Pivotable Staple Engagement Arm for Surgical Inserter
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing surgical staple insertion tools face challenges in accessing and properly orienting staples within difficult-to-reach areas within a patient, particularly when using shape memory metal alloys that require precise alignment and driving into tissue.
Innovation Solution
A surgical staple inserter with a pivotably attached staple engagement arm and spring mechanism allows for the insertion and alignment of surgical staples with an inserter engagement hole, enabling the staple to be bent in situ for proper alignment and securely driven into the tissue, with the ability to rotate and return to a straight position for easy removal.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a surgical staple is made from shape memory metal alloy and deformed from original shape for installation, then the staple can be installed in difficult-to-access areas, but it becomes difficult to properly orient the staple with respect to the tissue and drive it into the tissue
Solution Approach 1:
The staple engagement arm is made pivotable relative to the shaft, allowing dynamic adjustment of the arm's angle during the surgical procedure. This enables the inserter to adapt to different tissue orientations while maintaining precise control over staple insertion, resolving the contradiction between accessing difficult areas and maintaining orientation precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The inserter device is divided into separable components: a shaft and a pivotably attached staple engagement arm. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently - the shaft for insertion through difficult-to-access areas, and the engagement arm for precise staple orientation and driving, thereby resolving the orientation precision problem.
2Manufacturing precision
If the staple engagement arm is made pivotable to enable alignment, then proper orientation can be achieved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
A single pivot joint is introduced to enable the engagement arm to rotate relative to the shaft, providing the necessary alignment precision. This dynamic element allows the arm to be positioned at various angles during insertion and then locked into place, achieving precise alignment without requiring a complex multi-component mechanism.
Solution Approach 2:
The pivot joint enables spherical movement of the engagement arm, allowing rotation in multiple planes. This curved motion capability provides versatile alignment precision while keeping the overall device structure relatively simple, as the pivot mechanism itself remains a straightforward mechanical joint.
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 surgical staple inserter facilitates the secure and efficient insertion of staples into hard-to-reach areas, ensuring proper alignment and preventing staple displacement, with enhanced force for extraction and subsequent shape memory activation within the patient.
Implementation Method 1
The surgical staple inserter can include a spring that can be connected to the shaft and the staple engagement arm
Implementation Method 2
Some surgical staples can be made from shape memory metal alloys. A surgical staple made from a shape memory metal alloy can be deformed from an original shape and installed in a patient. Then, heat can be applied to the surgical staple to return the deformed staple to the original shape
Data Source
AI summary
A surgical staple inserter is disclosed and can include a shaft and a staple engagement arm pivotably engaged with the shaft. Further, the surgical staple inserter can include a spring that can be connected to the shaft and the staple engagement arm. The surgical staple inserter can be moved between a straight position and a bent position. In the straight position, the staple engagement arm can be substantially aligned with the shaft. In the bent position, the staple engagement arm can be rotated with respect to the shaft.