Knife Lockout Wedge for Surgical Stapler Reload Safety
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional circular stapling devices lack an effective mechanism to reliably retain the knife carrier in a retracted position after use, posing a risk of injury to clinicians during assembly and disposal.
Innovation Solution
A reload assembly with a locking member that engages the staple actuator in its advanced position and the knife carrier in its retracted position, preventing re-advancement of the knife carrier, ensuring the knife remains secured within the shell housing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the knife carrier is made movable to advance the knife through the staple cartridge for tissue cutting, then the stapling function is achieved, but the risk of clinician injury increases during manipulation and disposal of the reload assembly
Solution Approach 1:
The knife is extracted from its cutting position and retracted into the shell housing after use. The locking member is designed to hold the knife carrier in this retracted position, separating the harmful cutting function from the safe storage position, thereby eliminating injury risk during manipulation and disposal.
Solution Approach 2:
The locking member is positioned to engage the knife carrier in the retracted position before any potential re-advancement can occur. This preliminary locking action ensures the knife remains safely retracted during the entire manipulation and disposal process, preventing accidental exposure.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the knife carrier is retracted to withdraw the knife into the shell housing for safety, then clinician injury is avoided, but the knife may accidentally re-advance during manipulation and disposal
Solution Approach 1:
The locking member acts as an intermediary element between the knife carrier and the shell housing. It engages with the knife carrier in the retracted position and prevents any re-advancement, serving as a mechanical intermediary that ensures position stability and prevents accidental knife exposure during handling.
3Device complexity
If no locking mechanism is used, then the device structure remains simple, but the knife carrier cannot be reliably retained in the retracted position
Solution Approach 1:
The locking member is designed to be self-locking through its engagement with the knife carrier and staple actuator. The geometry of the locking member and its engagement surfaces create a self-retaining mechanism that automatically maintains the retracted position without requiring external actuation or complex control systems.
Data Source
AI summary
A surgical stapling device includes an adaptor assembly and a reload assembly supported on a distal end portion of the adaptor assembly. The reload assembly includes a shell housing, a staple cartridge supporting staples, a staple pusher, a staple actuator, a knife carrier, and a locking member. The staple pusher is movable from a retracted position to an advanced position to eject the staples from the staple cartridge. The staple actuator is movable from a retracted position to an advanced position to move the staple pusher from its retracted position to its advanced position. The knife carrier is movable between a retracted position and an advanced position. The locking member is supported on the knife carrier. The locking member is configured to engage the staple actuator in its advanced position while engaging the knife carrier in its retracted position such that the locking member inhibits re-advancement of the knife carrier.