Circular Surgical Stapler Sensing for Trocar Position and Anvil State
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing surgical staplers lack effective means to determine and communicate the anvil state and trocar position accurately, which is crucial for proper operation and minimizing tissue and anastomosis damage during procedures.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of sensors, such as torque and rotational position sensors, to generate data on trocar position and anvil state, coupled with a communication element to provide indicators on an external hub, ensuring accurate determination and communication of these states.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If onboard visual indicators are used to show anvil state, then the surgeon can see the device status, but the surgeon may not always have hands on the device or portions of the device may be visually obscured
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements sensors that detect trocar position and anvil state, then provide real-time feedback through an external display system. This allows the surgical team to monitor device status remotely without requiring direct visual contact with the instrument, resolving the contradiction between information availability and ease of operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary communication system that acts as a mediator between the surgical instrument and the surgical team. The sensors and external display create an intermediate information channel, allowing anvil state monitoring without requiring the surgeon to directly observe or manually control the device.
2Measurement precision
If sensors and communication elements are added to the surgical stapler, then real-time data on trocar position and anvil state can be provided, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent integrates multiple functions into the surgical stapler by combining sensors, communication elements, and control systems into a single multi-functional device. This allows the instrument to simultaneously perform stapling, position detection, data communication, and real-time monitoring, achieving measurement precision while managing complexity through functional integration.
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
Enhances the precision of surgical stapler operation by providing real-time feedback on anvil state and trocar position, reducing tissue and anastomosis damage during surgical procedures.
Implementation Method 1
at least one of the one or more sensors can be a torque sensor configured to measure torque applied to the knob
Implementation Method 2
a force sensor configured to measure force based on linear motion
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure provides a circular stapler. The circular stapler includes a stapling head assembly. A trocar is positioned at least partially within the stapling head assembly. An anvil is detachably attachable to the trocar. A knob rotatable to cause translation of the trocar to adjust a position of the anvil with respect to the stapling head assembly. One or more sensors are configured to generate data associated with a trocar position or an anvil state. A communication element is configured to provide the generated data to a hub, wherein the hub is configured to provide an indicator associated with the trocar position or the anvil state based on the generated data.