Movable Latch Attachment for Surgical Stapler Adjuncts
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current surgical staplers lack effective mechanisms for securely attaching and releasing adjuncts, such as buttress assemblies, during the stapling process, which can lead to incomplete tissue closure and increased risk of tissue tearing.
Innovation Solution
The surgical stapler incorporates various attachment features like hinged, deflectable, and offset latches, as well as dovetail and T-shaped attachment features, which engage undercut surfaces on the staple cartridge to securely attach and release adjuncts, ensuring consistent tissue closure and preventing tissue tearing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If surgical staplers use traditional attachment mechanisms for adjuncts, then the stapler structure remains simple, but the attachment reliability is insufficient leading to incomplete tissue closure and tissue tearing
Solution Approach 1:
The latch member is configured to be movable between a first position (engaging the adjunct) and a second position (disengaged from the adjunct). This dynamic mechanism allows the attachment system to transition from a simple static structure to an active dynamic system that reliably secures and releases adjuncts during the stapling process, solving the contradiction between attachment reliability and structural simplicity.
Solution Approach 2:
The latch member is biased by a spring to automatically engage with the adjunct when the cartridge is inserted, and can be actuated by the operator to release the adjunct. This self-service mechanism eliminates the need for complex manual attachment procedures while ensuring reliable attachment, resolving the contradiction between attachment reliability and device complexity.
2Reliability
If surgical staplers lack effective adjunct attachment mechanisms, then the device structure remains simple, but tissue closure completeness deteriorates and tissue tearing risk increases
Solution Approach 1:
The attachment mechanism is segmented into distinct functional components: the latch member with engagement features, the spring biasing mechanism, and the actuation system. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function efficiently, ensuring reliable tissue closure through proper adjunct attachment while keeping the overall device design manageable and not excessively complex.
Solution Approach 2:
The latch member acts as an intermediary component between the cartridge and the adjunct (buttress assembly). It provides the mechanical interface that secures the adjunct to the cartridge during the stapling process, ensuring complete and reliable tissue closure without requiring the entire stapler structure to be complex.
3Reliability
If surgical staplers use simple attachment features for adjuncts, then the device is easy to manufacture, but the consistency of tissue closure is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The latch member incorporates specific geometric parameters such as the cam surface angle, engagement feature dimensions, and spring force characteristics that can be optimized during manufacturing. By controlling these parameters precisely, the mechanism achieves consistent tissue closure reliability while remaining manufacturable using standard precision manufacturing processes.
Solution Approach 2:
The latch member design serves multiple functions: it attaches the adjunct to the cartridge, maintains proper positioning during stapling, and enables reliable release after use. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate components, simplifying manufacturing while ensuring consistent tissue closure through reliable adjunct attachment throughout the entire stapling process.
Data Source
AI summary
An adjunct configured for use with an end effector of a surgical stapler includes a tissue-effecting portion comprising a first material, and at least one movable attachment feature coupled to the tissue-effecting portion and comprising a second material different from the first material. The at least one movable attachment feature is configured to releasably attach the tissue-effecting portion to a stapling surface of the end effector. The tissue-effecting portion is configured to contact tissue clamped by the end effector during closure thereof. The tissue-effecting portion is further configured to be pierced and captured by staples ejected from the end effector into the clamped tissue and thereby reinforce the engagement between the ejected staples and the clamped tissue.