Pin Trap Mechanism for Secure Surgical Stapler Coupling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing surgical staplers face challenges in maintaining secure coupling and easy separation of stapler halves during single-handed manipulation, particularly in procedures like gastrointestinal anastomosis, where reliable clamping, cutting, and stapling are required.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a pin trap mechanism with various locking and camming features, including translatable slides, biased pins, and C-clips, ensures secure coupling and intuitive separation of stapler halves, allowing for reliable operation and single-handed manipulation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a pin trap mechanism with locking and camming features is implemented, then secure coupling of stapler halves is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The pin trap mechanism is designed to automatically engage and lock the stapler halves together through self-aligning features. The camming surfaces automatically convert separation forces into locking action, and the spring-loaded pins self-engage with the C-clips without requiring manual intervention, making the system self-servicing while maintaining secure coupling
Solution Approach 2:
The pin trap mechanism introduces intermediary elements (pins, C-clips, and camming surfaces) that mediate between the stapler halves. These intermediaries provide the locking function without requiring direct complex interlocking between the main stapler half structures, thus adding security while controlling overall complexity
2Ease of operation
If a pin trap mechanism with translatable slides and biased pins is implemented, then ease of separation is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The pin trap mechanism employs dynamic elements including spring-loaded pins that can move between engaged and disengaged positions, and translatable slides that convert lateral motion into pin retraction. This dynamic design allows easy separation through simple lateral movement while maintaining secure locked state during operation
Solution Approach 2:
The mechanism inverts the traditional locking approach by using spring-loaded pins that are normally engaged and require active disengagement rather than pins that are normally disengaged and require active engagement. The camming surfaces work in reverse, converting the separation force into pin retraction motion, making separation intuitive and easy
3Ease of operation
If camming surfaces are used to urge stapler halves apart, then ease of separation is improved, but force requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The camming surfaces utilize curved geometric profiles that efficiently convert lateral separation force into axial pin retraction force. The curved cam surfaces provide mechanical advantage, allowing moderate lateral forces to generate sufficient axial force to overcome spring loading and release the pins, thus improving ease of separation without requiring excessive force
Data Source
AI summary
A surgical stapler includes a first stapler half including an anvil surface having a plurality of staple forming pockets, and a second stapler half configured to releasably couple with the first stapler half. The second stapler half is operable to deploy staples toward the anvil surface. The stapler also includes a projection positioned on one of the stapler halves and extending laterally relative to a longitudinal axis of the stapler. The stapler halves are configured to pivot relative to each other about the projection. The stapler further includes a locking member positioned on the other of the stapler halves. The locking member is configured to translate along the longitudinal axis of the stapler between a locked state in which the locking member selectively captures the projection and an unlocked state in which the locking member selectively releases the projection. The locking member is biased proximally toward the locked state.