Curved Distal Tool Assembly for Leak-Resistant Tissue Dissection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing linear surgical stapling devices often fail to effectively seal termination points during multiple cutting operations, leading to potential leakage, as they do not apply staples across the vertex of the termination point, making it difficult to maintain a straight cut line and seal the cut line properly.
Innovation Solution
A tool assembly with a cartridge and anvil configuration featuring a linear longitudinal portion and a contiguous transverse portion that is curved or angled, allowing the termination points to be positioned on the specimen side, thereby minimizing leakage by ensuring staples are applied along the cut line on the non-specimen side.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a linear surgical stapling device is used with a straight tool assembly, then the device can perform cutting operations, but the termination points are susceptible to leakage because staples are not applied across the vertex of the termination point
Solution Approach 1:
The tool assembly incorporates a curved distal portion instead of a straight configuration. This curvature allows the tool assembly to angle the cut line such that termination points are positioned on the specimen side, enabling staples to be applied across the vertex of termination points and eliminating leakage susceptibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The tool assembly transitions from a one-dimensional straight configuration to a two-dimensional curved configuration. This dimensional change allows the distal portion to angle relative to the longitudinal axis, creating the geometric necessary to position termination points on the specimen side while maintaining staple application across the vertex.
2Productivity
If multiple cutting operations are performed to remove a long organ, then the organ can be removed, but it is difficult to maintain a straight cut line and properly seal the termination points
Solution Approach 1:
The curved distal portion of the tool assembly maintains a consistent angle relative to the longitudinal axis throughout multiple cutting operations. This geometric design ensures that each termination point is positioned on the specimen side, allowing proper sealing with staples across the vertex, regardless of how many cutting operations are performed.
3Productivity
If the tool assembly is made longer to cut across the entire length of a body organ, then single cutting operation may suffice, but the device complexity and size increase
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of extending the tool assembly linearly to increase cutting length, the distal portion is curved to angle away from the longitudinal axis. This allows the effective cutting length to be extended in a directional manner, enabling the tool to reach across long organs while maintaining a compact overall device structure.
Data Source
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AI summary
A tool assembly for leak resistant dissection of tissue includes an anvil and a cartridge housing a plurality of staples. The anvil and cartridge have a linear longitudinal portion and a transverse portion positioned distally of the longitudinal portion. The linear longitudinal portion of the cartridge and anvil assemblies is substantially longer than the curved distal portion. In use, when a surgical procedure is performed that requires a plurality of cutting operations, e.g., a gastrectomy procedure, the first cutting operation is performed to form a substantially linear cut line having a curved distal portion that curves towards a specimen side of the organ, e.g., the stomach. In each subsequent cutting operation, the proximal portion of the tool assembly is positioned with the existing cut line such that a termination point of the existing cut line is positioned on the specimen side of the tissue or organ being partially removed.