Buttress Tab Wrapping Finger for Stapler Positioning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing surgical buttress materials face difficulties in safe and effective positioning within staple cartridge assemblies during circular anastomosis procedures, complicating the use of reinforcing materials with stapling apparatuses.
Innovation Solution
A surgical apparatus featuring a staple cartridge assembly with a movable anvil and a buttress material with an annular body and tabs that securely attach to the cartridge assembly, allowing for adjustable clamping and easy release of the buttress material during stapling, ensuring proper positioning and reinforcement of tissue.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If buttress material is used with circular stapling apparatus, then tissue reinforcement is improved, but positioning and securing difficulty increases
Solution Approach 1:
The buttress material is divided into multiple segments or portions that can be independently positioned and secured. Each segment can be attached to different components of the stapling apparatus (anvil, cartridge, or both), allowing for flexible positioning while maintaining tissue reinforcement functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The buttress material is positioned nested within the stapling apparatus components, such as being placed between the anvil and cartridge or within the cartridge assembly. This nesting approach allows the buttress material to be securely positioned during the stapling process without requiring separate positioning steps.
2Reliability
If buttress material is secured within staple cartridge assembly, then tissue reinforcement is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The buttress material is merged with existing components of the stapling apparatus, such as being integrated with the anvil or cartridge structure. This merging approach allows the buttress material to be secured without adding separate complex securing mechanisms, thereby reducing overall device complexity while maintaining reinforcement functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
Existing components of the stapling apparatus (anvil, cartridge, fingers) are designed to serve multiple functions: their primary function plus the additional function of securing the buttress material. This multi-functionality approach allows the buttress material to be secured without requiring dedicated securing components, thereby reducing device complexity.
3Manufacturing precision
If tab is wrapped around finger for securing, then positioning precision is improved, but ease of operation worsens
Solution Approach 1:
The finger component is designed with dynamic properties, allowing it to deflect or move in response to the tab wrapping around it. This dynamic response enables the tab to be easily wrapped around the finger while automatically achieving precise positioning, thereby improving ease of operation without sacrificing positioning precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The tab wrapping around the finger creates a self-securing mechanism where the act of wrapping itself provides both positioning precision and securing force. The geometry of the tab and finger are designed such that wrapping the tab around the finger automatically engages positioning features and secures the buttress material, eliminating the need for separate securing actions.
Data Source
AI summary
A stapling apparatus includes a cartridge assembly, an anvil assembly, and a buttress material. The cartridge assembly includes pushers configured to eject the respective surgical staples from the cartridge assembly, and an outer wall defining a cavity and having a finger deflectably extending over the cavity. The buttress material includes an annular body and a tab extending proximally from the annular body such that at least a portion of the tab is wrapped around the finger of the outer wall of the staple cartridge assembly. The pushers are movable between a first position in which one of the pushers engages the finger such that the tab is secured against the one of the pushers, and a second position in which the one of the pushers is disengaged from the finger such that a portion of the tab is released from the one of the pushers.