Compressible Retainer for Staple Cartridge Adjuncts

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Solution Overview

Problem

Staple cartridges used in surgical procedures often have implantable adjuncts that risk dislodgment during shipment and surgery due to inadequate adherence to the cartridge deck, leading to potential complications during tissue stapling.

Innovation Solution

A retainer system that secures and compresses an implantable adjunct against the staple cartridge deck, ensuring proper adherence before surgery, utilizing a movable retainer that applies a compressive force and automatically releases for insertion into an end effector.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If the implantable adjunct is loosely secured to the deck, then it is easy to insert into the channel, but it risks dislodgment during shipment and surgery

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of insertionVSAvoidstability of adjunct attachment

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The retainer is pre-positioned on the deck before the adjunct is installed. The retainer creates a secured environment in advance that holds the adjunct firmly during shipment and surgery, then automatically releases to facilitate easy insertion into the channel during use

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Reliability

If the retainer strongly secures the adjunct to the deck, then dislodgment is prevented, but the adjunct cannot be easily inserted into the channel

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestability of adjunct attachmentVSAvoidease of insertion

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The retainer transitions from a static secured state to a dynamic released state. The movable retainer is positioned to strongly secure the adjunct during storage and transport, then moves along the channel to automatically release and facilitate insertion during surgery

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

3Reliability

If the retainer is fixed in position, then the adjunct is securely held, but compression force cannot be applied to the adjunct

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestability of adjunct attachmentVSAvoidability to compress adjunct

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The retainer is designed as a movable component that can be positioned at different locations along the channel. When positioned at the compression location, it applies compressive force to the adjunct against the deck. When moved to the release location, it facilitates easy insertion into the channel

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

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 retainer system effectively secures the implantable adjunct to the staple cartridge deck, preventing dislodgment during handling and surgery, ensuring optimal tissue compression and stapling performance.

Implementation Method 1

a movement of the retainer through at least a portion of the range of motion compresses the implantable adjunct against the deck of the elongate body

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectCompressive force: Compression

Data Source

PatentUS12251106B1Compulsory compression retainers for staple cartridges with implantable adjuncts

Publication Date: 2025.03.18 CILAG GMBH INTERNATIONAL

AI summary

Retainers and retainer systems for staple cartridges with implantable adjuncts are disclosed. The retainers and retainer systems enable a compressive force to be applied to implantable adjuncts on staple cartridges.