Continuous Stapling Instrument with Winding Drive Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current surgical stapling instruments require removal and reinsertion during surgery to replace staple cartridges, disrupting the procedure and increasing effort and risk.
Innovation Solution
A continuous stapling instrument with a drive mechanism featuring interlocking gears and pulleys that wind and unwind a staple belt within the instrument, allowing for uninterrupted stapling without cartridge replacement, incorporating a bevel helical gear and stopper arm to manage the belt and a cutting mechanism for tissue transection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of time
If a traditional staple cartridge system is used, then stapling can be performed, but the instrument must be removed and reinserted to replace cartridges during surgery
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a continuous stapling system where a long flexible strip with multiple rows of staples allows uninterrupted stapling throughout the entire surgical procedure. The strip is fed continuously from a supply magazine through the instrument, eliminating the need to stop and replace cartridges, thus maintaining continuous useful action during surgery.
Solution Approach 2:
The staple supply is segmented into multiple rows on a flexible strip, with each row capable of independent usage. The strip is divided into used and unused portions, with the used portion being wound onto a take-up spool and the unused portion remaining in the supply magazine, allowing continuous operation without interruption.
2Reliability
If cartridge replacement is required during surgery, then new staples can be supplied, but the instrument must be removed from the surgical site
Solution Approach 1:
The continuous flexible strip design ensures that stapling can proceed without interruption or removal of the instrument from the surgical site. The strip supplies staples continuously throughout the procedure, eliminating the need for cartridge replacement and maintaining both safety and continuity.
3Quantity of substance
If multiple staple cartridges are used, then extended stapling capacity is achieved, but the complexity of replacement procedures increases
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple rows of staples that would traditionally require separate cartridges are merged onto a single flexible strip. This unified structure allows all staples to be supplied through one continuous mechanism, reducing the complexity of managing and replacing multiple cartridges while maintaining extended stapling capacity.
Solution Approach 2:
The flexible strip serves multiple functions: it supplies staples continuously, acts as a feed mechanism, and provides a built-in advancement system. This multi-functional design eliminates the need for separate cartridge replacement mechanisms, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining high staple capacity.
4Ease of operation
If the instrument is removed for cartridge replacement, then new staples can be loaded, but the surgical effort and risk increase
Solution Approach 1:
The continuous flexible strip enables uninterrupted stapling without removing the instrument from the surgical site, reducing both user effort and surgical risk. The strip is automatically fed and advanced, eliminating the manual intervention required for cartridge replacement and thereby improving both ease of operation and safety.
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
AI summary
The present invention relates to a continuous stapling instrument (1), which performs stapling without being moved away from the area where the operation is being performed during stapling of the tissue in open, closed and/or robotic surgical operations, and which realizes winding of the emptied staple belt (Z), and which is essentially characterized by at least one body (2), at least one drive mechanism (3) which is located inside the body (2), at least one actuator rod (4) which transfers the power required to operate the drive mechanism (3) and which is connected to the body (2), at least one channel (5) which is connected onto the body (2) and in which the staple belt (Z) moves, at least one lower jaw (6) which is placed on the channel (5) and which is opened and closed serving as a jaw, at least one connection pin (61), which enables to connect the lower jaw (6) onto the channel (5) and enables the lower jaw (6) to move around the point where it is connected, at least one wire rod (62), whose one end is connected to the lower jaw (6) and the other end to the actuator rod (4), and which moves the lower jaw (6) upon movement of the actuator rod.