Self-Guiding Surgical Stapler for Precise Tissue Path Firing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current surgical stapling instruments lack precision and efficiency in deploying staples along a defined path, particularly in minimally invasive procedures, due to manual operation and limited ability to adapt to varying tissue thickness and anatomy.
Innovation Solution
A surgical stapler with a motorized drive system, sensor-aided targeting, and a controller to calculate and adjust the staple firing path, combined with a tissue drive system that includes articulatable end effectors and synchronized drive mechanisms to move the stapler relative to the tissue, enabling precise staple deployment and tissue cutting.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If manual operation is used for stapling, then the device is simple to operate, but precision and efficiency in deploying staples along a defined path are insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual mechanical operation with an automated motorized drive system. The motorized system includes a motor, drive shaft, and transmission mechanisms that automatically position and deploy staples along a calculated firing path, eliminating the need for manual positioning while achieving precise staple placement.
Solution Approach 2:
The stapling instrument incorporates a self-guiding mechanism where the motorized drive system automatically controls the positioning and firing of staples without requiring continuous manual intervention. The system self-regulates the movement along the firing path and triggers staple deployment at predetermined locations.
2Adaptability or versatility
If fixed stapling path is used, then the device is simple to control, but adaptability to varying tissue thickness and anatomy is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a dynamic control system where the firing path is not fixed but can be adjusted based on real-time tissue conditions. The controller calculates and modifies the staple firing path dynamically during the procedure to accommodate variations in tissue thickness and anatomical structures, allowing the system to adapt to changing surgical conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The system incorporates feedback mechanisms that allow the controller to receive information about tissue conditions and adjust the firing path accordingly. This feedback loop enables the stapling instrument to respond to varying tissue characteristics and optimize staple placement throughout the procedure.
3Productivity
If motorized drive system is implemented, then precision and efficiency in staple deployment are enhanced, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual mechanical operation with an automated motorized drive system. The motorized system includes a motor, drive shaft, and transmission mechanisms that automatically position and deploy staples along a calculated firing path, eliminating the need for manual positioning while achieving precise staple placement.
Solution Approach 2:
The motorized drive system is designed to perform multiple functions: positioning the stapling instrument, controlling staple deployment, and adjusting the firing path. This multi-functional approach consolidates several operations into a single integrated system, improving efficiency while managing complexity through functional integration.
Data Source
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AI summary
A surgical stapler for stapling the tissue of a patient is disclosed. The surgical stapler comprises a handle, a shaft extending from the handle, and an end effector extending from the shaft, wherein the end effector comprises a plurality of staples and an anvil configured to deform the staples. The surgical stapler further comprises a firing mechanism configured to deploy the staples, a sensor configured to detect a target, a controller configured to calculate the firing path based on the target, and a motorized drive system configured to move the end effector toward the target along the firing path.