Exterior Actuation Wire for Surgical Stapler Friction Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Surgical staplers face difficulties in moving actuation wires through tortuous pathways due to increased strain and forces, making it challenging to effectively fasten tissue, especially in complex procedures like those in the gastrointestinal tract.
Innovation Solution
The design includes a tissue fastening device with a longitudinal body, a cartridge for holding fasteners, an anvil that is rotatable relative to the cartridge, and an actuation wire positioned at least partially exterior to the body, which reduces friction and strain by allowing easier movement of the actuation wire, facilitating the deployment of fasteners.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the actuation wire is positioned inside the longitudinal body, cartridge, or anvil, then the device structure is compact, but the wire experiences increased friction and strain making it difficult to move through tortuous pathways
Solution Approach 1:
The actuation wire is extracted from the internal pathways (longitudinal body, cartridge, anvil) and repositioned to extend at least partially exterior to these components. This extraction eliminates the friction and strain that occur when the wire moves through tight internal spaces and tortuous pathways, allowing smooth actuation of the fastener deployment mechanism while maintaining a relatively simple overall device structure.
2Productivity
If the actuation wire extends through the first body internally, then the device maintains a streamlined structure, but movement of the wire becomes difficult due to increased strain from other portions of the stapler
Solution Approach 1:
The actuation wire is extracted from the internal structure of the first body and repositioned to extend at least partially exterior to the longitudinal body, cartridge, and anvil. This extraction removes the wire from areas where it experiences increased strain from other stapler components, enabling smooth wire movement and efficient fastener deployment without compromising the streamlined external appearance of the device.
Data Source
AI summary
According to one aspect, a tissue fastening device may include a first body including a proximal end, a distal end, and defining a longitudinal axis; and a fastening device coupled to the distal end of the first body. The fastening device may include a longitudinal body comprising a cartridge; the cartridge configured to hold one or more fasteners; an anvil rotatable relative to the cartridge of the longitudinal body; a fastener actuator configured to move relative to the cartridge to deploy the one or more fasteners from the cartridge; and an actuation wire coupled to the fastener actuator, extending through the first body, and positioned at least partially exterior to the longitudinal body, the cartridge, or the anvil.