Sealed Trocar Assembly for Cleaner Reusable Stapling Adaptors
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Solution Overview
Problem
Reusable components of surgical stapling devices face challenges in sterilization due to fluid and contaminant ingress, making the process difficult and time-consuming.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a sealed trocar assembly with an annular seal and seal retainer in the adaptor assembly to prevent fluid ingress, allowing for easier cleaning and sterilization of the device.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the adaptor assembly is designed to allow easy access for cleaning, then the ease of operation is improved, but the reliability may worsen due to potential fluid ingress into internal components
Solution Approach 1:
The adaptor assembly is divided into separable components including a proximal portion, a distal portion, and a trocar assembly that can be independently removed. This segmentation allows the trocar assembly to be detached for cleaning while the sealed portions remain intact, enabling easy access for cleaning without compromising the sealed configuration that prevents fluid ingress.
Solution Approach 2:
A sealed trocar assembly acts as an intermediary barrier between the external environment and the internal components of the adaptor assembly. The seal within the trocar assembly prevents fluid ingress while allowing the trocar to be removed and reattached, serving as a removable protective barrier that maintains reliability during storage and cleaning.
2Reliability
If a sealed configuration is implemented to prevent contaminant ingress, then the reliability is improved, but the device complexity increases due to additional sealing components
Solution Approach 1:
The seal is integrated into the trocar assembly rather than being a separate component, merging the sealing function with the trocar structure. This reduces the number of discrete sealing components while maintaining the sealed configuration that prevents contaminant ingress into the adaptor assembly.
Solution Approach 2:
The sealed trocar assembly is designed to be removed and reattached by the user without requiring complex sealing operations. The self-contained seal within the trocar assembly automatically maintains the sealed configuration when properly installed, eliminating the need for additional sealing procedures or complex sealing mechanisms.
3Ease of repair
If the trocar assembly is designed to be removable for cleaning, then the ease of repair is improved, but the reliability may worsen due to potential damage to sealed connections during reassembly
Solution Approach 1:
The seal is pre-installed and pre-positioned within the trocar assembly before it is attached to the adaptor assembly. This preliminary configuration ensures that the sealed connection is already established and protected, reducing the risk of damage during reassembly operations while maintaining cleaning accessibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The sealed configuration is designed with built-in protection features that cushion against potential damage during removal and reattachment. The seal structure incorporates tolerance for minor misalignments and protects against damage during handling, ensuring reliability is maintained despite the removable design for cleaning.
Data Source
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AI summary
A stapling device includes a handle assembly and an adaptor assembly extending from the handle assembly and including a sealed trocar assembly. The trocar assembly includes a trocar housing defining a lumen, an annular seal having an inner annular surface defining an inner opening, and a trocar disposed within the lumen of the trocar housing, through the inner opening of the annular seal, and movable through the lumen of the trocar and the inner opening of the annular seal, and a seal retainer operably coupled to the trocar housing and the annular seal. The trocar includes an elongate body portion having a distal end and a trocar member extending distally from the distal end of the elongate body portion.