Intelligent Anvil Feedback for Circular Stapler Tissue Compression
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing circular staplers face challenges in ensuring proper attachment of the anvil to the stapling head and maintaining consistent tissue compression during the anastomosis process, which can lead to leaks or inadequate sealing at the anastomosis site.
Innovation Solution
The introduction of a wireless powered anvil with an integrated electronic unit and sensors to measure tissue compression and provide real-time feedback, ensuring proper attachment and maintaining optimal clamping forces, and a mechanism to confirm the anvil's connection with the stapling head.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional mechanical anvil attachment mechanisms are used, then the device structure remains simple, but the reliability of anvil attachment and tissue compression consistency deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements sensors (force sensors, position sensors) that provide real-time feedback on anvil attachment status and tissue compression forces to a control system. This feedback loop enables the system to monitor and adjust parameters dynamically, ensuring reliable attachment and consistent compression while providing visual/tactile confirmation to the operator.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces traditional purely mechanical attachment and compression control mechanisms with an integrated system combining electronic sensors, wireless communication modules, and control algorithms. This substitution enables more precise and reliable measurement and control of attachment status and tissue compression forces.
2Manufacturing precision
If real-time monitoring of tissue compression is implemented, then the quality of anastomosis improves, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Force sensors and position sensors continuously monitor tissue compression forces and anvil position, providing real-time data to the control system. This enables dynamic adjustment of compression parameters to maintain consistency throughout the procedure, directly improving anastomosis quality.
Solution Approach 2:
The system automatically monitors and adjusts tissue compression parameters without requiring constant manual intervention. The electronic unit processes sensor data and makes real-time adjustments, reducing the burden on the operator while maintaining precise control over compression consistency.
3Loss of information
If wireless communication and electronic monitoring are added, then the information feedback capability improves, but the device complexity and potential points of failure increase
Solution Approach 1:
Wireless communication modules transmit real-time data on anvil attachment status, tissue compression forces, and procedural parameters to external systems. This comprehensive information feedback enables better monitoring and documentation while maintaining system reliability through redundancy and error handling protocols.
Solution Approach 2:
The electronic unit serves multiple functions: sensing, processing, wireless communication, and control. By consolidating these functions into a single integrated unit, the system reduces the number of separate components and potential failure points while maintaining comprehensive monitoring and feedback capabilities.
Data Source
AI summary
A surgical instrument includes a body assembly, a shaft assembly, a stapling head assembly disposed at a distal end of the shaft assembly, and an anvil. The stapling head assembly having a deck member and a closure shaft capable of moving relative to the deck member. The anvil including a head, a shank, a biasing body, and a electronic unit having a distance sensor. The head and the shank being capable of moving relative to each other. The biasing body being interposed between the head and the shank with a known spring constant. The distance sensor being capable of measuring a relative distance between the shank and the head, while the electronic unit can communicate a parameter associated with the relative distance to a console.