Biodegradable Adhesive for Surgical Buttress Retention and Release
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing surgical stapling apparatuses face challenges with unreliable detachment of buttresses, often requiring increased firing forces or secondary materials for release, and may leave excess material behind when removed from the surgical site.
Innovation Solution
A surgical stapling apparatus with a low molecular weight biodegradable adhesive or water dissolvable adhesive is used to releasably attach a porous surgical buttress to the cartridge and anvil assemblies, allowing for secure attachment and easy release without the need for knife blade cutting.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If knife blade cutting is used to release the buttress from the surgical stapling apparatus, then the buttress can be detached, but increased firing forces are required and the approach is unreliable
Solution Approach 1:
A soluble adhesive layer is introduced as an intermediary between the buttress and the surgical stapling apparatus. This adhesive layer dissolves in response to irrigation solutions or bodily fluids, enabling reliable buttress detachment without requiring mechanical cutting by the knife blade, thereby eliminating the need for increased firing forces.
Solution Approach 2:
The mechanical cutting system (knife blade transecting the buttress) is replaced with a chemical dissolution system (soluble adhesive layer dissolving in response to irrigation solutions). This substitution eliminates the need for mechanical force to detach the buttress, resolving the contradiction between detachment reliability and firing force requirements.
2Reliability
If secondary materials or mounting structures are used to attach the buttress to the surgical stapling apparatus, then the buttress can be retained, but excess material remains when the apparatus is withdrawn
Solution Approach 1:
The soluble adhesive layer is designed to be completely dissolved and absorbed by the body, extracting the retention mechanism from the final state. Unlike secondary materials that remain as excess material, the adhesive layer is fully taken out through dissolution, leaving no residual material at the surgical site.
Solution Approach 2:
The soluble adhesive layer is discarded through dissolution in response to irrigation solutions or bodily fluids, and the dissolved material is recovered/absorbed by the body. This eliminates the problem of excess material remaining after apparatus withdrawal, as the retention material is completely discarded and naturally recovered.
3Reliability
If the buttress is firmly attached to the surgical stapling apparatus, then reliable retention is achieved, but the apparatus cannot be removed without cutting the buttress
Solution Approach 1:
The adhesive layer transitions from a firm attached state during stapling to a dissolved state during removal. This dynamic change in the retention mechanism allows the system to provide strong retention when needed (during stapling) and easy release when needed (during removal), resolving the contradiction between reliable retention and ease of apparatus removal.
Solution Approach 2:
The physical-chemical parameters of the adhesive layer change in response to irrigation solutions or bodily fluids, transitioning from a high-strength bonded state to a dissolved state. This parameter change enables the system to maintain firm attachment during surgery while allowing easy apparatus removal afterward, without requiring cutting of the buttress.
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 biodegradable adhesive ensures reliable retention and easy detachment of the buttress during stapling and tissue sealing, reducing the risk of leaks and bleeding, while minimizing excess material and simplifying the removal process.
Implementation Method 1
The low molecular weight biodegradable adhesive releasably retains the surgical buttress on at least one of the tissue contacting surfaces of the cartridge assembly and the anvil assembly
Implementation Method 2
a low molecular weight biodegradable adhesive releasably retains the surgical buttress
Implementation Method 3
The surgical buttress is porous. The surgical buttress includes a foam layer
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2A~2C
Figure 3~4
AI summary
A surgical stapling apparatus ((10),(110)) includes a cartridge assembly, an anvil assembly, a surgical buttress ((24),(124)), and a low molecular weight bioabsorbable adhesive. The cartridge assembly includes a plurality of staples ((50),(150)) and a tissue contacting surface defining staple retaining slots. The anvil assembly includes a tissue contacting surface defining staple pockets for forming staples expelled from the staple retaining slots of the cartridge assembly. The surgical buttress is disposed on at least one of the tissue contacting surfaces of the cartridge assembly and the anvil assembly. The low molecular weight bioabsorbable adhesive releasably retains the surgical buttress on the at least one of the tissue contacting surfaces of the cartridge assembly and the anvil assembly.