Surgical Stapler Firing Control for Variable Tissue Thickness
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current surgical stapling systems face challenges in precisely controlling tissue treatment motions, particularly in adapting to varying tissue thickness and closure forces, which can affect the efficiency and accuracy of stapling and cutting operations.
Innovation Solution
The development of a surgical system that includes a control mechanism to dynamically adjust firing motion parameters based on elapsed time in the clamped state and tissue conditions, utilizing a combination of sensors and algorithms to optimize staple deployment and cutting performance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If traditional surgical stapling systems use fixed firing motion parameters, then the device complexity is reduced, but the manufacturing precision and adaptability to varying tissue thickness deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic adjustment of firing motion parameters during the firing stroke based on real-time feedback from force sensors and elapsed time measurements. The control mechanism modifies motor commands dynamically to adapt to varying tissue thickness and closure forces, transitioning from fixed to adaptive parameter control to achieve precise staple placement.
Solution Approach 2:
The system incorporates force sensors that continuously measure closure forces and elapsed time during the firing stroke. This feedback information is processed by the control mechanism to dynamically adjust firing motion parameters, creating a closed-loop control system that ensures precise staple placement while adapting to real-time tissue conditions.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the system uses dynamic adjustment of firing parameters based on real-time feedback, then the adaptability to varying tissue conditions improves, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes physical parameters (firing motion speed, force thresholds, time intervals) dynamically during operation based on measured tissue conditions. The control mechanism adjusts motor velocity, acceleration, and force application parameters in real-time to adapt to varying tissue thickness and closure forces, enabling versatile performance across different surgical scenarios.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary measurements of tissue thickness and closure forces before completing the firing stroke. Based on these preliminary data, the control mechanism pre-adjusts firing motion parameters to optimize staple deployment for the specific tissue conditions encountered, ensuring adaptability without requiring complex real-time calculations during the critical firing phase.
3Productivity
If fixed firing parameters are used, then the ease of operation is maintained, but the productivity and treatment efficiency deteriorate due to inability to adapt to different tissue conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The surgical system performs self-adjustment of firing parameters based on automatic sensing of tissue conditions and elapsed time. The control mechanism autonomously optimizes treatment efficiency by adapting to different tissue thicknesses and closure forces without requiring manual intervention or complex user programming, maintaining ease of operation while enhancing productivity.
Data Source
AI summary
A surgical instrument comprising an end effector, a firing member movable from an unfired position toward a fired position during a firing stroke, a firing system comprising a motor, and a control system. The firing system is configured to drive the firing member through the firing stroke. The control system is configured to drive the firing member from the unfired position toward the fired position with the firing system, detect a force to fire the firing member toward the fired position, pause advancement of the firing member for a first amount of time, based on the detected force to fire, resume advancement of the firing member after the first amount of time, and pause advancement of the firing member for a second amount of time, wherein the second amount of time is based on the first amount of time.