Powered Articulation System for Surgical Instrument End Effector
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current surgical cutting and stapling instruments face challenges in efficiently cutting and stapling tissue due to limitations in the design of staple cartridges and the interaction between the stapling instrument's components, leading to inconsistent performance and user experience.
Innovation Solution
The development of a surgical stapling instrument with a staple cartridge featuring driver retention features, a quick jaw closure system, and a high-load jaw clamping system, which includes a firing member that interacts with the staple drivers to ensure consistent staple firing and tissue cutting, along with a design that allows for articulation and adjustable tissue gap control.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a powered articulation system is added to enable flexible positioning of the end effector, then adaptability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The articulation system is divided into separate functional modules: a powered articulation system with a motor assembly, a transmission system with drive shafts and gears, and locking mechanisms. This segmentation allows independent optimization of each component and simplifies the overall system architecture by distributing complexity across modular units rather than a monolithic structure.
Solution Approach 2:
A transmission system acts as an intermediary between the powered articulation system and the end effector. The transmission system includes drive shafts, gears, and linkages that transfer and transform the motion from the motor assembly to the articulation joint, enabling precise control while isolating the complexity of the power transmission mechanisms from the end effector design.
2Reliability
If driver retention features are added to the staple cartridge to ensure consistent staple firing, then reliability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The driver retention features are integrated directly into the staple cartridge structure, merging the retention function with the cartridge body rather than using separate external retention mechanisms. This integration reduces the number of discrete parts while ensuring consistent staple firing through positive engagement features that are built into the cartridge design.
3Manufacturing precision
If a quick jaw closure system and high-load jaw clamping system are implemented to improve tissue engagement, then manufacturing precision is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The closure system transitions from a static structure to a dynamic system with movable components. The quick jaw closure system uses a firing member that can rapidly move between positions to close the jaws, while the high-load jaw clamping system employs adjustable clamping members that can be positioned and locked. This dynamic capability enables precise jaw alignment and consistent tissue engagement while maintaining system adaptability.
Data Source
AI summary
A surgical instrument comprising an end effector and an articulation joint configured to permit the end effector to be articulated into position is disclosed. The surgical instrument further comprises an articulation drive system powered by at least one electric motor for articulating the end effector.