Motor-Driven Surgical Stapler Actuation Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing surgical staplers require significant physical force and manual dexterity to operate, and they often fail to ensure uniform staple formation due to the visco-elastic properties of tissue, which can lead to incomplete blood and fluid drainage before stapling, resulting in suboptimal tissue compression and staple placement.
Innovation Solution
A self-contained, internally powered surgical stapler with a motor-driven mechanism that includes a cam system and a power cell, allowing for precise actuation of staples with minimal manual force, and a controller that delays staple firing to allow for adequate tissue compression and fluid drainage, ensuring uniform staple formation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a manual surgical stapler is used, then the device structure is simple, but significant physical force and manual dexterity are required to operate it
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the purely mechanical manual actuation system with an electromechanical system. A motor (electromechanical component) is introduced to provide the driving force for staple deployment, while a controller manages the actuation sequence. This substitution reduces the physical force and manual dexterity required by the surgeon while maintaining the essential stapling function.
Solution Approach 2:
The surgical instrument is designed to be self-actuating through an automated control system. The controller automatically manages the sequence of operations including jaw closure, tissue compression timing, and staple firing based on sensor inputs and pre-programmed parameters, reducing the operational burden on the surgeon.
2Manufacturing precision
If immediate staple firing is performed after compression, then the operation time is reduced, but uniform staple formation cannot be achieved due to visco-elastic tissue properties
Solution Approach 1:
The controller is programmed to automatically implement a predetermined time delay between jaw closure and staple firing. This preliminary timing action allows the visco-elastic tissue to fully compress and stabilize before the staples are deployed, ensuring uniform staple formation without requiring the surgeon to manually time the compression period.
Solution Approach 2:
The system incorporates sensors that monitor jaw position, tissue compression status, and other operational parameters. This feedback is continuously provided to the controller, which adjusts the timing and sequence of operations to optimize staple formation uniformity while minimizing overall procedure time.
3Reliability
If tissue compression time is extended for fluid drainage, then uniform staple formation is achieved, but the surgical procedure time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The motor-driven jaw closure mechanism maintains continuous compression force on the tissue throughout the predetermined time period. This continuous useful action ensures complete fluid drainage and optimal tissue compression without requiring intermittent adjustments or additional surgical steps, thereby maintaining procedural efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The electromechanical system replaces manual compression control with automated, precisely timed motor actuation. The controller manages the entire compression and firing sequence, optimizing the balance between compression effectiveness and procedure time without requiring extended manual manipulation by the surgeon.
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 stapler provides efficient and uniform staple formation with reduced manual effort, ensuring proper tissue compression and fluid drainage, leading to improved surgical outcomes and ease of use.
Implementation Method 1
a power cell coupled to a motor assembly
Implementation Method 2
a power cell coupled to a motor assembly
Data Source
AI summary
A powered endoscopic surgical apparatus is provided and includes a handle including a housing, a power source supported in the housing; an endoscopic portion extending distally from the housing of the handle; an end effector assembly coupled to a distal end of the endoscopic portion, the end effector assembly including a pair of jaws configured to perform a surgical function; a driving member; a drive source including a motor powered by the power source and connected to the driving member; and a gear assembly engaged with the motor. The gear assembly including a gear rack provided on the driving member; and a main gear operatively connected with the gear rack, the motor spinning the main gear such that rotary motion of the main gear moves the driving member in an axial direction such that the driving member actuates the end effector to perform the surgical function.