Surgical Stapler Anvil Adjustment Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing surgical stapling instruments face issues with the unmovable anvil relative to the staple cartridge, leading to fixed staple height, and the actuator knob's tendency to unintentionally contact surrounding tissue, increasing surgery time due to the need for reassembly and tissue repositioning.
Innovation Solution
The surgical stapling instrument features a rotatable anvil adjustment mechanism and a locking mechanism to prevent premature actuator advancement, allowing for adjustable staple height and preventing actuator knob misalignment with tissue.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If the anvil is made unmovable relative to the staple cartridge, then the structural stability is improved, but the staple height cannot be adjusted
Solution Approach 1:
The anvil is designed with a movable adjustment mechanism that allows the anvil surface to be positioned at different heights relative to the staple cartridge. The anvil includes an adjustment slot and adjustment member that enable controlled movement between fixed positions, providing both stability during operation and adjustability for different staple heights.
2Ease of operation
If the actuator knob extends outwardly from the surgical instrument, then the ease of operation is improved, but the tissue may impede the advancement of the actuator knob
Solution Approach 1:
A locking mechanism is implemented that prevents the actuator knob from advancing until the jaw members are properly assembled and locked together. This preliminary locking action prevents the actuator from unintentionally contacting tissue before the instrument is ready, eliminating the need for repositioning and reducing surgery time.
3Ease of operation
If the latch is moved between open and closed positions, then the ease of assembly is improved, but the jaw members may be unintentionally detached
Solution Approach 1:
The locking mechanism is designed to automatically engage and lock the jaw members together when the latch is moved to the closed position. This preliminary locking action ensures that the jaw members remain securely connected throughout the procedure, preventing unintentional detachment while maintaining ease of assembly.
Data Source
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AI summary
A surgical stapling instrument including a staple sled which can be advanced and/or retracted relative to first and second jaw members, wherein the staple sled can be configured to deploy staples from a staple cartridge in one of the first and second jaw members. In at least one embodiment, the other of the first and second jaw members can include an anvil having at least one forming surface which can be configured to deform the staples as they are deployed from the staple cartridge. In at least one form of the invention, the anvil can be movably adjustable relative to the staple cartridge in order to adjust the distance in which the staples are deformed. In various embodiments, the anvil can be adjusted by a slidable adjusting plate and/or a rotatable cam.