Surgical Stapler Buttress Attachment System
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing surgical stapling instruments face challenges in reliably and efficiently attaching and removing buttress materials, which are crucial for sealing and reinforcing staple lines, especially in thin or fragile tissues.
Innovation Solution
The surgical stapler design incorporates a buttress attachment system with movable jaw members and elastic or expandable buttress materials that secure to the anvil and staple cartridge using projections, slots, and bands, allowing for easy attachment and secure retention through elastic tension and frictional engagement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional stapling methods are used on thin or fragile tissues, then the stapling process can be completed, but the staple line fails to seal effectively against air or fluid leakage and the tissue is prone to tears or staple pull-through
Solution Approach 1:
A buttress material is introduced as an intermediary component between the staple and the fragile tissue. The buttress receives the staple force and provides sealing against leakage, while the tissue itself is not directly subjected to high stress from staple formation. This mediator allows effective stapling of thin or fragile tissues that would otherwise fail.
2Reliability
If buttress material is placed against tissue for reinforcement, then sealing and anti-tear properties improve, but the attachment and removal of buttress becomes complex and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The jaw member is divided into multiple segments including a movable jaw portion and a stationary jaw portion, each with independent buttress retention features. The movable jaw portion includes fingers with slots for buttress engagement, while the stationary jaw portion has corresponding retention structures. This segmentation allows independent attachment and removal of buttress from each jaw, simplifying the overall operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The movable jaw portion is designed to move relative to the stationary jaw portion, creating dynamic engagement and disengagement of buttress retention features. During closure, the movable jaw engages the buttress on the stationary jaw; during opening, the movement automatically disengages the retention features, enabling easy buttress removal without complex manual operations.
3Reliability
If multiple retention features are added to secure buttress, then attachment reliability improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The retention features are designed to automatically engage and secure the buttress material without requiring additional fastening operations. The slots in the movable jaw fingers and corresponding features on the stationary jaw create self-locking engagement when the jaw closes, and self-release when the jaw opens. This eliminates the need for separate retention mechanisms while maintaining secure attachment.
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 ensures secure attachment and easy removal of the buttress, providing effective sealing and reinforcement of staple lines while minimizing tissue damage and preventing staple pull-through.
Implementation Method 1
elastic or expandable buttress materials that secure to the anvil and staple cartridge using projections, slots, and bands, allowing for easy attachment and secure retention through elastic tension
Implementation Method 2
secure retention through elastic tension and frictional engagement
Data Source
AI summary
An end effector of a surgical stapler includes first and second jaw members and a buttress releasably secured to the first jaw member. The first jaw member defines a first projection and a second projection distal of the first projection. The buttress defines a first slot and a first aperture distal of the first slot. The first slot is dimensioned to receive the first projection of the first jaw member, and the first aperture is dimensioned to receive the second projection of the first jaw member.