Buttress Retention Assembly for Fast Secure Stapler Loading
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing surgical stapling devices face challenges in efficiently and easily attaching and removing a buttress assembly to reinforce and seal staple lines, particularly in thin or fragile tissues, to prevent air or fluid leakage and inhibit tears or staple pull-through.
Innovation Solution
A surgical stapling device with a retention assembly that includes hooks and slots for securing a buttress material, utilizing a loading assembly with pegs and cups to detachably attach the buttress to the staple cartridge, allowing for easy mounting and removal.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a buttress assembly is attached to a surgical stapling device to reinforce staple lines, then tissue sealing and prevention of staple pull-through is improved, but the complexity of attachment and removal operations increases
Solution Approach 1:
The buttress assembly is divided into multiple separate buttress members that can be independently positioned and attached to different regions of the staple cartridge. Each buttress member can be separately secured using the retention assembly with multiple retention members, allowing for modular attachment that simplifies the overall process while maintaining reliable tissue sealing across the entire staple line.
Solution Approach 2:
The retention assembly is pre-configured on the staple cartridge with multiple retention members positioned at specific locations before the buttress assembly is attached. This preliminary preparation of the retention structure enables quick and easy attachment of the buttress members without requiring complex assembly operations during the surgical procedure, thereby improving reliability while reducing operational complexity.
2Reliability
If a retention assembly with multiple retention members is used to secure the buttress, then the security of attachment is improved, but the time required for attachment and removal increases
Solution Approach 1:
The retention members are designed to automatically engage with corresponding features on the buttress members when the assembly is properly positioned. The retention structure includes features that guide and self-align the components, allowing the attachment process to be largely self-service in nature. This automatic engagement mechanism maintains high attachment security through multiple retention points while significantly reducing the time required for attachment and removal operations.
3Strength
If the buttress material is made thicker or more substantial to better reinforce fragile tissues, then the strength of tissue reinforcement is improved, but the ease of manipulation and positioning during attachment decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The substantial buttress material is divided into multiple thinner buttress members that collectively provide the necessary reinforcement strength. Each individual member is thin and flexible enough for easy manipulation and positioning during attachment, while the combined effect of multiple members achieves the required tissue reinforcement strength for fragile tissues. The retention assembly is configured with multiple retention members positioned to secure these segmented buttress members at optimal locations.
Data Source
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AI summary
A buttress assembly for use with a surgical stapling device includes a buttress material and a loading assembly. The buttress material includes proximal and distal portions. The proximal portion defines proximal bores and a proximal slot. The distal portion defines distal bores and a distal slot. The loading assembly includes proximal and distal wings and proximal and distal cups. Each of the proximal wings includes a proximal peg configured to be received in a corresponding one of the proximal bores of the buttress material. Each of the distal wings includes a distal peg configured to be received in a corresponding one of the distal bores of the buttress material. When the proximal pegs are received in the proximal bores, the proximal cup is in registration with the proximal slot, and when the distal pegs are received in the distal bores, the distal cup is in registration with the distal slot.