Powered Stapler Stepped Tissue Surface Varying Staple Heights
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing surgical stapling instruments face challenges in achieving optimal balance between anastomotic strength and hemostasis when clamping and fastening tissue layers between anvil and cartridge assemblies.
Innovation Solution
A powered surgical stapling instrument with a loading unit featuring a stepped tissue contacting surface and varying staple retention slots, which applies a pressure gradient to tissue layers, using staples of different leg lengths to provide gradual compression and improve hemostasis.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If uniform pressure is applied to tissue layers during stapling, then the structure is simple, but anastomotic strength and hemostasis cannot be optimized simultaneously
Solution Approach 1:
The cartridge assembly employs a stepped tissue contacting surface with multiple steps at different heights, creating localized zones with different compression forces. The first step applies higher pressure for hemostasis near the incision, while subsequent steps apply progressively lower pressure, optimizing both hemostasis and anastomotic strength in different tissue regions
Solution Approach 2:
The tissue contacting surface is divided into multiple discrete steps, each capable of applying independent pressure zones to the tissue layers. This segmentation allows different portions of the tissue to receive differentiated compression forces, simultaneously achieving hemostasis in high-pressure zones and preserving tissue viability in lower-pressure zones
2Reliability
If single row of staples is used, then the device structure is simple, but optimal balance between anastomotic strength and hemostasis cannot be achieved
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple rows of staples are positioned at different longitudinal locations corresponding to different steps of the tissue contacting surface. Each row deposits staples at specific zones along the anastomosis, with inner rows near the incision providing stronger compression for hemostasis and outer rows providing gentler compression for tissue healing
Solution Approach 2:
The staple configuration extends from a single row to multiple rows arranged in a longitudinal dimension along the anastomosis. This dimensional expansion allows differentiation of staple functions along the length of the tissue junction, optimizing both hemostasis near the incision and anastomotic strength along the entire junction
3Object-generated harmful factors
If high compression force is applied to all tissue, then hemostasis improves, but tissue trauma and necrosis increase
Solution Approach 1:
The stepped surface creates localized high-compression zones only where needed for hemostasis (inner steps near the incision), while outer steps provide progressively lower compression to preserve tissue viability. This spatial differentiation of compression force allows simultaneous achievement of hemostasis and tissue protection
Solution Approach 2:
High compression force is applied partially only to the inner tissue layers and regions requiring hemostasis, rather than uniformly to all tissue. The progressive reduction in compression force across the steps prevents excessive action that would cause tissue trauma, applying force only where and to the extent needed
Data Source
AI summary
A loading unit of a powered surgical stapling instrument includes anvil and cartridge assemblies. The anvil assembly includes a first tissue contacting surface, and the cartridge assembly includes a second tissue contacting surface, a first plurality of staples, a second plurality of staples, and a plurality of pushers. The second tissue contacting surface defines a knife channel partitioning the second tissue contacting surface into first and second portions. Each of the first and second portions includes an inner tissue contacting surface and an outer tissue contacting surface. The inner tissue contacting surface defines a first row of retention slots. The inner tissue contacting surface and the first tissue contacting surface define a first tissue gap. The outer tissue contacting surface defines a second row of retention slots. The outer tissue contacting surface and the first tissue contacting surface define a second tissue gap larger than the first tissue gap.