Pivotable Knife Bar Guide for Greater Stapler Articulation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing surgical stapling apparatus face challenges with increased dead space and the need for simultaneous motor movements during articulation, leading to bar buckling and inefficiencies in drive beam travel.
Innovation Solution
A bar guide assembly that is double hinged and includes a guide ramp to enable independent articulation and drive beam movement, maintaining constant length and reducing bend tightness, allowing for greater articulation without requiring simultaneous motor movements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the articulation angle is increased, then the tissue manipulation capability is improved, but the dead space increases and the drive beam must move forward
Solution Approach 1:
The bar guide assembly is divided into multiple segments (first bar guide, second bar guide, third bar guide) connected by hinge joints, allowing each segment to rotate independently relative to others, enabling the drive beam to maintain length while the end effector articulates
Solution Approach 2:
The bar guide assembly transitions from a rigid structure to a dynamic articulated structure with hinge joints that allow rotation during articulation, enabling the drive beam to maintain constant length while accommodating end effector movement through controlled segment rotation
2Adaptability or versatility
If the articulation angle is increased, then the tissue manipulation capability is improved, but the drive beam must travel forward requiring simultaneous two motor movement
Solution Approach 1:
The bar guide assembly is segmented into multiple rotatable sections that independently accommodate articulation, separating the articulation function from drive beam translation and eliminating the need for coordinated two-motor control
Solution Approach 2:
The articulation function is extracted from the drive beam translation mechanism by introducing a separate articulated bar guide assembly, allowing articulation to occur independently without requiring drive beam forward movement
3Device complexity
If a standard bar guide assembly is used, then the structure is simple, but bar buckling occurs during articulation
Solution Approach 1:
The bar guide assembly is segmented into multiple sections connected by hinges, distributing mechanical stresses across multiple joints and preventing buckling by allowing controlled rotation rather than forcing the entire bar to bend
Solution Approach 2:
The bar guide assembly adds rotational freedom in a new dimension through hinge joints, allowing the structure to accommodate articulation forces by rotating rather than buckling, transforming the response from bending to rotation
Data Source
AI summary
A surgical stapling apparatus includes a shaft assembly, an end effector secured to the shaft assembly, a firing assembly, an articulation assembly, and an articulation guide. The firing assembly includes a flexible knife bar assembly that is selectively advanceable through the end effector for firing the end effector. The articulation assembly has an articulation link assembly and a pivotable bar guide assembly. The articulation link assembly is coupled to the end effector. The articulation link assembly is actuatable to cause the end effector to move relative to the shaft assembly between an unarticulated position and an articulated position. The articulation guide is associated with the pivotable bar guide assembly to enable the flexible knife bar assembly to advance through the pivotable bar guide assembly when the end effector is disposed in the unarticulated position or the articulated position.