Surgical Stapler Buttress Gel Adhesive Retainer
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing surgical stapling instruments lack a mechanism to reinforce the mechanical fastening of tissue, leading to potential staple pull-through and tissue tearing at the application site.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a buttress material with an adhesive layer on the surgical stapler's end effector, which secures to the tissue via staples, providing structural support and reducing the risk of tissue damage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If only staples are used for tissue fastening, then the device complexity is low, but the reliability of tissue fastening is insufficient leading to staple pull-through and tissue tearing
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies composite materials by combining staples with a buttress material that has adhesive properties. The buttress material is applied to the tissue surface and works together with the staples to prevent pull-through and tissue tearing, creating a composite fastening system that enhances reliability beyond what staples alone can provide.
Solution Approach 2:
The buttress material acts as an intermediary between the staples and the tissue. It is applied to the tissue surface first, then the staples are driven through it, creating a layered fastening system where the buttress material distributes forces and prevents direct stress concentration on the tissue, thereby improving fastening reliability.
2Reliability
If a buttress material with adhesive layer is added to the end effector, then the tissue fastening reliability is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple functions into a single integrated component. The buttress material is combined with an adhesive layer and integrated into the end effector assembly, allowing it to perform both structural support and adhesive bonding functions simultaneously, thereby improving reliability while managing device complexity through functional integration.
Solution Approach 2:
The buttress material with adhesive layer serves multiple functions: it provides structural reinforcement to prevent staple pull-through, distributes mechanical stresses, and uses its adhesive properties to bond to the tissue surface. This multi-functionality enhances tissue fastening reliability while the integrated design helps manage the added complexity.
3Strength
If adhesive material is applied to the buttress material, then the bonding strength to tissue is improved, but the risk of adhesive migration increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a thin film or coating of adhesive material applied to the buttress material surface. This thin adhesive layer provides sufficient bonding strength to the tissue while minimizing the total volume of adhesive, thereby reducing the risk of migration. The adhesive is contained within or on the surface of the buttress structure, acting as a controlled flexible layer.
Solution Approach 2:
The adhesive material is applied locally to specific areas of the buttress material rather than uniformly across the entire surface. This localized application concentrates the adhesive bonding strength where it is most needed for tissue attachment while minimizing the total amount of adhesive present, thereby reducing the potential for migration to surrounding areas.
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
The buttress material effectively prevents staple pull-through and tissue tearing, enhancing the integrity of the stapled tissue line while maintaining the stapler's functionality.
Implementation Method 1
a buttress material with an adhesive layer on the surgical stapler's end effector, which secures to the tissue via staples
Data Source
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AI summary
An apparatus includes a buttress body, an adhesive material, and a containment sheet. The buttress body is sized to fit on an anvil or a staple cartridge deck of a surgical stapler. The adhesive material is disposed on the buttress body. The adhesive material is configured to flow across the buttress body in response to a temperature exceeding a melting temperature. The containment sheet is disposed on the adhesive material. The containment sheet is secured relative to the buttress body such that the containment sheet is configured to contain the adhesive material on the buttress body