Adjusting Staple Height via Independent Driver Stroke Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current surgical stapling instruments lack the ability to dynamically adjust staple force, advancement speed, and stroke length based on sensed parameters during firing or clamping, which can lead to suboptimal tissue handling and stapling performance.
Innovation Solution
A surgical stapling instrument with an anvil and a circular stapling head assembly featuring independently actuatable staple drivers, a motor, and a control circuit that adjusts staple driver stroke length, height, and anvil gap based on real-time sensing of staple malformation and tissue conditions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If a fixed staple driver stroke length is used for all rows of staples, then the device structure is simple, but the stapling precision and adaptability to different tissue conditions deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The circular stapling head assembly is divided into multiple independently actuatable staple drivers, each capable of being controlled separately. This segmentation allows each staple driver to have its stroke length independently adjusted based on tissue conditions and desired staple characteristics, resolving the contradiction between precision and complexity by providing granular control without requiring complete system redesign
Solution Approach 2:
The control circuit is configured to dynamically adjust the stroke length of each staple driver based on real-time sensing of tissue conditions and staple formation feedback. This dynamic adjustment capability enables the system to adapt to varying tissue thickness and compliance across different locations, improving stapling precision while maintaining manageable device complexity through automated control
2Adaptability or versatility
If uniform clamping force is applied to all tissue, then the device operation is simple, but the adaptability to varying tissue thickness and compliance deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The anvil is divided into multiple independently actuatable clamping elements that can apply different clamping forces to different portions of the tissue based on local tissue characteristics such as thickness and compliance. This local quality approach allows each clamping element to be optimized for its specific tissue region, improving adaptability while keeping the overall control system manageable through modular design
Solution Approach 2:
Sensors are integrated into the clamping elements to provide real-time feedback on tissue conditions such as thickness, compliance, and clamping force. The control circuit uses this feedback to automatically adjust the clamping force of each element, enabling adaptability to varying tissue conditions without requiring complex manual adjustment mechanisms
3Productivity
If rapid staple firing is performed, then the surgical productivity is high, but the staple formation quality and tissue handling deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The staple drivers are configured to fire in a controlled sequence rather than simultaneously, with each driver completing its staple formation cycle before the next begins. This periodic action allows each staple to be formed with adequate time and force, ensuring high quality staple formation while maintaining high overall productivity through efficient sequential operation
Solution Approach 2:
The control circuit dynamically adjusts the firing parameters of each staple driver including stroke length, firing speed, and force based on real-time sensing of tissue conditions and staple formation progress. This parameter optimization enables each staple to be formed with ideal parameters for maximum quality, while the automated control maintains high productivity by eliminating manual adjustment time
Data Source
AI summary
A surgical stapling instrument is disclosed. The surgical stapling instrument includes an anvil configured to clamp a tissue, a circular stapling head assembly comprising a first row of staples and a second row of staples, a first staple driver configured to drive the first row of staples, a second staple driver configured to drive the second row of staples, wherein the first and second staple drivers are independently actuatable. A motor is coupled to the anvil. The motor is configured to move the anvil between a first position and a second position. A control circuit coupled to the motor. The control circuit is configured to set a stroke length for the first and second staple drivers to a first length, detect a malformed staple in the first row of staples, and set the stroke length for the second staple driver to a second length.