Electric Surgical Stapler Control via Stroke Feedback
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Solution Overview
Problem
Electric surgical staplers face challenges in ensuring precise and safe operation during surgery, with issues such as tissue necrosis from excessive closing and staple deformation due to manual operation inaccuracies, which can lead to fault operations and reduced surgical efficiency.
Innovation Solution
An electric surgical stapler with a control unit that includes a driving motor, working head with safety switches, and sensors to detect closing and firing strokes, pressure, and battery level, allowing for real-time communication and control to prevent abnormal operations by ensuring each action meets predetermined standards.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If manual surgical staplers are used, then operation flexibility is maintained, but precision of staple formation is compromised due to manual operation influence
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the manual mechanical operation system with an electric driving system. The electric surgical stapler uses a motor-driven closing mechanism and firing mechanism instead of purely manual operation, eliminating the influence of manual operation on precision while maintaining operational control through electronic control systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent incorporates multiple feedback mechanisms including closing limit switches, firing safety switches, and communication between the handle and working head. These feedback systems ensure that the closing and firing actions are precisely controlled and monitored, preventing fault operations while maintaining operational flexibility through real-time status monitoring.
2Strength
If excessive closing force is applied, then tissue clamping is improved, but tissue necrosis occurs due to excessive closing
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a closing limit switch that detects when the closing stroke reaches a predetermined range and provides feedback to stop the closing mechanism. This feedback control ensures adequate tissue clamping force is applied without exceeding safe limits, preventing tissue necrosis while maintaining effective tissue compression for proper staple formation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent pre-configures the closing mechanism with a predetermined closing stroke range and limit switches positioned at appropriate locations. This preliminary setup establishes safe operating parameters before surgery begins, ensuring that the closing force remains within the optimal range that achieves adequate tissue clamping without causing damage.
3Productivity
If excessive firing is performed, then staple deployment is complete, but staple deformation occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates a firing safety switch and communication system between the handle and working head that provides real-time feedback on the firing mechanism status. This feedback control ensures that firing is performed only when proper closing is achieved and stops when the predetermined firing stroke is completed, preventing staple deformation while ensuring complete staple deployment.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent pre-configures the firing mechanism with safety switches and control logic that establish proper firing parameters before operation. The system pre-verifies that closing is adequate before allowing firing to proceed, and pre-limits the firing stroke to prevent over-firing that could cause staple deformation.
4Measurement precision
If electric surgical stapler is used to eliminate manual operation influence, then precision is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the electric surgical stapler into distinct functional modules: an electric handle containing the motor and control system, and a replaceable working head containing the closing and firing mechanisms with safety switches. This segmentation allows the complex control functions to be concentrated in the handle while keeping the working head relatively simple and interchangeable, managing overall device complexity through modular design.
Data Source
AI summary
An electric surgical stapler and a method for controlling closing and firing of the electric surgical stapler are disclosed. The electric surgical stapler includes: a driving motor, having an output shaft; a working head, including an anvil, a cartridge, a closing mechanism, a firing mechanism, a closing limit switch, and a firing safety switch, wherein the closing limit switch is configured to detect a closing stroke of the closing mechanism, the firing safety switch has a closing position and a firing position, the firing safety switch is configured to allow the output shaft to transmit power to the closing mechanism when the firing safety switch is at the closing position, and the firing safety switch is configured to allow the output shaft to transmit power to the firing mechanism when the firing safety switch is at the firing position; and a control unit, including: a working head identifying module; a motor control module; a closing and firing control module, configured to receive information transmitted from the closing limit switch and the firing safety switch; a closing switch; and an opening switch. The control unit is provided with a plurality of modules, and is able to communicate with the working head in real time, to avoid abnormal or fault operations during surgery, and to improve security in use.