Surgical Stapler Drive and Articulation for Consistent Staple Placement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current surgical stapling instruments face challenges in efficiently and accurately deploying staples across varying tissue thicknesses and anatomical features during minimally invasive procedures, often resulting in inconsistent staple placement and tissue handling.
Innovation Solution
The development of a surgical stapling instrument with a drive system that includes a tissue drive mechanism with articulation and synchronization capabilities, allowing for precise movement and adjustment of the end effector relative to the tissue, along with a staple firing system that can adapt to changes in tissue thickness and anatomy, facilitated by a combination of electric motors and advanced mechanical linkages.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If a traditional staple firing system is used, then the device structure remains simple, but staple placement consistency deteriorates across varying tissue thicknesses
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a dynamic drive system with electric motors and mechanical linkages that enable real-time adjustment of the end effector's position and orientation relative to the tissue. This dynamic capability allows the system to adapt to varying tissue thicknesses and anatomical features, maintaining consistent staple placement despite changes in the surgical field conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces traditional mechanical staple firing mechanisms with an electric motor-driven system. This substitution enables more precise control over the stapling process through electrical actuation of the drive system, allowing for programmable motion control and synchronization that improves staple placement consistency while reducing mechanical complexity.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the end effector is fixed relative to the stapling instrument, then the device structure remains simple, but adaptability to anatomical variations deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a dynamic articulation mechanism that allows the end effector to move and articulate relative to the main instrument body. This dynamic capability enables the end effector to adapt its position and orientation to match varying anatomical structures and tissue thicknesses, providing versatility in different surgical scenarios.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent divides the stapling instrument into separable functional modules, including the end effector, drive system, and articulation mechanisms. This segmentation allows independent adjustment and positioning of the end effector relative to the main instrument, enabling adaptation to different anatomical configurations while maintaining overall system functionality.
3Manufacturing precision
If staple deployment is performed without real-time adjustment, then the operation speed remains high, but staple placement accuracy deteriorates across diverse tissue conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback-controlled drive system that monitors the position and orientation of the end effector relative to the tissue during stapling operations. This feedback mechanism allows real-time adjustments to be made through the electric motor control system, ensuring accurate staple placement while maintaining operational efficiency through automated control.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces manual mechanical adjustment mechanisms with electric motor-driven systems that can be controlled and monitored electronically. This substitution enables real-time adjustment of the end effector position and staple firing parameters through electrical control, improving accuracy without significantly reducing surgical procedure efficiency.
Data Source
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AI summary
A surgical stapler comprising an end effector and a system configured to feed staples into the end effector is disclosed.