as a complete unit, ensuring proper alignment and engagement before use. This preliminary preparation prevents improper installation that could lead to tool detachment during operation
Data Source
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AI summary
A disposable loading unit for operable attachment to a surgical stapling apparatus. The disposable loading unit may have a carrier that supports a staple cartridge and an anvil assembly that is movable coupled to the carrier. The various embodiments may further have an axial drive assembly that is configured to impart a closing motion to the anvil assembly and also supports a cutting blade thereon. The axial drive assembly is configured to receive firing motions and retraction motions from the surgical stapling apparatus. Various embodiments have an anvil release assembly that enables the anvil assembly to be released from a clamping orientation in the event that the cutting blade becomes jammed during operation.