Staple Cartridge Support Beam for Articulating Tissue Stapling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing surgical stapling and cutting instruments face challenges in efficiently stapling and cutting tissue while maintaining precise control and versatility, particularly in articulating configurations.
Innovation Solution
A surgical stapling assembly with a replaceable staple cartridge and an articulating end effector, featuring a longitudinal support beam and articulation joints, allows for precise tissue stapling and cutting, with a modular design suitable for robotic integration.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If a replaceable staple cartridge with longitudinal support beam is used, then structural support and stability during stapling and cutting are improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The end effector is divided into modular components including a replaceable staple cartridge, a longitudinal support beam, and an articulating mechanism. The staple cartridge can be independently replaced while the support beam provides continuous structural support, allowing maintenance without replacing the entire end effector assembly.
Solution Approach 2:
The staple cartridge is designed to nest within the longitudinal support beam structure. The cartridge fits into a receptacle on the support beam, creating a compact nested arrangement that provides structural support while accommodating the replaceable stapling components.
2Adaptability or versatility
If articulating end effector with multiple joints is implemented, then versatility and adaptability are improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The end effector incorporates articulating joints that allow dynamic adjustment of the staple cartridge and anvil relative to each other. The joints enable the end effector to adapt to different tissue configurations and surgical approaches while maintaining functional simplicity through standardized joint designs.
3Manufacturing precision
If precise tissue stapling and cutting is achieved through modular design, then manufacturing precision is improved, but ease of manufacture decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The stapling system is segmented into precision-critical components (staple cartridge, anvil, support beam) that can be manufactured separately with high precision using specialized processes, then assembled through standardized interfaces. This allows each component to be optimized for its specific manufacturing requirements.
Data Source
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AI summary
A surgical stapling assembly is disclosed. The surgical stapling assembly can include a first jaw, a second jaw, an articulation joint, a closure drive comprising a first flexible rotary drive extending through the articulation joint, and a firing drive comprising a second flexible rotary drive extending through the articulation joint and rotatable independent of the first flexible rotary drive. The surgical stapling assembly can further include a 3D-printed component. The surgical stapling assembly can be configured to form different staple shapes, such as non-planar staples and planar staples, can include an eccentrically-driven firing assembly, and/or can include a floatable component. The surgical stapling assembly can include a staple cartridge including a longitudinal support beam.