Universal Surgical Stapling Buttress Carrier Assembly

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current surgical buttress systems for endoscopic and laparoscopic procedures are complex to manufacture and apply, and they do not allow for easy re-use of surgical stapling instruments, limiting their configurability and efficiency in various surgical applications.

Innovation Solution

A surgical buttress carrier assembly comprising a buttress carrier and a buttress material with specific post and opening configurations that can be easily attached to and detached from surgical stapler jaws, allowing for re-use and flexible configuration of the instruments, and a method for using and reloading these components during procedures.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If traditional surgical buttress systems are used, then tissue reinforcement is achieved, but the system complexity and manufacturing difficulty increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetissue reinforcementVSAvoidsystem complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The surgical buttress system is divided into separate modular components: a staple cartridge assembly with integrated buttress material, and a separate anvil assembly with its own buttress material. This segmentation allows each component to be manufactured independently with optimized complexity, while maintaining reliable tissue reinforcement through the modular assembly.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Reliability

If traditional surgical buttress systems are used, then tissue reinforcement is provided, but ease of manufacture decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetissue reinforcementVSAvoidease of manufacture

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The buttress materials are pre-attached to the staple cartridge and anvil assemblies during manufacturing, rather than requiring attachment during surgery. This preliminary action simplifies the manufacturing process by allowing standardized mass production of pre-configured assemblies, while ensuring reliable tissue reinforcement is provided when the assemblies are deployed.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Reliability

If surgical stapling instruments are designed for single use, then reliability is improved, but re-usability and configurability are reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesurgical performanceVSAvoidre-usability

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The surgical stapling system is segmented into reusable handle assemblies and disposable cartridge/anvil assemblies. The reusable handles can be sterilized and reused across multiple procedures, while the disposable cartridges provide reliable single-use performance. This segmentation enables both reliability through disposable components and re-usability through durable handle assemblies.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The handle assemblies are designed with universal interfaces that can accommodate different cartridge and anvil configurations. This universality allows a single handle to perform multiple surgical functions by swapping cartridges, enhancing re-usability and configurability while maintaining reliable performance through standardized reusable components.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

4Reliability

If complex attachment mechanisms are used for buttress material, then reliability of attachment is improved, but ease of operation decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveattachment reliabilityVSAvoidease of application

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The buttress materials are merged with the staple cartridge and anvil assemblies through integrated attachment mechanisms built into the components themselves. The cartridge includes integrated features that automatically secure the buttress material during cartridge assembly, and the anvil includes corresponding integrated features for securing its buttress material. This merging eliminates the need for separate complex attachment steps during surgery, maintaining reliable attachment while simplifying operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentUS11426163B2Universal linear surgical stapling buttress

Publication Date: 2022.08.30 COVIDIEN LP

AI summary

A surgical buttress carrier assembly includes a buttress carrier and a buttress material. The buttress carrier has a body, a distal end, and lateral sides; the carrier has at least one distally extending post at the distal end, at least one first laterally extending post at a first lateral side, and at least one second laterally extending post at a second lateral side. The buttress carrier has an inner edge adjacent the distal end, and a proximally extending hook extending from the inner edge. The buttress material has an elongate shape, a distal end, and a first lateral side and a second lateral side; the buttress material has at least one opening at the distal end, at least one first side opening adjacent the buttress first lateral side, and at least one second side opening adjacent the buttress second lateral side.