Intelligent Anvil Insert for Reliable Surgical Stapler Clamping
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing surgical staplers lack cost-effective and customizable sensing capabilities to ensure proper tissue clamping and firing readiness, often relying on manual checks that can be unreliable.
Innovation Solution
An intelligent anvil insert equipped with a strain gage and microprocessor to detect tissue deflection and communicate with a console to provide real-time notifications on clamping status, preventing improper firing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If manual checks are used to verify tissue clamping, then the device complexity is low, but the reliability of ensuring proper clamping is poor
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where a sensor detects whether the anvil is properly clamped against the cartridge and provides real-time feedback to prevent firing unless proper clamping is confirmed. This ensures reliable tissue clamping verification while maintaining relatively simple device architecture through a single critical sensor check.
2Reliability
If sensing capabilities are added to the surgical stapler, then the reliability of tissue clamping detection is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
A sensor provides feedback on the clamping state between the anvil and cartridge, enabling reliable detection of proper tissue clamping while adding minimal complexity through a single sensor integration point in the anvil assembly.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs self-verification of clamping status through the integrated sensor, automatically determining whether firing conditions are met without requiring external verification devices or complex multi-sensor arrays.
3Measurement precision
If real-time feedback system is implemented, then the surgical precision is enhanced, but the use of energy increases
Solution Approach 1:
A sensor provides real-time feedback on clamping status with minimal energy consumption, enabling precise verification of tissue clamping conditions while maintaining low overall energy usage through a simple binary detection system rather than continuous monitoring.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs clamping verification at discrete periodic moments (when clamping occurs) rather than continuous monitoring, reducing energy consumption while maintaining surgical precision through timely detection of clamping status changes.
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
Ensures proper tissue clamping and safe stapling by providing real-time feedback, enhancing surgical precision and safety.
Implementation Method 1
a deflection sensor coupled with the elongate main body and configured to detect deflection of the elongate main body
Data Source
AI summary
A surgical stapler includes an elongate cartridge channel, an anvil assembly, a clamp member and a deflection sensor. The elongate cartridge channel includes a proximal frame portion and a distal jaw portion. The distal jaw portion is configured to releasably receive a staple cartridge. The anvil assembly includes an elongate anvil channel and an anvil insert. The elongate anvil channel includes a proximal frame portion and a distal jaw portion. The anvil insert is disposed at the distal jaw portion. The deflection sensor is associated with the anvil assembly and is configured to detect deflection of the anvil assembly to facilitate generation of a notification as a function of the detected deflection.