Bioabsorbable Polymer Adhesive for Surgical Stapler Buttress Attachment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Surgical staplers lack an effective means to reinforce tissue fastening, leading to potential staple pull-through and tissue tearing at the application site, with existing solutions not adequately addressing these issues.
Innovation Solution
A surgical stapler equipped with a bioabsorbable polymer adhesive buttress assembly that secures a buttress material to the staple cartridge or anvil, providing structural support and hemostatic properties to prevent staple pull-through and tissue tearing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If traditional surgical staplers are used without buttress material, then the device complexity is low, but the tissue reinforcement capability is insufficient leading to staple pull-through and tissue tearing
Solution Approach 1:
The buttress material is pre-attached to the staple cartridge using bioabsorbable polymer adhesive before the surgical procedure. This preliminary attachment ensures the buttress material is properly positioned and secured to reinforce the tissue at the stapling site, preventing staple pull-through and tissue tearing without requiring additional steps during surgery.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention combines buttress material with bioabsorbable polymer adhesive to create a composite structure. The buttress material provides mechanical reinforcement while the bioabsorbable polymer adhesive provides bonding capability, creating a synergistic system that enhances tissue reinforcement without permanent foreign body retention.
2Strength
If non-bioabsorbable adhesives are used to attach buttress material, then the attachment strength is high, but the patient requires additional surgery for adhesive removal
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the chemical composition parameters of the adhesive by using bioabsorbable polymers instead of traditional non-bioabsorbable adhesives. This parameter change allows the adhesive to maintain sufficient attachment strength during the surgical procedure while gradually degrading and being absorbed by the body over time, eliminating the need for secondary removal surgery.
Solution Approach 2:
The bioabsorbable polymer adhesive functions as a temporary, short-living bonding agent that serves its purpose during the healing process and then naturally degrades and is absorbed by the body. This eliminates the need for permanent adhesives that would require surgical removal, reducing overall treatment complexity and patient burden.
3Strength
If high viscosity polymer adhesive is used, then the adhesive provides strong bonding, but the adhesive application and distribution becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The invention modifies the viscosity parameter of the polymer adhesive to optimize both bonding strength and applicability. By controlling the viscosity within a specific range, the adhesive maintains sufficient bonding capability while becoming easier to apply and distribute uniformly on the buttress material and staple cartridge surfaces.
Solution Approach 2:
The bioabsorbable polymer adhesive acts as an intermediary substance between the buttress material and the staple cartridge. Its optimized viscosity allows it to flow and distribute evenly as a mediating layer, ensuring complete contact and bonding between the two surfaces while maintaining adequate adhesive strength for secure attachment.
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 bioabsorbable polymer adhesive effectively secures the buttress material to the stapler components, enhancing tissue reinforcement, reducing the risk of staple pull-through, and promoting hemostasis during surgical procedures.
Implementation Method 1
A surgical stapler equipped with a bioabsorbable polymer adhesive buttress assembly that secures a buttress material to the staple cartridge or anvil
Data Source
AI summary
A surgical stapler end effector comprises a staple cartridge, an anvil, and a buttress assembly. The staple cartridge comprises a plurality of staples and a deck. The staple cartridge is operable to drive the staples through the deck. The anvil is movable from an open position toward the staple cartridge to reach a closed position. The anvil includes an underside having staple forming surface configured to receive staples driven through the deck. The buttress assembly comprises a buttress body and an adhesive material. The adhesive material comprises a polymer. The polymer is bioabsorbable. The polymer has an inherent viscosity at or below 3.0 dL/g.