Buttress Retainer Recesses for Surgical Stapler Attachment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing surgical stapling instruments face challenges in effectively attaching and retaining staple line buttress materials to the anvil and staple cartridge, which are crucial for sealing and reinforcing thin or fragile tissues, as existing methods often result in tears or pull-through of staples.
Innovation Solution
The surgical stapler incorporates a system with recesses and retainers, such as clips and I-beam retainers, that pass through the buttress material and engage with the jaw surfaces to securely attach the buttress material, allowing it to be stapled to the tissue while remaining attached to the instrument, either absorbable or not, to prevent tissue damage during insertion.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If linear pins in circular recesses or clips are used to attach buttress material to the stapling instrument, then the buttress material can be retained on the jaws, but the attachment system becomes complex and difficult to operate
Solution Approach 1:
The attachment system is segmented into discrete retainers that can be individually positioned and engaged with the jaw recesses, allowing for modular assembly and simplified operation while maintaining reliable retention of the buttress material throughout the stapling process
Solution Approach 2:
The retainers are designed to nest within recesses formed in the jaw, creating a compact integrated structure where the retainer fits into the jaw geometry, simplifying the overall attachment system while ensuring secure retention during tissue stapling
2Reliability
If clips with angled lips are used to engage the buttress material, then secure retention is achieved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The retainer structure incorporates localized geometric features such as angled lips and complementary recesses at specific positions, providing secure engagement only where needed while keeping the overall retainer design simple and manufacturable
Solution Approach 2:
The retainer and recess are designed with asymmetric geometries where the angled lip of the retainer complements the corresponding asymmetric recess in the jaw, creating a snap-fit engagement that is simple to install but provides robust retention during stapling operations
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
This solution ensures secure attachment and retention of the buttress material, preventing tears and pull-through, while allowing for effective sealing and reinforcement of the staple line, enhancing the stability and integrity of the tissue during and after stapling.
Implementation Method 1
ends of the lower beam frictionally engage surfaces defining the recesses
Data Source
AI summary
Systems of releasably connecting staple line buttress material to the jaws of a surgical stapling instrument are provided. The systems include retainers (28,130,150,160) configured to engage the buttress material (24) and releasably retain the buttress material on the jaws (20,22) of the surgical stapling instrument prior to stapling tissue. In certain embodiments, the retainers remain with the jaws of the instrument after stapling of tissue. In alternative embodiments, the retainers remain with the buttress material after being stapled to tissue. The buttress material includes a plurality of slots (136). The retainers are disposed within one recess in one of the jaws, the recess being formed as a slot (132).