Cutting Ring Assembly with Intermediate Shearing Member

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional circular stapling devices face difficulties in cutting through staples or sutures positioned in tissue due to the annular knife's inability to effectively engage and pass through these obstacles during end-to-end anastomosis procedures.

Innovation Solution

A cutting ring assembly is introduced, comprising a backup member, an intermediate member, and a cutting ring body, where the intermediate member is made of a thin, rigid material with a hardness between that of the backup member and the cutting ring body, facilitating effective cutting by providing a shearing surface and allowing the knife to pass cleanly through staples.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If an annular knife is used to cut tissue in circular stapling devices, then the cutting function is provided, but the knife cannot effectively cut through staples or sutures positioned in tissue

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecutting effectivenessVSAvoidobstruction by staples and sutures
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

A cutting ring assembly is introduced as an intermediary component between the annular knife and the tissue. The cutting ring includes a backup member, an intermediate member, and a cutting ring body that work together to provide a shearing surface for effective cutting through staples and sutures

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The cutting ring assembly uses composite material structure with different hardness levels. The intermediate member has hardness between the backup member and cutting ring body, creating an optimized material gradient that enables effective cutting through various tissue types including those with staples or sutures

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

2Strength

If a hard backup member is used to support the annular knife, then cutting support is improved, but the knife still cannot pass through staples or sutures

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebackup supportVSAvoidpenetration through staples
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

Different parts of the cutting ring assembly have different local properties optimized for their specific functions. The backup member provides hard support, the intermediate member provides a shearing surface with intermediate hardness, and the cutting ring body provides structural integrity, creating localized quality variations that solve the cutting problem

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The invention changes the hardness parameter across different components of the cutting ring assembly. By creating a gradient of hardness values from the backup member through the intermediate member to the cutting ring body, the system achieves both support and penetration capabilities

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Ease of manufacture

If conventional cutting ring materials are used, then manufacturing is simplified, but cutting forces remain high and cutting effectiveness is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvematerial selectionVSAvoidcutting forces
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSForce

Solution Approach 1:

The cutting ring assembly employs composite material construction with multiple components having different material properties. This composite approach reduces cutting forces by distributing the cutting action across materials with optimized hardness characteristics

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

Data Source

PatentEP3087933B1Cutting ring assembly with rigid cutting member
Publication Date: 2019.12.18 COVIDIEN LP
  • EP3087933B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3087933B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP3087933B1 patent drawingFigure 4~5

AI summary

The present disclosure relates to a cut ring assembly including a backup member, an intermediate member and a cutting ring body.The intermediate member is formed of a thin, rigid material that is sandwiched between the backup member and the cutting ring body. The thin, rigid material is formed of a material having a hardness less than the hardness of the backup member and greater than the hardness of the cutting ring body. The present disclosure also relates to an anvil assembly including such a cut ring assembly.