Surgical Stapler End Effector With Motor-Driven Blade Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing surgical stapling technologies face challenges in efficiently stapling and resecting anatomical structures during minimally invasive procedures, particularly in ensuring precise staple deployment and effective cutting of tissues.
Innovation Solution
The development of an end effector with a first and second jaw, each having a longitudinal axis, coupled by a rigid link and a cartridge housing staples, allowing for precise stapling and resection of tissues, facilitated by a blade with lateral arms slidably engaged in channels, and a drive assembly for motor-actuated operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If a rigid link is used to movably couple the jaws, then structural stability and precision are improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The coupling mechanism is divided into discrete functional elements: a rigid link component, a slot component, and a pin component. The rigid link is retained by the slot and pinned at its distal end, creating modular segments that can be manufactured and assembled separately while maintaining overall structural precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The rigid link is nested within the slot structure, with the link being retained by the slot and pinned at its distal end. This nested arrangement allows the rigid link to move precisely within the constraints of the slot while maintaining structural stability.
2Productivity
If a motor-actuated drive assembly is used, then operational efficiency is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The manual mechanical actuation system is replaced with a motor-actuated drive assembly. The motor provides automated actuation of the end effector, replacing manual manipulation and improving surgical efficiency while reducing the need for complex manual control mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The drive assembly serves multiple functions: it actuates the end effector for both stapling and cutting operations, and can control the rigid link mechanism for jaw movement. This multi-functionality improves productivity while consolidating control into a single system.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the slot length is increased to 3-8 mm for rigid link movement, then jaw movement flexibility is improved, but manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The slot length is specified as a parameter range of 3-8 mm, allowing optimization based on specific surgical applications. This parameter change provides flexibility in jaw movement range while the pin at the distal end of the rigid link maintains positioning precision within this range.
Data Source
AI summary
Embodiments include an end effector including an anvil, the anvil having an anvil face, an anvil blade channel defined by the anvil face, a first pocket row of first row staple pockets, a second pocket row of second row staple pockets, a third pocket row of third row staple pockets, a fourth pocket row of fourth row staple pockets, a fifth pocket row of fifth row staple pockets, a sixth pocket row of sixth row staple pockets, a cartridge having a cartridge face defining a cartridge blade channel, the cartridge being configured to retain a plurality of staples, and a blade, the blade having a cutting edge, where the blade is movable from a first position at a distal end of the cartridge to a second position at a proximal end of the cartridge.