Expandable Anastomosis Stapling Head with Herringbone Pattern
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current circular surgical staplers lack the ability to efficiently form anastomoses with expanded diameters, which can lead to stricture and tension in joined tissue sections, hindering peristalsis and tissue expansion.
Innovation Solution
The design incorporates a stapling head assembly with alternating arrays of staple forming features and a non-circular anvil, allowing for the formation of anastomoses with enlarged diameters and radially expandable staples, enabling better tissue accommodation and reduced tension.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If a conventional circular stapler is used to form an anastomosis, then the stapling process can be completed, but the anastomosis diameter remains limited and cannot expand radially
Solution Approach 1:
The staple pattern is designed to be radially expandable, transitioning from a compressed state during stapling to an expanded state after tissue healing. This dynamic expansion allows the anastomosis to adapt to tissue swelling and maintain patency, resolving the contradiction between achieving a sufficient initial diameter and preventing later stricture.
Solution Approach 2:
The staple configuration changes physical parameters through radial expansion, increasing the effective diameter of the anastomosis over time. This parameter change from a fixed to an expandable structure enables the tissue junction to accommodate natural expansion without creating constricting strictures.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the anastomosis diameter is enlarged to reduce tension, then tissue accommodation improves, but the stapling mechanism becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The staple pattern is divided into multiple discrete expandable elements arranged in a circular configuration. Each staple or staple group acts as an independent expandable unit, allowing the overall anastomosis to expand radially while maintaining a relatively simple individual staple design, thus managing device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The expandable staple pattern serves multiple functions: it provides initial tissue approximation during stapling, then expands to accommodate tissue swelling, and maintains patency over time. This multi-functionality reduces the need for additional complex mechanisms to achieve tissue accommodation.
Data Source
AI summary
A method of creating an anastomosis is provided using a stapling assembly including a body extending distally along a longitudinal axis and a deck member defining a deck surface. The deck surface includes a first array of staple openings comprising a herringbone pattern, and each staple opening of the first array of staple openings has a same size. The method includes positioning an anvil within a first lumen of a patient and positioning the stapling assembly within a second lumen of the patient. The method also includes releasably coupling the anvil with the stapling assembly and compressing tissue of the first and second lumens between the anvil and the deck member. The method further includes actuating a plurality of staple drivers to drive a first plurality of staples distally and parallel to the longitudinal axis from the first array of staple openings into the tissue to define the anastomosis.