Surgical Stapler Alignment Pins for Anvil Pocket Positioning

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing surgical stapling devices for circular anastomosis and hemorrhoid treatment lack effective alignment mechanisms for staple slots and anvil pockets during approximation, which can lead to misalignment and inefficiencies in tissue stapling and cutting.

Innovation Solution

The surgical stapler incorporates first and second alignment pins that are movable between non-engaged and engaged positions with the anvil assembly, ensuring proper alignment of staple slots and anvil pockets, allowing for precise stapling and cutting of tissue.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If the staple holding component and anvil assembly are approximated without alignment pins, then the device structure is simpler, but the staple slots and anvil pockets become misaligned leading to stapling inefficiency

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvealignment precision of staple slots and anvil pocketsVSAvoidstructure complexity due to alignment pins

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The alignment pins are positioned in advance within the staple holding component to engage with corresponding features on the anvil assembly before the stapling operation begins. This preliminary alignment ensures that when the components are approximated, the staple slots and anvil pockets are automatically aligned, eliminating the need for complex adjustment mechanisms during operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The alignment pins serve as intermediary elements between the staple holding component and the anvil assembly. These pins mediate the alignment process by engaging with corresponding alignment features on the anvil, ensuring precise relative positioning of the two components without requiring direct complex interaction between the staple holding component and anvil structure itself.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If alignment pins are added to ensure proper alignment, then stapling precision is improved, but the device becomes more complex

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvereliability of tissue stapling and cuttingVSAvoidnumber of movable parts and alignment mechanisms

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The alignment pins are pre-positioned within the staple holding component to engage with corresponding features on the anvil assembly before the stapling operation begins. This preliminary alignment ensures that when the components are approximated, the staple slots and anvil pockets are automatically aligned, eliminating the need for complex adjustment mechanisms during operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The alignment pins enable the device to self-align during the approximation process. When the staple holding component and anvil assembly are brought together, the alignment pins automatically engage with corresponding features on the anvil, causing the system to self-correct and ensure proper alignment without requiring external intervention or complex control mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Ease of operation

If the anvil head is allowed free movement during approximation, then ease of operation is improved, but alignment precision of staples with anvil pockets deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of approximation between anvil head and staple holding componentVSAvoidalignment precision of staples and anvil pockets

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The alignment pins serve as intermediary elements between the staple holding component and the anvil assembly. These pins mediate the alignment process by engaging with corresponding alignment features on the anvil, ensuring precise relative positioning of the two components without requiring direct complex interaction between the staple holding component and anvil structure itself.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The alignment pins enable the device to self-align during the approximation process. When the staple holding component and anvil assembly are brought together, the alignment pins automatically engage with corresponding features on the anvil, causing the system to self-correct and ensure proper alignment without requiring external intervention or complex control mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentEP2286740B1Surgical stapler

Publication Date: 2014.11.12 COVIDIEN LP

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Figure 1A
Figure 2A

AI summary

A surgical stapler (10) comprising a handle assembly (12), an elongated body portion (14) extending distally from the handle assembly, and a head portion (16) disposed adjacent a distal portion of the elongated body portion and including an anvil assembly (18) and a shell assembly (20). The anvil assembly is movable in relation to the shell assembly between spaced and approximated positions. The shell assembly includes a pusher (34) movable distally to advance staples from the shell assembly into contact with the anvil assembly. First and second alignment pins (171) operatively associated with the pusher have distal ends positioned distally of the pusher, the alignment pins movable between a first non-engaged position spaced from the anvil assembly and a second position in engagement with the anvil assembly.