Surgical Stapler Alignment Pin Assembly with Movable Base
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Solution Overview
Problem
Surgical stapling instruments face a challenge in securely maintaining the alignment pin during a procedure while allowing for its release after completion, which is essential for facilitating the reuse and replacement of the cartridge assembly.
Innovation Solution
The surgical stapling instrument incorporates a deployment member with an abutment member that is releasably coupled to the alignment pin assembly, featuring a snap feature and a base member with wings to prevent rotation, allowing secure engagement during the procedure and easy release post-procedure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the alignment pin is permanently fixed to the deployment assembly, then the reliability of maintaining alignment during the procedure is improved, but the ease of operation for cartridge replacement is worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The alignment pin is designed with a movable base member that can transition between engaged and disengaged positions. The base member includes a movable portion that can be shifted to disengage from the deployment assembly, allowing the pin to be released for cartridge replacement while maintaining secure engagement during the stapling procedure.
Solution Approach 2:
The alignment pin assembly is divided into separate components including a base member with a movable portion and an alignment pin. This segmentation allows the base member to be independently moved to disengage the alignment pin from the deployment assembly, facilitating cartridge removal while maintaining pin security during operation.
2Reliability
If the alignment pin assembly is made complex with multiple engagement features, then the reliability of secure attachment is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The base member includes a movable portion that can be easily shifted by the user to disengage the alignment pin from the deployment assembly. This self-service mechanism allows for simple release without requiring complex tools or procedures, maintaining reliability while avoiding excessive complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The alignment pin is extracted from a fixed state and made movable through the base member's movable portion. This allows the pin to be easily removed from the deployment assembly when needed for cartridge replacement, simplifying the overall structure while maintaining secure attachment during use.
Data Source
AI summary
A surgical stapling instrument includes an elongate body portion defining a longitudinal axis, an end effector supported on a distal portion of the elongated body portion, and a deployment member extending from the elongate body portion into the end effector. The end effector includes a housing having a base portion and a jaw portion, an anvil assembly supported on the jaw portion, and a cartridge assembly releasably supported on the base portion. The cartridge assembly includes an alignment pin assembly. The deployment member includes a distal portion supporting an abutment member and is movable between a retracted position and an advanced position. The abutment member is releasably coupled to the alignment pin assembly when the deployment member is in the retracted position and is fixedly secured to the alignment pin assembly when the deployment member is moved from the retracted position.