Pivotable Distal Head for Precise Minimally Invasive Stapling
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current surgical stapling instruments face challenges in efficiently and accurately stapling and cutting tissue, particularly in minimally invasive procedures, due to limitations in tissue manipulation and staple firing precision.
Innovation Solution
The development of a surgical stapling instrument with a sophisticated drive system that includes an articulation joint, a tissue drive system with synchronized feet for precise tissue manipulation, and a staple firing mechanism that allows for controlled staple deployment and tissue cutting, enabled by a combination of electric motors and advanced mechanical linkages.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If a traditional surgical stapling instrument is used, then the structure is simple, but the precision of staple placement and tissue manipulation is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The distal head is segmented into multiple independent components including a body, articulation joint, anvil assembly, and cartridge assembly. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently for precision while maintaining overall system manageability. The articulation joint specifically enables independent positioning of the anvil and cartridge relative to the shaft.
Solution Approach 2:
The articulation joint introduces dynamic capability to the distal head, allowing it to pivot and articulate relative to the shaft. This dynamic feature enables precise adaptation to curved tissue surfaces and complex surgical geometries, significantly improving staple placement precision without requiring complete structural redesign of the entire instrument.
2Ease of operation
If minimally invasive procedures are performed, then patient trauma is reduced, but tissue manipulation precision and access to complex anatomical sites are limited
Solution Approach 1:
The articulation joint provides dynamic articulation capability that allows the distal head to navigate and adapt to complex anatomical geometries accessible only through minimally invasive approaches. This enables precise tissue manipulation at curved or hard-to-reach sites while maintaining the benefits of minimally invasive access.
Solution Approach 2:
The pivotable distal head changes the spatial orientation parameters of the stapling mechanism, enabling access to anatomical sites with varying angles and curvatures. This parameter adjustment capability allows the instrument to maintain precision across different surgical configurations and tissue geometries.
3Manufacturing precision
If a pivotable distal head with articulation joint is implemented, then staple placement precision and tissue manipulation capability are improved, but the device complexity and manufacturing difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the distal head into modular components (body, articulation joint, anvil assembly, cartridge assembly), the manufacturing complexity is distributed across separate, standardized parts that can be manufactured independently using established precision machining techniques, rather than requiring complex monolithic construction.
Solution Approach 2:
The articulation joint serves multiple functions simultaneously: it enables pivotable motion for precision positioning, provides articulation for tissue adaptation, and maintains structural integrity. This multi-functionality reduces the need for additional specialized components, simplifying the overall manufacturing process despite the enhanced capabilities.
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3
Figure 4
AI summary
A surgical instrument comprising a shaft and a distal head extending from the shaft is disclosed. The distal head comprises a tissue drive configured to engage the tissue of a patient and move the distal head relative to the patient tissue. The tissue drive comprises, among other things, a tiltable or pivotable portion which adapts to changes in tissue thickness.