Electrosurgical Stapler with Multi-Circuit Seal Plates
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional surgical stapling devices leave foreign bodies in patients, necessitating a method to simulate staples without physically inserting them.
Innovation Solution
An electrosurgical instrument with a multi-circuit seal plate end effector assembly that uses a plurality of spaced apart seal plates on opposing jaw members, which are individually activatable to create electronic seals, and includes a cutting element and a mechanism for supplying a clotting agent or adhesive, providing haptic feedback.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional surgical stapling devices are used to join tissue, then secure tissue connection is achieved, but foreign bodies (staples) are left in the patient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical stapling system with an electrosurgical system that uses electrical energy to create seals. Instead of driving physical staples through tissue, the instrument uses sealed plates that deliver electrosurgical energy to fuse tissue molecules together, creating a secure connection without foreign body insertion
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the fundamental parameter of tissue joining from mechanical compression and deformation (staples) to thermal energy application and molecular fusion (electrosurgical sealing). This parameter change allows tissue to be joined securely through controlled heating that fuses collagen and other tissue proteins, eliminating the need for foreign bodies
2Strength
If multiple staples are used to secure tissue, then connection strength is improved, but tissue damage and bleeding increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the sealing surface into multiple discrete sealed plates arranged in rows and columns. Each sealed plate acts as an independent sealing unit that can be individually activated, allowing selective sealing of tissue regions while minimizing damage to surrounding areas. This segmented approach replaces the need for multiple staples with distributed electrosurgical sealing zones
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces mechanical staple compression with electrosurgical energy delivery through sealed plates. The sealed plates conduct electrical current through the tissue, generating localized heat that fuses tissue molecules together. This substitution eliminates the mechanical crushing and cutting forces that cause tissue damage and bleeding associated with traditional stapling
3Productivity
If traditional stapling devices are used, then tissue joining is achieved quickly, but the presence of foreign bodies requires additional surgical steps for removal or acceptance
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces mechanical stapling with electrosurgical sealing, which achieves tissue joining in a single step without requiring subsequent staple removal or acceptance procedures. The electrosurgical sealed plates create immediate molecular fusion of tissue, eliminating the foreign body that would otherwise require additional surgical consideration
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts and eliminates the foreign body component from the tissue joining process. Instead of inserting staples that remain in the patient, the system uses disposable sealed plates that deliver their function and are removed, leaving only the sealed tissue connection without foreign body residue
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables the creation of secure tissue seals without leaving staples, reducing tissue damage and bleeding, while allowing for adjustable seal strength and minimizing foreign body presence in patients.
Implementation Method 1
an apparatus with multi-circuit seal plates for use in simulating staples with electronic seals
Data Source
AI summary
An end effector assembly adapted to couple to an electrosurgical instrument, the end effector assembly including a plurality of spaced apart small seal plates on opposing jaw members where each seal plate forms a pair of seal plates with the corresponding seal plate on the opposing jaw member. Each pair of seal plates is individually activatable, and the pair of seal plates are activated in sequence. When the opposing jaw members are in an approximated position, the pairs of seal plates around the periphery of each jaw member define a gap therebetween that is larger than the gap between pairs of seal plates along the center of each jaw member.