Surgical Stapler Firing Lever for High-Force Tissue Stapling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Stapling apparatuses require high force for multiple firing strokes during surgical procedures, leading to clinician fatigue, incomplete firing, and involuntary muscle movements, especially when handling thick tissues or awkward angles, which can cause bleeding and anastomotic leakage.
Innovation Solution
An auxiliary device for surgical staplers featuring a mounting bracket, drive plate, rack, and firing lever that facilitates rotational adjustment and mechanical advantage for easier and controlled firing, reducing the required force and enabling comfortable operation in various orientations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Force
If high force is applied to advance the firing knob through a firing stroke, then the stapling apparatus can fire through thick tissue, but clinician fatigue increases and incomplete firing may occur
Solution Approach 1:
A lever arm is introduced as an intermediary mechanical element between the clinician's hand and the firing actuator. The lever arm transmits and amplifies the applied force through mechanical advantage, allowing the firing mechanism to achieve sufficient force for thick tissue without requiring the clinician to directly apply high force, thereby preventing fatigue and incomplete firing
Solution Approach 2:
The firing mechanism is reconfigured from direct linear motion to rotational motion around a pivot point. By applying force at a distance from the pivot (creating a lever arm), the system exploits the rotational dimension to generate greater torque and firing force, converting a high-force linear push into a lower-force rotational action
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple firing strokes are required during a single surgical procedure, then thick tissue can be treated, but clinician fatigue increases and involuntary muscle movements occur
Solution Approach 1:
The firing mechanism utilizes rotational motion around a pivot point rather than direct linear pushing. This dimensional change allows the clinician to apply force more comfortably at a distance from the pivot, reducing muscle strain and fatigue during multiple sequential firing strokes required for thick tissue treatment
3Adaptability or versatility
If the stapling apparatus is held at awkward angles to perform a surgical procedure, then access to difficult surgical sites is achieved, but firing precision decreases and tissue pulling may occur
Solution Approach 1:
The mounting bracket is designed with rotational capability, allowing the stapling apparatus to dynamically adjust its orientation relative to the auxiliary device. This dynamic positioning enables the clinician to achieve optimal firing alignment even when accessing difficult surgical sites at various angles, maintaining firing precision while improving surgical access
Solution Approach 2:
The system is divided into separable components: a fixed auxiliary device body and a rotatably mounted stapling apparatus. This segmentation allows the stapler to be independently positioned and oriented while the auxiliary device remains stable, enabling precise firing alignment regardless of the surgical approach angle
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The auxiliary device reduces clinician fatigue and improves firing precision, preventing incomplete stapling and tissue pulling, thereby enhancing surgical efficiency and safety.
Implementation Method 1
The rack is mechanically coupled to the drive plate. The firing lever is mechanically coupled to the rack and pivotable to move the drive plate relative to the surgical stapler for firing the surgical stapler
Implementation Method 2
facilitates rotational adjustment and mechanical advantage for easier and controlled firing, reducing the required force
Implementation Method 3
The firing lever is mechanically coupled to the rack and pivotable to move the drive plate relative to the surgical stapler for firing the surgical stapler
Data Source
Figure 1A~1B
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
An auxiliary device (100) for a surgical stapler (10) includes a body (102), a mounting bracket (110), a drive plate (130), a rack (132), and a firing lever (150). The mounting bracket (110) is supported on the body (102) and configured to releasably couple the body (102) to the surgical stapler (10). The drive plate (130) is configured to couple to a firing actuator (150) of the surgical stapler (10). The rack (132) is mechanically coupled to the drive plate (130). The firing lever (150) is mechanically coupled to the rack (132) and pivotable to move the drive plate (130) relative to the surgical stapler (10) for firing the surgical stapler (10).