In-situ Loaded Stapler Cartridge Assembly
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current surgical stapling devices require removal and replacement after each firing, which is inconvenient for laparoscopic and endoscopic procedures that necessitate multiple firings without leaving the surgical site.
Innovation Solution
A surgical stapling apparatus with a cartridge assembly comprising two interlocking halves and a disposable loading unit that allows for multiple firings without removal, featuring a cartridge support channel to maintain engagement of the halves and a firing cam assembly with drive bars to eject staples and a knife for tissue incision, enabling in-situ reloading of staples.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a disposable loading unit with a single row of staples is used, then the device can be easily manufactured and disposed of, but the device must be removed and replaced after each firing, reducing procedural efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The cartridge assembly is divided into a first cartridge half and a second cartridge half, each containing separate rows of retention slots for staples. This segmentation allows the device to hold multiple rows of staples while maintaining manageable complexity through modular construction.
Solution Approach 2:
The first and second cartridge halves are coupled together to form a unified cartridge assembly that can be inserted into a single loading unit. This merging allows multiple rows of staples to be contained within one device, enabling multiple firings without removal and improving procedural efficiency.
2Productivity
If the cartridge assembly is designed to remain in the loading unit after firing, then multiple firings can be performed without removal, but the mechanism for maintaining engagement and enabling reloading becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The cartridge assembly is nested within the loading unit, with the first and second cartridge halves inserted into a cartridge support channel. This nesting arrangement allows the cartridge to remain engaged in the loading unit after firing while enabling easy removal and replacement of the entire cartridge assembly when needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The cartridge support channel automatically maintains engagement of the cartridge halves through their coupled configuration, eliminating the need for complex locking mechanisms. The design allows the cartridge assembly to self-maintain its position in the loading unit while enabling straightforward reloading by simply removing and replacing the entire cartridge assembly.
3Quantity of substance
If multiple rows of retention slots are included in the cartridge assembly, then multiple firings are enabled, but the cartridge design becomes more complex requiring additional halves and support structures
Solution Approach 1:
The cartridge assembly is segmented into two separate cartridge halves, with each half containing a specific row of retention slots. This segmentation allows multiple rows of staples to be organized in a structured manner, making the design manageable and manufacturable while enabling multiple firings.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of stacking multiple single-row cartridges, the invention utilizes a lateral dimension by coupling two cartridge halves side-by-side, each with its own row of retention slots. This dimensional approach efficiently packs multiple rows of staples into a single cartridge assembly without excessive vertical complexity.
Data Source
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AI summary
In one aspect of the present disclosure a surgical stapling apparatus is disclosed including a cartridge assembly. The cartridge assembly includes at least one cartridge having a first half and a second half, a first row of retention slots disposed in the first half, a second row of retention slots disposed in the second half, a third row of retention slots being alternately disposed in the first half and the second half of the at least one cartridge between the first and second rows of staple receiving slots, a plurality of fasteners disposed in the retention slots of the first, second and third rows, and a plurality of pushers disposed in each of the first and second halves of the cartridge.