Articulating Surgical Stapler Knife for Shielded Tissue Cutting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing surgical staplers face challenges in efficiently sealing and cutting tissue during endoscopic procedures, particularly in navigating complex anatomical structures and ensuring precise staple formation and tissue severance.
Innovation Solution
A surgical stapling instrument with a movable knife and articulating end effector, featuring a shaft assembly with articulation and rotation controls, a motorized firing mechanism, and a staple cartridge system that includes a wedge sled for driving staples and a secondary cutting blade for precise tissue severance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a traditional open surgical device is used, then tissue access is straightforward, but incision size is large leading to longer recovery time and more complications
Solution Approach 1:
The surgical system is divided into separate components: a handle portion, a shaft, and a distal end effector. The end effector can be inserted through a trocar cannula to reach deep surgical sites through small incisions, while the handle remains outside the patient's body. This segmentation enables minimally invasive access to internal organs and tissues.
Solution Approach 2:
A shaft assembly acts as an intermediary component connecting the handle portion to the distal end effector. The shaft transmits mechanical forces and movements from the handle to the end effector, enabling control of the end effector through the shaft's length to reach difficult-to-access surgical sites through small incisions.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the end effector is positioned deep within the patient through a shaft, then access to challenging surgical sites is achieved, but positioning precision and control become more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The end effector incorporates articulation capabilities that allow it to dynamically adjust its orientation and position relative to the shaft's longitudinal axis. This dynamic articulation enables the end effector to navigate complex anatomical structures and reach challenging surgical sites while maintaining precise control through the shaft assembly.
Solution Approach 2:
The end effector can articulate or deflect relative to the longitudinal axis of the shaft, adding an angular dimension to its positioning capability. This articulation allows the end effector to access tissues from multiple angles and orientations, enhancing versatility in reaching difficult-to-access surgical sites while maintaining control.
3Reliability
If a surgical stapler is used to seal and cut tissue, then tissue sealing and severance are achieved, but the complexity of the device increases
Solution Approach 1:
The end effector integrates multiple functions into a single device: stapling, cutting, and tissue sealing capabilities are combined in one instrument. The end effector includes a stapling mechanism with staples and a cutting mechanism with a knife, allowing simultaneous or sequential performance of multiple surgical tasks without requiring separate instruments.
Solution Approach 2:
The end effector is designed as a multi-functional tool that can perform stapling, cutting, and sealing operations. This universal design allows a single device to replace multiple specialized instruments, reducing the number of device changes required during surgery while maintaining reliable tissue sealing and cutting capabilities.
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus comprises a body, a shaft assembly, an end effector, a cartridge, and a staple driver actuator. The end effector is operable to manipulate tissue. The end effector comprises a lower jaw, a pivotable anvil, and a translating cutter. The translating cutter is operable to translate relative to the lower jaw and the anvil when the anvil is pivoted toward the lower jaw to manipulate tissue. The cartridge is insertable into the lower jaw and includes a plurality of staples. The staple driver actuator is disposed within the cartridge. The staple driver actuator comprises a secondary cutting element. The translating cutter of the end effector is operable to drive the staple driver actuator distally to staple and cut tissue substantially simultaneously.