Surgical Stapler Alignment Pin Bell Crank Decoupling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Surgical stapling devices often require multiple actuations to close thick or wide tissue, necessitating the ability to selectively deactivate the alignment pin assembly to prevent tissue capture between the anvil and cartridge assemblies during procedures.
Innovation Solution
The stapling device incorporates a linkage assembly with a bell crank assembly and a bell crank pin that can be manually or automatically actuated, allowing for the alignment pin assembly to be uncoupled from the approximation mechanism, enabling manual or automatic advancement and deactivation of the alignment pin.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the alignment pin assembly is automatically advanced upon approximation, then tissue is captured between the anvil and cartridge assemblies, but this prevents flexible handling when multiple actuations are needed for thick or wide tissue
Solution Approach 1:
The alignment pin assembly is designed with dynamic characteristics, allowing it to transition between automatically advanced and manually controllable states. The pin can be manually retracted from its advanced position, enabling the clinician to select between automatic operation for standard cases and manual control for thick or wide tissue requiring multiple actuations.
2Ease of operation
If the alignment pin is manually advanced, then the clinician has control over tissue capture timing, but this requires additional manual intervention and increases procedural complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The alignment pin assembly incorporates a self-service mechanism where the pin can be manually advanced or retracted by the clinician without requiring separate manual intervention steps. The design allows the pin to be pushed manually into the advanced position or pulled back, enabling direct control while maintaining procedural efficiency.
3Reliability
If the alignment pin assembly is always advanced, then tissue is consistently captured for single-actuation procedures, but this prevents tissue extension for multiple-actuation procedures
Solution Approach 1:
The alignment pin assembly transitions from a static always-advanced state to a dynamic system where the pin position can be adjusted. The pin can be manually retracted to allow tissue extension for multiple-actuation procedures, or left advanced for single-actuation procedures requiring consistent tissue capture, providing adaptability while maintaining reliability.
Data Source
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AI summary
A surgical stapling device includes an alignment pin pusher, an approximation assembly, and a linkage assembly. The linkage assembly includes a bell crank assembly including a bell crank and a bell crank pin. The bell crank pin is movable from an activated position to a deactivated position. In the activated position, the bell crank pin couples the alignment pin pusher to the approximation mechanism such that movement of the approximation mechanism causes movement of the alignment pin pusher from a retracted position to an advanced position. In the deactivated position, the bell crank pin is moved to a position to uncouple alignment pin assembly from the approximation mechanism.