Surgical Stapler Anvil With Adjustable Forming Cups
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing surgical stapling instruments lack the ability to adjust the formed height of staples, which can lead to inconsistent staple deformation and potentially compromise tissue closure during surgical procedures.
Innovation Solution
The surgical stapler features an anvil assembly with a tissue-contacting surface and staple pockets that include first and second forming cups with vertical sidewalls, allowing for the deformation of staple legs to specific sides, enabling adjustable staple forming heights by moving the anvil plate relative to the staple cartridge.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the anvil is fixed relative to the staple cartridge, then the device structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but the formed height of staples cannot be adjusted
Solution Approach 1:
The anvil plate is made movable relative to the staple cartridge along the longitudinal axis, transforming the static anvil structure into a dynamic adjustable one. This allows the anvil to be repositioned to different locations along the longitudinal axis, thereby adjusting the formed height of staples while maintaining a relatively simple overall device structure.
2Manufacturing precision
If the forming cups have vertical sidewalls extending through the staple pocket longitudinal axis, then staple deformation precision is improved, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The forming cups are divided into distinct segments: inside portions, outside portions, and interior sidewalls with vertical portions. This segmentation allows each component to be manufactured separately with specific geometric constraints, improving precision of staple deformation while facilitating easier fabrication through modular construction.
Solution Approach 2:
The forming cups feature asymmetric geometry with vertical sidewalls extending through the staple pocket longitudinal axis, creating non-symmetric deformation paths for staple legs. This asymmetric design ensures precise control over staple leg deformation to specific sides while maintaining manufacturability through standardized machining processes.
3Reliability
If staple pockets are designed with specific geometric configurations for vertical sidewalls, then staple forming consistency is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The staple pockets are designed with localized vertical sidewalls at specific positions along the longitudinal axis, creating different geometric characteristics at different locations. This local quality variation ensures consistent staple forming across multiple pockets while maintaining overall device simplicity through repetitive modular design.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This design allows for customizable staple forming heights, enhancing the precision and effectiveness of tissue closure by accommodating varying tissue thicknesses and surgical requirements.
Implementation Method 1
The first interior sidewall and the second interior sidewall comprise a vertical trap for deforming a first staple leg of a staple to a first side of the staple pocket longitudinal axis and for deforming a second staple leg of the staple to a second side of said staple pocket longitudinal axis
Data Source
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AI summary
A surgical stapler can comprise an anvil comprising a staple pocket formed in a tissue contacting surface. The staple pocket can comprise a longitudinal axis, a first forming cup, and a second forming cup. The first forming cup can comprise a first interior sidewall comprising a first vertical portion which is substantially perpendicular to the tissue contacting surface. The second forming cup can comprise a second interior sidewall comprising a second vertical portion which is substantially perpendicular to the tissue contacting surface. The first vertical portion and the second vertical portion can extend through the longitudinal axis, wherein the first interior sidewall and the second interior sidewall can comprise a trap for deforming a first staple leg of a staple to a first side of the longitudinal axis and for deforming a second staple leg of the staple to a second side of the longitudinal axis.