Curved Jaw Surgical Stapler with Dynamic Clamping and Tissue Stop
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current surgical instruments for joining tissue, particularly surgical stapling instruments, face challenges in efficiently approximating and securing curved tissue regions, such as those found in lower anterior resection procedures, due to limitations in jaw member design and tissue management during stapling and cutting processes.
Innovation Solution
The surgical instrument features longitudinally curved jaw members, a dynamic clamping member with a cutting edge, and a tissue stop mechanism, which allows for precise tissue compression and stapling, along with a loading unit that facilitates the use of curved jaw members to enhance access and visualization in surgical sites, enabling effective tissue approximation and cutting.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If conventional straight jaw members are used in surgical stapling instruments, then the instrument structure remains simple, but the instrument cannot effectively approximate and secure curved tissue regions
Solution Approach 1:
The jaw members are designed with longitudinal curvature to match the anatomical curvature of tissue regions being stapled. This allows the instrument to effectively approximate curved tissue surfaces, improving adaptability to complex surgical sites while maintaining a manageable device structure through purposeful geometric design
2Manufacturing precision
If a dynamic clamping member with cutting edge is added to the surgical instrument, then tissue compression and cutting precision are improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The dynamic clamping member integrates both compression and cutting functions into a single component. The cutting edge is incorporated directly onto the clamping member structure, allowing simultaneous tissue compression and precise cutting without requiring separate components, thereby improving precision while limiting complexity growth
Solution Approach 2:
The dynamic clamping member serves multiple functions: it provides tissue compression during stapling and simultaneously performs cutting through its integrated cutting edge. This multi-functionality reduces the need for additional separate components, balancing enhanced precision with controlled device complexity
3Manufacturing precision
If a tissue stop mechanism is incorporated to impede tissue escape, then tissue management precision is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The tissue stop mechanism is positioned and configured in advance within the jaw members to prevent tissue escape before the stapling and cutting operations are completed. This preliminary positioning ensures precise tissue management throughout the surgical procedure while using a relatively simple mechanical structure
4Ease of operation
If longitudinally curved jaw members are used to enhance access to surgical sites, then ease of operation is improved, but the manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The jaw members are manufactured with specific longitudinal curvature profiles that match common anatomical structures. This curvature design improves ease of operation by allowing better access to curved surgical sites, while the curvature is designed to be achievable through standard manufacturing processes for medical instruments
Data Source
AI summary
A surgical instrument is disclosed. The surgical instrument includes a handle assembly, a drive assembly, an endoscopic portion, a pair of jaw members, a dynamic clamping member, and a tissue stop. The drive assembly is disposed in mechanical cooperation with a movable handle of the handle assembly. The endoscopic portion defines a first longitudinal axis. The jaw members are each longitudinally curved with respect to the longitudinal axis. The dynamic clamping member is disposed in mechanical cooperation with a distal portion of the drive assembly and includes an upper beam, a lower beam, and a vertical beam having a cutting edge on a distal portion thereof. At least a portion of the dynamic clamping member is longitudinally curved with respect to the longitudinal axis. The tissue stop is disposed adjacent a distal portion of the first jaw member and configured to impede tissue from distally escaping the jaw members.