Articulating Jaws for Parallel Vaginal Cuff Closure
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current surgical stapling methods for closing the vaginal cuff during hysterectomy procedures are challenging due to the need for high surgical skill and time, and often result in inconsistent outcomes, especially when using manual suturing or traditional surgical instruments.
Innovation Solution
A surgical loading unit with an articulatable end effector featuring jaw members that pivot and articulate in a parallel manner, allowing for consistent and efficient closure of the vaginal cuff using a mechanism with a pivot pin, camming members, and a clamping mechanism that ensures strong and parallel closure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If manual suturing or traditional surgical instruments are used for vaginal cuff closure, then surgical flexibility is maintained, but surgical skill requirement and procedure time increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual suturing with an automated stapling system that uses a loading unit with articulating jaws. The mechanical stapling mechanism automatically forms staples through the vaginal cuff tissue, eliminating the need for manual needle and suture manipulation, thereby reducing both skill requirement and procedure time
Solution Approach 2:
The loading unit incorporates articulating jaws that can dynamically adjust their angle relative to the elongated body. This articulation capability allows the jaws to adapt to the curvature of the vaginal cuff and achieve proper alignment during closure, improving ease of operation while maintaining automated operation
2Reliability
If manual suturing is used for vaginal cuff closure, then surgical adaptability is maintained, but closure consistency and strength vary due to varying surgical skills
Solution Approach 1:
The automated stapling system replaces variable manual suturing with a standardized mechanical process. The loading unit's articulated jaws and stapling mechanism provide consistent, repeatable closure forces regardless of surgeon skill level, thereby improving closure consistency and reliability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses articulated jaws that can change the angle parameter relative to the elongated body to optimize closure. This parameter adjustment allows the system to adapt to different anatomical variations while maintaining consistent closure forces through the stapling mechanism
3Ease of operation
If jaws pivot between open and closed positions in traditional loading units, then jaw movement is achieved, but jaws close in a non-parallel manner reducing closure quality
Solution Approach 1:
The loading unit features articulating jaws that can dynamically adjust their orientation relative to the elongated body before closing. This dynamic articulation allows the jaws to be positioned at the optimal angle to ensure parallel closure of the vaginal cuff, improving closure quality while maintaining jaw movement capability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent incorporates an articulation mechanism that changes the angular parameter of the jaws relative to the elongated body. This parameter adjustment ensures that when the jaws close, they do so in a parallel manner, achieving precise closure alignment that improves both ease of operation and closure precision
Data Source
AI summary
An end effector includes first and second jaw members that are pivotable relative to one another between open and clamped configurations about a pivot axis. The first and second jaw members each define a pivot hole which defines the pivot axis. The first and second jaw members also each define an articulation axis that is orthogonal to the pivot axis and position distal of the pivot axis. The first and second jaw members are articulatable about the articulation axis between straight and fully articulated configurations.