Surgical Stapler Buttress Applicator via Articulated Joints
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current surgical stapling instruments lack effective reinforcement mechanisms for staples, leading to potential tissue tearing and instability at the stapled sites, which can result in complications and prolonged recovery times.
Innovation Solution
The development of a surgical stapling instrument equipped with buttress assemblies and adjunct applicators that provide structural reinforcement and hemostatic agents, such as polyglactin 910, to secure staples and prevent tissue tearing, featuring articulation joints and adjustable applicators for precise placement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If surgical staplers are used without buttress reinforcement, then the device complexity is reduced, but the reliability of the stapled site decreases due to potential tissue tearing and instability
Solution Approach 1:
The buttress assembly is pre-applied to the tissue before stapling, providing reinforcement in advance. The applicator delivers the buttress material to the target site, where it is positioned between the tissue layers prior to staple deployment, ensuring the tissue is reinforced before the stapling action occurs.
Solution Approach 2:
The buttress assembly acts as an intermediary element between the stapler and the tissue. It is positioned between the opposing tissue layers and the staples, serving as a mediator that distributes forces and prevents tissue tearing while allowing the stapler to function as intended.
2Strength
If buttress assemblies are applied to reinforce staples, then tissue tearing is reduced, but the device complexity and procedure time increase
Solution Approach 1:
The application of the buttress assembly and the stapling procedure are merged into a single integrated process. The applicator is designed to work in conjunction with the stapler, allowing both actions to occur in close sequence or simultaneously, thereby reducing the total time required compared to separate application and stapling steps.
Solution Approach 2:
The applicator is designed to be self-contained with the buttress assembly, requiring minimal additional manipulation or preparation by the surgeon. The device is loaded and positioned in a straightforward manner, and the buttress material is deployed automatically or with minimal manual intervention, reducing the time and effort required for application.
3Manufacturing precision
If adjustable applicators with articulation joints are used, then placement precision is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The applicator incorporates articulation joints that allow it to dynamically adjust its configuration. The articulation joint enables the applicator to articulate or deflect relative to the longitudinal axis of the shaft, allowing it to adapt to different tissue geometries and achieve precise placement in challenging anatomical locations.
Solution Approach 2:
The applicator is divided into multiple segments or sections by the articulation joint, allowing independent movement of each segment. This segmentation enables the distal end effector to be positioned with greater precision by adjusting the angle and orientation of each segment relative to the others.
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus includes a body with a first body portion, a second body portion opposed from the first body portion, and a connecting portion that couples a proximal end of the first body portion with a proximal end of the second body portion. The connecting portion is configured to permit the first and second body portions to move toward and away from one another between a plurality of angular orientations. The first and second body portions define a distally opening angle. A first adjunct element and a second adjunct element are disposed on outwardly facing surfaces of the first and second body portions. The first and second body portions may be fixed in each of the angular orientations and may simultaneously apply the first and second adjunct elements to first and second jaws, respectively, of a surgical stapler end effector.