Fluid-Actuated Surgical Fastener Ejection via Oscillating Piston
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing surgical fastener applying apparatuses face challenges in efficiently clamping, fastening, and cutting tissue due to limitations in the mechanical interaction between jaw structures and the fluid-activated drive systems, which can result in inconsistent fastener formation and tissue cutting.
Innovation Solution
A surgical fastener applying apparatus featuring a fluid-actuated drive assembly with a distal piston member, a drive beam, and a pawl assembly, where the distal piston member oscillates between positions to incrementally advance the drive beam through a cartridge assembly, engaging and disengaging with a rack to eject surgical fasteners and cut tissue, while a motor assembly and fluid pressure facilitate the process.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If a mechanical camming system is used to eject fasteners, then the fastener ejection mechanism is simple, but the fastener formation consistency is poor
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a pneumatic drive system where a piston receives pressurized gas to generate linear motion. This pneumatic mechanism drives the ejection pins through the cartridge to eject fasteners with consistent force and timing, improving fastener formation consistency while maintaining acceptable system complexity through the use of standard pneumatic components.
2Manufacturing precision
If a fluid-actuated drive system is used, then the tissue cutting precision is improved, but the energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The pneumatic piston operates in periodic cycles, receiving pressurized gas only during the brief moment when fastener ejection is needed. The system uses a valve mechanism to control gas flow timing, allowing the piston to remain stationary or return to initial position during non-ejection phases. This periodic activation significantly reduces overall energy consumption compared to continuously powered systems while maintaining high cutting precision during active operation.
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
This solution enables precise and consistent clamping, fastening, and cutting of tissue by utilizing fluid pressure to drive the distal piston member and drive beam, ensuring reliable formation of surgical fasteners and efficient tissue processing.
Implementation Method 1
fluid pressure within the piston housing urges the distal piston member to move from the proximal position to the distal position
Implementation Method 2
a distal piston member configured to oscillate between a proximal position and a distal position
Implementation Method 3
The pawl assembly couples the drive beam to the rack such that the drive beam is incrementally advanced along the rack
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3~4
AI summary
A surgical fastener applying apparatus (10) includes an end effector assembly (300) having an anvil assembly (350) and a cartridge assembly (360). The anvil assembly (350) and/or the cartridge assembly (360) is movable relative to the other between open and closed positions. The cartridge assembly is configured to retain a plurality of surgical fasteners (400) therein. A fluid-actuated drive assembly (140) including a distal piston member (148) is configured to oscillate between proximal and distal positions. The distal piston member includes a base and a rack (346) extending distally from the base and slidably disposed within the cartridge assembly. A drive beam (370) is configured for translation through the cartridge assembly (360) to eject the surgical fasteners (400) from the cartridge assembly (360). A pawl assembly (380) couples the drive beam to the rack such that the drive beam is incrementally advanced along the rack (346) and through the cartridge assembly (360) as the distal piston member oscillates between the proximal position and the distal position.