Nested Actuation Sled and Clamp Member for Minimizing Tool Assembly Dead Space
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Endoscopic surgical stapling devices with articulating tool assemblies have a significant amount of dead space, which increases the overall length of the tool assembly, limiting access to body cavities during procedures.
Innovation Solution
The surgical stapling device features a nested relationship between the actuation sled and clamp member within the staple cartridge, minimizing dead space by positioning the clamp member within a channel defined by the actuation sled, allowing for efficient movement and staple ejection while reducing the tool assembly's length.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the drive member is positioned proximally of the actuation sled and tissue stop to enable jaw clamping, then the jaws can be moved from open to clamped position, but a substantial amount of dead space is created in the proximal portion of the tool assembly, increasing its overall length
Solution Approach 1:
The clamp member is nested within the actuation sled, with the clamp member positioned inside a channel defined by the actuation sled. This nesting arrangement eliminates dead space by ensuring that the proximal portion of the tool assembly is fully utilized, with no unused space between components. The clamp member can move within the channel to enable jaw clamping while maintaining a compact overall structure.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the tool assembly is made longer to accommodate dead space for articulation, then the articulating mechanism can function, but access to areas within a body cavity is restricted
Solution Approach 1:
By nesting the clamp member within the actuation sled channel, the tool assembly achieves minimal dead space and reduced overall length while preserving articulation capability. The articulating mechanism can function with the compact design because the nesting eliminates the need for additional space that would otherwise be required for non-functional dead space.
Data Source
AI summary
A surgical stapling device includes a handle assembly, an elongate body extending distally from the handle assembly, and a tool assembly. The tool assembly includes an actuation sled that is movable through a staple cartridge to eject staples from the staple cartridge and a clamp member that is movable through the tool assembly to move the tool assembly from an open position to an approximated position. In order to minimize dead space in a proximal portion of the tool assembly, the actuation sled and clamp member are supported in a nested relationship in a pre-actuated state of the surgical stapling device. The clamp member is subsequently moved to a position proximal of the actuation sled during a firing stroke of the stapling device.