Buttress Attachment for Circular EEA Staplers
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing surgical buttress materials face difficulties in safe and effective positioning within staple cartridge and anvil assemblies during circular anastomosis procedures, making it challenging to reinforce and seal staple lines effectively.
Innovation Solution
The apparatus includes a staple cartridge assembly with an annular array of surgical staples, an anvil assembly, and a buttress member secured by a fastening member, which can be a suture or adhesive, to ensure the buttress member is positioned correctly on the staple cartridge or anvil assembly, allowing for secure stapling and reinforcement of tissue without interference from the cylindrical knife.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If buttress material is used to reinforce staple lines in circular stapling, then tissue reinforcement and sealing effectiveness is improved, but positioning and securing difficulty increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates the buttress material into the staple cartridge assembly before the surgical procedure. The pre-attached configuration includes alignment features such as registration marks and positioning structures that guide proper placement of the buttress relative to the staple line, eliminating the need for complex intraoperative positioning and securing steps
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces alignment features and positioning structures as intermediaries between the buttress material and the staple cartridge. These intermediaries include registration marks, alignment guides, and mechanical positioning elements that facilitate easy and accurate attachment of the buttress to the staple cartridge, resolving the positioning difficulty
2Manufacturing precision
If a fastening member is used to secure the buttress member, then positioning accuracy is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the fastening function with the structural components of the staple cartridge assembly. The alignment features and positioning structures are integrated into the existing cartridge architecture rather than being separate additions, achieving accurate positioning while minimizing overall device complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent designs the buttress attachment system with self-aligning features including registration marks and mechanical guides that automatically position the buttress correctly during attachment. This self-service mechanism eliminates the need for complex external fastening tools or procedures, achieving positioning accuracy through the system's own structural features
3Reliability
If the buttress member is positioned on the staple cartridge assembly, then tissue reinforcement is improved, but interference with the cylindrical knife occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent positions the buttress material specifically at the staple line location where reinforcement is needed, while maintaining clear spacing between the buttress and the path of the cylindrical knife. The localized placement ensures tissue reinforcement at the critical junction without creating interference with the cutting mechanism
Solution Approach 2:
The patent separates the functions of tissue reinforcement and tissue cutting by positioning the buttress material only where reinforcement is needed (at the staple line) and ensuring it does not extend into the knife's path. This functional separation eliminates interference while maintaining reinforcement effectiveness
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus for joining two hollow organ sections includes a staple cartridge assembly including an annular wall, an anvil assembly, a buttress member, and a fastening member. The annular wall of the staple cartridge assembly defines an inner aperture in an inner surface thereof and an outer aperture in an outer surface thereof. The buttress member is configured to be positioned on a distal surface of the staple cartridge assembly. The buttress member defines a cutout on a peripheral portion thereof. The fastening member has a first end securely affixed to the inner aperture of the annular wall of the staple cartridge assembly and a second end securely affixed to the outer aperture of the annular wall of the staple cartridge assembly to secure the buttress member on the staple cartridge assembly. The cutout of the buttress member is in registration with the outer aperture of the annular wall.