Surgical Stapler Handle Assembly With Rotatable Actuation Modes
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Solution Overview
Problem
Surgical staplers have complex mechanisms that increase manufacturing burdens and potential device failure, while also confusing users.
Innovation Solution
A surgical stapler with an elongate shaft, jaw assembly, and handle assembly featuring a longitudinally slidable and rotatable actuation shaft, which includes a selector to switch between orientations for advancing, reversing, and opening drivers, allowing for simplified stapling operations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If complex mechanisms with multiple triggers and handles are used to ensure proper tissue positioning and stapling, then stapling reliability is improved, but device complexity and manufacturing burden increase
Solution Approach 1:
The actuation mechanism is divided into distinct functional components: an advancing driver for closing the jaw, a reversing driver for opening the jaw, and a selector mechanism to choose between modes. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function independently, reducing overall complexity while maintaining reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The actuation shaft serves multiple functions by being engageable with both the advancing driver and the reversing driver through different orientations. This multi-functionality reduces the number of separate components needed, simplifying the overall mechanism while ensuring reliable tissue stapling through proper positioning.
2Reliability
If complex mechanisms with multiple triggers and handles are used to ensure proper stapling, then stapling reliability is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates due to user confusion
Solution Approach 1:
The mechanism transitions from a static, fixed-function design to a dynamic system where the actuation shaft can be rotated to different orientations. This dynamic reconfiguration allows a single trigger to perform multiple functions (advancing, reversing, opening) based on the shaft's position, making the operation more intuitive and less confusing for users while maintaining reliable stapling.
3Ease of manufacture
If a longitudinally slidable and rotatable actuation shaft is used with advancing, reversing, and opening drivers, then ease of manufacture is improved by reducing complexity, but device complexity increases due to the rotatable feature
Solution Approach 1:
The actuation shaft combines the functions of the advancing driver, reversing driver, and opening driver into a single integrated component. By merging these functions into one shaft that can be slid longitudinally and rotated to different orientations, the design reduces the number of separate parts, simplifying manufacturing while achieving the desired functional complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
A handle assembly for a surgical stapler can comprise a rotatable actuation shaft. The actuation shaft can have a first rotational orientation in which it can actuate a jaw assembly in a repeatable open and close mode, a second rotational orientation in which it can actuate a jaw assembly in a staple firing mode, and a third rotational orientation in which it can actuate a jaw assembly in a reversing mode. The handle assembly can include a rotational mechanism arranged to discretely position the rotatable actuation shaft in one of the rotational orientations. The rotational mechanism can be arranged for single handed operation such as by including a slidable switch or selector to rotate the actuation shaft.