Surgical Staple Actuation Sled with Articulated Shaft
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current surgical staplers lack an efficient mechanism for articulation and tissue manipulation, particularly in accessing and sealing vessels during thoracic surgical procedures, which can complicate the process and increase recovery time.
Innovation Solution
The development of an articulating surgical stapling instrument with a shaft assembly and end effector that includes an articulation section allowing lateral deflection and a staple cartridge with wedge sled mechanism for precise staple formation and tissue sealing, enabling the stapler to be inserted through a trocar or directly through an incision and facilitating the sealing of vessels.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If the actuation stroke of the wedge sled is increased to reach the distal-most staple, then the distance from the anvil to the distal-most staple is reduced, but the overall length of the instrument shaft increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an articulation section that allows the end effector to deflect laterally relative to the longitudinal axis of the shaft. This adds a lateral dimension to the motion path, enabling the wedge sled to reach the distal-most staple through combined longitudinal and lateral movement rather than requiring a purely longitudinal stroke, thereby reducing the overall shaft length while maintaining adequate actuation distance
Solution Approach 2:
The articulation section provides dynamic adjustability, allowing the end effector to be selectively articulated or deflected. This dynamic capability enables the instrument to adapt its configuration during use, optimizing the actuation path length without permanently increasing the shaft length, thus resolving the contradiction between precision and compactness
2Adaptability or versatility
If an articulation section is added to enable lateral deflection of the end effector, then the ability to access and seal tissues is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The instrument is divided into distinct functional sections: a shaft assembly, an articulation section, and an end effector. This segmentation allows the articulation capability to be added as a modular intermediate section rather than integrating complexity throughout the entire instrument, making the system more manageable and easier to manufacture
Solution Approach 2:
The articulation section serves multiple functions: it enables lateral deflection for accessing difficult tissue locations, maintains structural integrity of the shaft, and provides a mechanism for transmitting actuation forces from the proximal to distal end. This multi-functionality justifies the added complexity by delivering multiple benefits from a single structural addition
Data Source
AI summary
A surgical instrument includes an end effector with a staple cartridge. The staple cartridge includes a deck, a terminal driver assembly, and a wedge sled. The terminal driver assembly is positioned adjacent to a distal tip of the staple cartridge. The terminal driver assembly is configured to receive a first terminal portion of staples in the staple cartridge. The terminal driver assembly at least partially defines a storage space therebelow within jaw of the end effector. The wedge sled is configured to longitudinally slide proximate to the deck and engage the terminal driver assembly and force the terminal portion of the plurality of staples toward the anvil for formation in tissue. At least a majority of the wedge sled is configured to fit within the storage space and not slide distally beyond the terminal driver assembly when the wedge sled is in the distal sled position.