Sheet Metal Surgical Fastener With Pivot And Latch
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current surgical fasteners for Nissen fundoplication procedures are costly due to complex assembly processes and require molding of components, necessitating a more economical manufacturing method.
Innovation Solution
A two-piece surgical fastener design featuring a male and female piece made from sheet material, with pivotally connected leaves and elongate needles, and a latch system for secure tissue fastening, allowing for a less expensive and simpler manufacturing process.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional surgical fasteners are made using molding and complex assembly processes, then the fastening reliability is improved, but the manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple fastener components into a single integrated sheet metal piece. The base, needles, and retention features are all formed from one continuous sheet material through stamping and forming operations, eliminating the need for separate molding and assembly steps while maintaining structural integrity and fastening reliability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces complex molding processes with sheet metal forming and stamping operations. The fastener components are created through mechanical stamping, bending, and forming of sheet material, which are simpler and more cost-effective manufacturing processes compared to traditional molding and assembly methods
2Ease of operation
If surgical fasteners use sharp needle tips for tissue penetration, then the fastening function is improved, but the risk of accidental piercing and harm increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates rounded tips on the needles during the manufacturing process itself. By pre-forming the needle tips with rounded contours through stamping and forming operations, the design eliminates the harmful sharp edges before the fastener is ever used, preventing accidental tissue damage while preserving the ability to penetrate tissue when properly deployed
Solution Approach 2:
The patent converts what would traditionally be a harmful feature (sharp needle tips) into a beneficial one (rounded tips) through the manufacturing process. The rounding of tips is achieved through controlled forming operations that maintain sufficient sharpness for tissue penetration while eliminating the risk of accidental injury, thus transforming a potential harm into a safe and effective design
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The design reduces production costs while maintaining effective tissue fastening capabilities, with features like rounded needle tips and a spring-biased collapse mechanism to prevent accidental piercing, ensuring safety and ease of retrieval.
Implementation Method 1
a spring-biased collapse mechanism to prevent accidental piercing
Data Source
AI summary
A surgical fastener for fastening tissue. The fastener includes a first piece of sheet material formed to have a generally planar base and an elongate needle portion extending upward from the base. The fastener includes a second piece of sheet material formed to have a generally planar base and an elongate needle portion extending upward from the base. The second piece of sheet material is pivotally connected to the first piece of sheet material.