Surgical Stapler Firing Circuit with Electrical Latching
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current surgical stapling instruments face challenges in ensuring a secure and leak-proof end-to-end anastomosis between sections of the digestive tract, particularly in maintaining the appropriate gap distance between the anvil and stapling head to prevent leakage or tissue damage during the stapling process.
Innovation Solution
The development of a circular stapler with a mechanism that includes a rotatable knob for precise clamping and a trigger system to actuate the stapling head, featuring a motor-driven cam system and a control circuit to ensure complete actuation of the stapling process, along with a feedback mechanism to verify the correct gap distance, ensuring proper tissue compression and stapling.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a motor-driven cam system with control circuit is used to actuate the stapling head, then the completeness and reliability of stapling actuation is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The control circuit includes a feedback mechanism that monitors the position and state of the stapling head assembly during actuation. Sensors detect whether the stapling process has been fully completed and provide this information back to the control circuit, which can then determine whether to activate the return mechanism. This feedback loop ensures complete and reliable stapling actuation while allowing the system to adapt to actual operating conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces purely mechanical actuation systems with a motor-driven cam system controlled by an electronic control circuit. The motor provides precise control over the cam mechanism, which in turn actuates the stapling head assembly. This substitution of mechanical systems with electromechanical systems enables more reliable and controllable stapling actuation while integrating feedback sensors and electronic control to monitor and ensure complete operation.
2Measurement precision
If a feedback mechanism is implemented to verify correct gap distance, then the precision of anastomosis quality is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The control circuit incorporates sensors that detect the gap distance between the anvil and stapling head assembly before actuation. This feedback information is used by the control circuit to verify that the correct gap distance is maintained, ensuring proper tissue compression and stapling. The system can provide visual or tactile feedback to the operator to confirm correct positioning.
Solution Approach 2:
The feedback mechanism verifies the correct gap distance before the stapling actuation is initiated. By checking and confirming the proper gap distance in advance, the system ensures that tissue is correctly positioned for stapling, preventing improper compression or stapling depth. This preliminary verification step maintains anastomosis quality without requiring complex real-time adjustments during actuation.
3Ease of operation
If the anvil is held at a fixed position relative to the stapling head assembly, then the ease of operation is improved, but the ability to maintain appropriate gap distance under varying conditions deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The anvil is designed with movable features that allow it to adjust its position relative to the stapling head assembly in response to varying tissue conditions. The anvil can move axially or change its orientation to maintain the appropriate gap distance regardless of tissue thickness or anatomical variations. This dynamic adjustment capability ensures proper tissue compression and stapling depth while adapting to different surgical scenarios.
Solution Approach 2:
The system allows for changes in the gap distance parameter between the anvil and stapling head assembly based on detected tissue characteristics. Sensors can detect tissue thickness or other parameters, and the system automatically adjusts the anvil position or actuation force to maintain optimal stapling conditions. This parameter adjustment enables the system to adapt to varying tissue conditions while maintaining ease of operation through automated control.
Data Source
AI summary
A surgical instrument includes a stapling head assembly, an anvil, a firing assembly, a motor, a user input feature, and an electrical circuit. The firing assembly actuates the stapling head assembly to drive an annular array of staples through tissue toward the anvil. The motor actuates the firing assembly through an actuation stroke to thereby actuate the stapling head assembly. The electrical circuit includes a trigger switch and an electrical latching feature. The trigger transitions from an open state to a closed state in response to the user input feature transitioning from a non-actuated state to an actuated state. The electrical circuit activates the motor in response to closure of the trigger switch. The electrical latching feature maintains activation of the motor to complete the actuation stroke even if the trigger switch is transitioned back to the open state before completion of the actuation stroke.