Surgical Stapler Control System Motor Power Adjustment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current electrically-powered surgical staplers lack control and tactile feedback, leading to reduced situational awareness for surgeons, potential device and patient damage due to inadequate motor power, and inability to accommodate changing loads during tissue stapling and cutting.
Innovation Solution
A surgical stapling system with a control system that modifies the force and stroke length of the firing assembly based on the articulation angle of the end effector, allowing for real-time feedback and adjustment of motor power to ensure effective stapling and cutting while preventing device malfunction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Force
If motor power is increased to ensure adequate cutting and stapling force, then the device can handle tougher tissue, but the device becomes more prone to malfunction and damage due to inability to accommodate changing loads
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic control of motor power based on real-time feedback from force sensors. The control system continuously monitors the force required to actuate the firing mechanism and articulation, and dynamically adjusts motor power output to match the actual tissue resistance and articulation angle, preventing both insufficient force and excessive force that could cause damage
Solution Approach 2:
The patent incorporates force sensors that provide real-time feedback to the control system about the load conditions during stapling and cutting operations. This feedback loop enables the control system to detect when the tissue becomes tougher or when articulation increases the required force, and automatically adjust motor power accordingly to maintain reliable operation
2Adaptability or versatility
If articulation angle is increased to improve surgical access, then the device can reach harder-to-access areas, but the force required to actuate the firing mechanism increases making the device more prone to malfunction
Solution Approach 1:
The control system dynamically adjusts motor power based on the articulation angle. As the articulation angle increases, the control system automatically increases the motor power output to compensate for the increased force required to actuate the firing mechanism through the articulated shaft, ensuring consistent performance across all articulation positions
3Ease of operation
If electrically-powered devices are used to reduce manual operation complexity, then the device can perform functions with less user effort, but the device lacks tactile feedback reducing situational awareness
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates multiple sensors including force sensors and position sensors that provide real-time feedback to the control system. This feedback gives the operator information about tissue resistance, cutting progress, and articulation position, restoring situational awareness that was lost in purely electrically-powered devices without feedback mechanisms
Data Source
AI summary
Surgical stapling systems and methods for stapling tissue during a surgical procedure are provided. In an exemplary embodiment, a control system is provided for controlling at least one motor coupled to a drive system on a surgical stapling device for driving one or more drive assemblies. The control system can be configured to communicate with the drive system of the stapling tool and to control and modify movement of one or more drive assemblies based on certain feedback.