Sheathless Anastomotic Ring Applier With Articulating Panels

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional anastomotic ring applier devices often trap tissue between fingers or in the deployment mechanism during insertion and extraction, leading to potential pinching or tearing, and require a tubular sheath for deployment, which can be time-consuming and costly.

Innovation Solution

An anastomotic ring applier device with a handle and elongated shaft featuring a ring deployment mechanism that includes moveable fingers and panels to cover the deployment mechanism during insertion and extraction, preventing tissue trapping and eliminating the need for a tubular sheath.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a tubular sheath is used to cover the deployment mechanism during insertion and extraction, then tissue trapping is prevented, but device complexity and procedural time increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprevention of tissue trappingVSAvoidsheath structure
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The deployment mechanism is divided into multiple fingers that can independently articulate between extended and retracted positions. This segmentation allows the fingers to dynamically control access to the deployment mechanism during insertion and extraction, preventing tissue trapping without requiring a continuous sheath structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The fingers are designed to dynamically change position between extended (during deployment) and retracted (during insertion and extraction) states. This dynamic movement eliminates the need for a static sheath, reducing device complexity while maintaining the function of preventing tissue trapping during critical phases.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Reliability

If a tubular sheath with retraction mechanism is used, then tissue protection is improved, but procedural time increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetissue protectionVSAvoidsheath retraction time
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The fingers automatically articulate to the appropriate position based on the deployment state. During insertion and extraction, the fingers naturally remain retracted to protect tissue, and during deployment, they automatically extend to facilitate ring deployment. This self-service mechanism eliminates the need for a separate sheath retraction mechanism, reducing procedural time.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

3Ease of manufacture

If fingers are used to expand the anastomotic ring, then ring deployment is achieved, but tissue may become trapped between fingers

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedeployment mechanism simplicityVSAvoidtissue pinching or tearing
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The fingers dynamically adjust their position based on the operational phase. During insertion and extraction, fingers remain retracted and parallel to the shaft, preventing tissue entrapment. During ring deployment, fingers articulate outward to expand the ring. This dynamic behavior maintains simple finger structure while eliminating harmful tissue interactions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The fingers are pre-configured in a retracted position during insertion to prevent tissue trapping before deployment occurs. This preliminary protective position is maintained until the ring is properly positioned, at which point the fingers articulate to expand the ring. This preliminary action prevents harmful effects before they can occur.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP1719454B1Sheathless anastomotic ring applier device
Publication Date: 2008.08.27 ETHICON ENDO SURGERY INC
  • EP1719454B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP1719454B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP1719454B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A surgical tool or applier (10) for deploying an anastomotic ring (14) comprises a handle (14) connected to an elongate shaft (18) that terminates in an anastomotic ring deployment mechanism (24). The ring deployment mechanism is moveable from an unactuated position to an actuated position. In order to prevent tissue from becoming trapped in the ring deployment mechanism during insertion or extraction of the tool, a plurality of panels (32,34) are configured to enclose portions of the ring deployment mechanism during insertion and extraction, where the ring deployment mechanism is in the unactuated position. The panels are moveable with the ring deployment mechanism to the actuated position, in which the ring deployment mechanism is able to deploy the anastomotic ring.