Compression Gauge Cartridge for Tissue Load-Based Staple Selection
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current surgical stapler instruments lack the ability to consistently control tissue compression force and measure reactionary load, leading to potential under- or over-compression of tissues, which can result in inadequate hemostasis, leakage, or tissue tearing during surgical stapling operations.
Innovation Solution
A compression gauge cartridge with a force transducer and compression head is mounted in the cartridge bay of a surgical stapler, allowing for consistent tissue compression to a predetermined thickness and measurement of reactionary load, aiding in the selection of an optimal staple cartridge based on the measured load.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If standardized staple cartridges with fixed gap distances are used, then the device complexity is reduced and ease of operation is improved, but the tissue compression force cannot be controlled or measured, leading to potential under- or over-compression
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates a force transducer that provides real-time feedback on the reactionary load during tissue compression. This feedback mechanism allows the system to monitor and adjust compression forces, ensuring optimal tissue compression without requiring complex manual judgment by the surgeon. The force transducer converts mechanical compression forces into electrical signals that can be displayed and used to guide staple cartridge selection.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the purely mechanical gap-distance-based compression system with an instrumented system that uses electronic sensing (force transducer) and data processing to determine optimal compression. This substitution allows for precise measurement of reactionary load and enables the system to compensate for variations in tissue properties that cannot be captured by fixed mechanical gap distances alone.
2Strength
If the anvil jaw member is made structurally rigid to reduce deflection, then the strength is improved, but the gap distance variation along the length cannot be compensated, making tissue compression non-uniform
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by instrumenting specific regions of the anvil jaw member with force transducers at multiple locations along its length. This allows measurement of compression forces at different segments, enabling identification and compensation for local variations in compression uniformity. The anvil maintains overall structural rigidity while localized sensing provides data to correct for non-uniform compression patterns.
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple color-coded staple cartridges with different gap distances are provided, then the adaptability to different tissue thicknesses is improved, but the difficulty of detecting and measuring the optimal cartridge selection increases
Solution Approach 1:
The force transducer provides objective feedback on the actual compression forces experienced during jaw closure, replacing subjective visual estimation with quantitative measurement. This feedback mechanism enables the surgeon to determine optimal staple cartridge selection based on measured reactionary load rather than relying on color-coding conventions, thereby improving selection accuracy while maintaining adaptability to different tissue types.
4Device complexity
If the compression gauge cartridge is mounted in the cartridge bay, then the device complexity is minimized, but the measurement precision of reactionary load may be affected by jaw member deflection
Solution Approach 1:
The compression gauge cartridge acts as an intermediary device mounted in the cartridge bay that measures compression forces indirectly through the jaw member interface. The force transducer in this intermediary device captures reactionary load data that reflects actual tissue compression conditions, providing measurement precision sufficient for guiding staple cartridge selection without requiring direct instrumentation of the jaw members themselves.
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
Enables precise selection of staple cartridges, ensuring adequate tissue compression and minimizing tissue damage, thereby improving surgical outcomes by reducing leakage and healing time.
Implementation Method 1
a force transducer and a compression head
Data Source
AI summary
A compression gauge cartridge for use mounted in a cartridge jaw member of a surgical compression gauge instrument to compress tissue to a predetermined thickness and measure reactionary load therefrom comprises: a cartridge body configured to be releasably mounted in the cartridge jaw member; a force gauge assembly comprising a force transducer and a compression head supported by the cartridge jaw member. The compression head is configured and disposed to be able to transfer the reactionary load from tissue to the force transducer, and a spacer member disposed between the two jaw members comprising the end effector of the surgical compression gauge instrument.