Surgical Stapler Distal Tip Positioning for Continuous Tissue Firing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing surgical staplers have limited capabilities for adjusting the position of the distal tip during surgical procedures, particularly when multiple firings are necessary along a continuous path, complicating the manipulation and firing on tissue.
Innovation Solution
The surgical stapler is designed with an articulating surgical stapling instrument that allows for quick and precise adjustment of the distal tip position through an articulation joint and end effector, enabling discrete positioning and improved maneuverability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the distal tip position is fixed in known surgical staplers, then the structure is simple, but the adaptability for multiple firings along a continuous path is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The distal tip is made dynamically adjustable through an articulation joint that allows the distal tip to pivot between multiple discrete positions (e.g., 0°, 45°, 90°) relative to the longitudinal axis of the shaft. This enables the stapler to adapt to different surgical configurations and tissue orientations during multiple firings along a continuous path, while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure.
2Ease of operation
If the distal tip is rigidly fixed, then the device complexity is low, but the ease of operation for tissue manipulation is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The end effector is segmented into a proximal portion (attached to the shaft) and a distal tip portion that can be independently positioned. The articulation joint acts as a separation point, allowing the distal tip to be selectively articulated relative to the longitudinal axis of the shaft. This segmentation enables improved tissue manipulation and firing accuracy without requiring complex overall device redesign.
3Productivity
If multiple sequential firings are performed with a fixed distal tip, then the procedure time increases, but the device structure remains simple
Solution Approach 1:
The articulation joint enables dynamic repositioning of the distal tip between firings, allowing the surgeon to optimize the angle and position for each subsequent firing along a continuous path. This reduces the time required for repositioning and improves overall procedural efficiency, while the mechanism itself remains relatively simple in structure.
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus includes a first jaw (16) and a second jaw (618, 718, 900) that cooperate to clamp and staple tissue (90). The second jaw includes a jaw body (620, 720, 902, 1202) and a distal tip (619, 719, 906, 1206) pivotable relative to the jaw body between a first discrete and a second discrete position. First and second openings (663, 784, 785, 932, 934, 1208, 1210) are both defined by one of the distal tip or a structure (621, 920, 1212) located proximal to the distal tip. A projection (637, 781, 918, 1214) is defined by the other of the distal tip or the structure. The projection is positionable within the first opening (663, 785, 932, 1208) to releasably retain the distal tip in the first discrete position, and within the second opening (663, 784, 934, 1210) to releasably retain the distal tip in the second discrete position.