Self-Adjusting Surgical Stapler for Variable Tissue Thickness
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing surgical staplers require user input for adjusting staple height, lack tissue measurement mechanisms, and do not account for varying tissue thicknesses, leading to improper staple sizing and potential complications.
Innovation Solution
A surgical stapler with a self-adjusting staple height mechanism that automatically adjusts to tissue thickness without user interaction, ensuring uniform compression and preventing unwanted tissue compression or trauma.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If manual adjustment mechanisms (dial/knob or toggle switch) are provided for staple height, then the user can select from finite staple size options, but the device complexity increases and the user must still manually estimate tissue thickness without measurement guidance
Solution Approach 1:
The stapler automatically adjusts staple height by sensing tissue thickness and controlling the jaw gap accordingly, eliminating the need for manual adjustment mechanisms. The system serves itself by autonomously determining the appropriate staple configuration based on real-time tissue measurement, rather than requiring user input or selection from pre-set options.
Solution Approach 2:
The stapler transitions from static, pre-programmed staple height settings to dynamic, real-time adjustment based on tissue thickness sensing. The system continuously adapts the jaw gap and staple height during the surgical procedure, allowing flexible response to varying tissue conditions without requiring multiple discrete adjustment mechanisms.
2Device complexity
If the stapler is fired at a fixed jaw gap height, then the device structure is simpler, but it cannot accommodate varying tissue thicknesses leading to improper staple formation
Solution Approach 1:
The stapler incorporates a sensing mechanism that measures tissue thickness and provides feedback to the control system. Based on this feedback, the system automatically adjusts the jaw gap height to match the tissue thickness, ensuring proper staple formation. This closed-loop control allows the device to adapt to varying tissue conditions while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically changes the jaw gap parameter based on measured tissue thickness. Rather than providing multiple physical configurations or complex adjustment mechanisms, the system modifies the operational parameter (jaw gap height) in real-time based on tissue characteristics, achieving adaptability through parameter variation rather than structural complexity.
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple staple size options are provided, then the system can potentially accommodate different tissue thicknesses, but the difficulty of detecting and measuring the correct staple size increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system replaces manual measurement and selection processes with an automated sensing and control mechanism. Instead of requiring the surgeon to physically measure tissue thickness and manually select the appropriate staple size, the system uses sensors to detect tissue characteristics and automatically determines the optimal staple configuration, eliminating the measurement difficulty entirely.
Solution Approach 2:
The control system acts as an intermediary between the tissue and the staple selection process. Rather than directly requiring the user to measure and select, the sensing mechanism measures tissue thickness and the control system translates this information into the appropriate staple height and jaw gap settings, mediating the complex measurement and selection process.
4Device complexity
If the user must choose staple size based on perception or past experience, then no measurement device is needed, but the reliability of proper staple selection decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The system incorporates real-time tissue thickness sensing that provides objective feedback on tissue characteristics. This measurement feedback replaces subjective user perception and experience-based selection, significantly improving the reliability of staple size selection. The control system uses this objective data to automatically determine the appropriate staple configuration.
Solution Approach 2:
The system replaces the human decision-making process (perception and experience) with an automated sensing and control system. The sensor-based measurement and algorithmic determination of staple size provide more consistent and reliable results than subjective human judgment, while the integration of these functions maintains acceptable device complexity.
Data Source
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AI summary
A surgical stapler is provided that includes a spring loaded lift that automatically adjusts a staple cartridge and/or staple formation between a range of sizes. The lift is automatically released as the staple firing mechanism begins its forward translation of the firing sequence. The automatic one-way adjustment also adjusts the staple cartridge while maintaining the cartridge parallel to the anvil to provide consistent staple formations.