Endoscopic Stitching Device Sealing Pack Assembly

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing endoscopic stitching devices face challenges in preventing fluid ingress into the distal end of the elongate shaft assembly during surgical procedures, which can compromise the effectiveness and sterility of the process.

Innovation Solution

A sealing pack assembly is integrated into the elongate shaft assembly, featuring a central lumen for the axial rod and lumens for needle receiving blades, with outer and inner lips that engage the shaft and rod to form a fluid-tight seal, utilizing compressible materials and a clevis configuration to enhance sealing efficacy.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a sealing pack is added to inhibit fluid passage, then fluid sealing capability is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefluid sealing capabilityVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The sealing pack is nested within the elongate shaft assembly, with the central lumen accommodating the axial rod and additional lumens accommodating needle receiving blades. This nested configuration allows the sealing pack to provide comprehensive fluid sealing for multiple internal components without requiring separate sealing devices for each, thereby improving fluid sealing capability while minimizing the increase in device complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Solution Approach 2:

The sealing pack incorporates lips that form flexible sealing surfaces engaging with the axial rod and needle receiving blades. These flexible lip structures create effective fluid seals through contact deformation, providing reliable sealing capability while maintaining a relatively simple single-component structure rather than requiring multiple rigid sealing elements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

2Reliability

If multiple lumens and lips are added to the sealing pack, then sealing effectiveness is improved, but manufacturing complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesealing effectivenessVSAvoidmanufacturing complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The sealing pack integrates multiple sealing functions into a single component structure. The central lumen seals around the axial rod while additional lumens seal around needle receiving blades, and multiple lips provide sealing at different locations and orientations. This merging of multiple sealing functions into one component improves sealing effectiveness while avoiding the need to manufacture and assemble multiple separate sealing elements, thereby reducing overall manufacturing complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

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

The sealing pack assembly effectively inhibits fluid passage into the shaft assembly, maintaining sterility and facilitating smooth operation of the stitching device by creating multiple layers of seals, ensuring reliable performance during endoscopic procedures.

Implementation Method 1

The sealing pack is formed of a compressible material and includes a plurality of outer lips extending outwardly from the body portion and a plurality of inner lips extending inwardly from the central lumen. Each outer lip of the plurality of outer lips is configured to engage the elongate shaft assembly in a sealing relation. Each inner lip of the plurality of inner lips is configured to engage the axial rod in a sealing relation.

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCompression: Compression

Data Source

PatentEP3703580B1Endoscopic stitching device comprising a sealing pack assembly
Publication Date: 2024.04.03 COVIDIEN LP
  • EP3703580B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3703580B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3703580B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4

AI summary

An endoscopic stitching device includes an elongate shaft assembly, a tool assembly coupled with the elongate shaft assembly, and a sealing pack disposed in the elongate shaft assembly. The sealing pack defines a central lumen configured to receive an axial rod therethrough, and first and second lumens dimensioned to receive respective first and second needle receiving blades therethrough. The sealing pack includes a body portion, a plurality of outer lips extending outwardly from the body portion, and a plurality of inner lips extending inwardly from the central lumen. Each outer lip of the plurality of outer lips is configured to engage the elongate shaft assembly in a sealing relation. Each inner lip of the plurality of inner lips is configured to engage the axial rod in a sealing relation.