Compressible Knitted Adjuncts for Surgical Stapler Sealing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Surgical staplers face challenges in achieving consistent sealing due to varying tissue thickness, leading to potential leakage and tissue tearing, as they often require different staple heights and lack the natural flexibility of tissue, making it difficult to withstand intra-tissue pressures.
Innovation Solution
A compressible knitted adjunct is integrated with the staple cartridge, which can adjust to varying tissue thickness and promote tissue ingrowth, ensuring consistent compression and minimizing leakage by being configured to accommodate staples of the same height across different tissue thicknesses.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If staples of the same height are used for all tissue thicknesses, then device complexity is reduced and ease of operation is improved, but sealing reliability deteriorates due to inconsistent staple compression
Solution Approach 1:
A compressible adjunct is introduced as an intermediary element between the staples and the tissue. This adjunct compresses under the staples to accommodate varying tissue thicknesses, ensuring consistent compression and sealing reliability while allowing the use of staples of uniform height, thereby maintaining ease of operation.
2Adaptability or versatility
If staples are used without adjuncts, then device complexity is minimized, but adaptability to varying tissue thickness deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The compressible adjunct serves as a mediator that enables the stapling device to adapt to varying tissue thicknesses. By placing this compliant element between the rigid staples and the soft tissue, the system gains adaptability while the overall device complexity remains manageable due to the simple integration of the adjunct.
Solution Approach 2:
The adjunct changes its compression parameter in response to varying tissue thicknesses. This parameter change allows the stapling system to adapt to different tissue conditions without requiring multiple staple heights or complex adjustment mechanisms, thus improving adaptability while controlling device complexity.
3Manufacturing precision
If rigid staples are used, then manufacturing precision is improved, but flexibility matching with tissue deteriorates leading to tissue tearing
Solution Approach 1:
The compressible adjunct acts as a protective intermediary between the rigid staples and the soft tissue. It distributes the compression force uniformly across the tissue surface, preventing stress concentration that would cause tissue tearing, while allowing the staples to maintain their precise manufactured dimensions and geometry.
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
The compressible knitted adjunct allows for effective sealing and tissue integration, reducing leakage and tissue tearing by accommodating varying tissue thicknesses and promoting healing, thus enhancing the structural integrity and aesthetics of the stapled site.
Implementation Method 1
The compressible knitted adjunct of the present application can be configured to compensate for variations in tissue properties, such as variations in tissue thickness
Implementation Method 2
an inner-most longitudinal terminal edge bordering a longitudinal slot of the staple cartridge. The knitted adjunct can be configured to promote tissue ingrowth
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2A~2B
Figure 2C
AI summary
Adjuncts for use with a surgical stapler are provided. In one exemplary embodiment, an adjunct can include a first knitted layer, a second knitted layer, and a plurality of recesses that extend into and defined within the second knitted layer. The plurality of recesses can be arranged in a predefined pattern that coincides with a plurality of attachment features extending outward from a top surface of a cartridge such that each recess of the plurality of recesses is configured to engage with at least a portion of at least one attachment feature to form a friction fit therebetween to thereby retain the adjunct on the cartridge prior to staple deployment. Stapling assemblies for use with a surgical stapler are also provided.