Surgical Stapler Cartridge Ridges Tissue Stabilization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Surgical stapling devices often experience malformation of staples when used on thick tissue, as the tissue tends to slide between the jaw members, leading to improper staple placement and tissue damage.
Innovation Solution
The surgical stapling device incorporates a tool assembly with an anvil and cartridge assembly, featuring ridges along the cartridge channel that extend outwardly from the staple cartridge to engage and stabilize the tissue, preventing movement during staple formation, with specific shapes and spacings designed to minimize tissue damage and ensure proper staple alignment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If tissue is heavily compressed between the two jaw members to staple thick tissue, then staple formation can be achieved, but the tissue tends to slide from between the jaw members, causing staples to be malformed
Solution Approach 1:
The cartridge holder features ridges with tissue engagement portions positioned at specific locations along the peripheral walls. These localized structural features provide enhanced tissue gripping capability precisely where needed during stapling, allowing the tissue to be held firmly in position without requiring excessive compression that would cause sliding.
2Stability of the object's composition
If ridges are added to the cartridge holder to grip tissue, then tissue sliding is prevented, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The tissue engagement feature is segmented into multiple discrete ridges distributed along the peripheral walls of the cartridge holder. Each ridge acts as an independent tissue gripping element, collectively providing stable tissue holding capability. This segmented approach achieves the desired tissue stability while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure that can be integrated into existing stapler designs.
Data Source
AI summary
A surgical stapling device (10) is disclosed including a tool assembly (16) having an anvil assembly (24) and a cartridge assembly (26). The cartridge assembly (26) includes ridges (46) or protrusions (46) formed along peripheral walls of the cartridge assembly (26) to grip and stabilize tissue clamped between the anvil and cartridge assemblies (24,26). The ridges (46) serve as grippers to prevent the tissue from moving during staple formation in both the lateral and longitudinal directions. Improved staple formation can be achieved by stabilizing the tissue during staple formation.