Arcuate Jaw Member for Curved Tissue Stapling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing surgical stapling instruments face challenges in efficiently joining tissue with arcuate configurations, particularly in accessing and stapling curved tissue areas, such as lower pelvic regions during surgeries, due to limitations in the design of jaw members and manufacturing processes.
Innovation Solution
The development of a jaw member with a cartridge assembly and housing featuring an arcuate configuration, including a surface for tissue engagement, fastener retaining slots, a knife channel, and a manufacturing method using sheet metal deformation to create a base portion, first, and second walls with slits, allowing for snap-fit assembly of the cartridge assembly, facilitating easier access and stapling in curved areas.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If traditional linear jaw members are used, then manufacturing is simple, but accessibility to curved tissue areas is poor
Solution Approach 1:
The jaw member is formed with an arcuate configuration instead of a linear shape, allowing the surgical instrument to access and staple curved tissue areas such as the lower pelvic region during colorectal surgery. The arcuate shape enables the jaw to conform to the curvature of the tissue being treated.
2Manufacturing precision
If arcuate jaw members are manufactured using traditional methods, then manufacturing precision can be maintained, but manufacturing complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The manufacturing process utilizes sheet metal deformation parameters to form the arcuate configuration. By controlling the deformation parameters during forming, the process achieves the desired arcuate shape with appropriate precision while maintaining manufacturing efficiency and avoiding complex multi-step processes.
3Reliability
If the cartridge assembly is tightly secured in the cartridge housing, then reliability of stapling is improved, but ease of assembly and disassembly deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The cartridge housing is segmented into multiple components including the housing body, base portion, and wall sections. This segmentation allows the cartridge assembly to be securely retained while enabling easy access and replacement of the cartridge by separating the housing components.
Solution Approach 2:
The cartridge assembly can be extracted from the cartridge housing through defined access paths. The housing design allows the cartridge to be removed and replaced without requiring complete disassembly of the jaw member, facilitating easy maintenance and cartridge replacement.
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 enables efficient tissue stapling and cutting in curved areas, improving surgical accessibility and ease of use by allowing the surgical instrument to be adapted for complex procedures like lower anterior resection and colo-rectal surgery, with a robust and efficient manufacturing process.
Implementation Method 1
The piece of sheet metal is deformed into an arcuate shape to form a base portion, a first wall, and a second wall
Implementation Method 2
The protrusion may be configured for snap fit engagement with the hole
Data Source
AI summary
A jaw member for use on a surgical stapling instrument includes a cartridge assembly and a cartridge housing each having an arcuate configuration. The cartridge assembly includes a surface configured to engage tissue and a plurality of rows of fastener retaining slots extending along a length of the cartridge assembly. The cartridge housing defines a channel configured for receipt of the cartridge assembly. The cartridge housing includes a base portion and a plurality of tabs. The base portion has a concave inner edge and a convex outer edge. The tabs extend from the concave inner edge and the convex outer edge. The tabs are spaced from one another along a length of the cartridge housing.