Compliant E-Beam Firing Bar for Variable Tissue Thickness
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing surgical stapling and severing instruments face challenges in accommodating varying tissue thicknesses, leading to issues such as loose staples in thin tissues and excessive compressive force in thick tissues, which can result in necrosis, bleeding, or poor staple formation.
Innovation Solution
The development of a surgical stapling and severing instrument with a compliant E-beam firing bar that adjusts its spacing to accommodate different tissue thicknesses, featuring flexible components such as horizontal slits, relieved areas, and resilient materials to ensure proper staple formation and retention.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a fixed spacing firing bar is used, then the device structure is simple, but it cannot accommodate varying tissue thicknesses leading to loose staples in thin tissues or excessive compressive force in thick tissues
Solution Approach 1:
The firing bar transitions from a fixed, rigid structure to a dynamic, adjustable structure that can change its spacing to accommodate varying tissue thicknesses. The anvil is made movable relative to the staple cartridge, allowing the spacing between the anvil and cartridge to be adjusted based on tissue thickness, thereby preventing both loose staples and excessive compression.
Solution Approach 2:
The spacing parameter between the anvil and staple cartridge is made variable rather than fixed. By allowing the anvil to move and changing the spacing parameter dynamically, the system adapts to different tissue thicknesses, resolving the contradiction between maintaining simple structure and achieving adaptability.
2Adaptability or versatility
If rigid components are used in the firing bar, then manufacturing is easier, but the instrument cannot adjust to different tissue thicknesses resulting in poor staple formation
Solution Approach 1:
Rigid components are replaced with dynamic, adjustable components. The anvil is designed to move relative to the staple cartridge, and the firing bar incorporates flexible or adjustable elements that allow spacing modification, enabling adaptation to different tissue thicknesses while maintaining manufacturability through modular design.
Solution Approach 2:
The firing bar and anvil assembly are segmented into movable and fixed portions, allowing independent adjustment of the anvil position relative to the staple cartridge. This segmentation enables the rigid parts to remain simple for manufacturing while the joint mechanism provides the necessary adaptability.
3Adaptability or versatility
If uniform compression force is applied, then the mechanism is simple, but it causes necrosis or bleeding in thick tissues while providing insufficient compression in thin tissues
Solution Approach 1:
The compression force mechanism transitions from a static, uniform force application to a dynamic system where the anvil position and compression force can be adjusted. By making the anvil movable and allowing spacing adjustment, the system adapts compression force to tissue thickness, preventing both insufficient compression and excessive force that causes necrosis or bleeding.
4Adaptability or versatility
If a fixed anvil position is used, then the device structure is simplified, but loose staples occur in thin tissues and excessive compression occurs in thick tissues
Solution Approach 1:
The anvil is designed with movable mounting that allows position adjustment relative to the staple cartridge. This dynamic positioning capability enables the anvil to be relocated to accommodate different tissue thicknesses, preventing staple formation defects while the modular mounting structure keeps the added complexity manageable.
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
The instrument effectively adjusts to varying tissue thicknesses, preventing loose or overly compressed staples, thereby improving staple retention and reducing the risk of tissue damage during surgical procedures.
Implementation Method 1
resilient materials to ensure proper staple formation and retention
Data Source
AI summary
A method for deforming a staple comprising a base, a first staple leg, and a second staple leg, wherein the base, the first staple leg, and the second staple leg are positioned within a common plane prior to being deformed, the method comprising positioning the first staple leg within a first cup of a staple pocket, the first cup comprising a first inner surface, applying a first compressive force to the first staple leg to bend the first staple leg toward the base and the second staple leg, contacting the first inner surface with the end of the first staple leg to bend the end of the first staple leg toward a first side of the base, and deforming the first staple leg such that the end of the first staple leg crosses a mid-line of the staple defined between the first staple leg and the second staple leg.