Surgical Stapler Handle Assembly With Rotatable Actuation Shaft

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Solution Overview

Problem

Surgical staplers often 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 operation and reduced complexity.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If complex mechanisms are used to ensure proper tissue positioning and stapling, then stapling reliability is improved, but device complexity and manufacturing burden increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestapling reliabilityVSAvoidmechanism complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines multiple functions (tissue clamping, positioning, and stapling actuation) into a single integrated jaw assembly and trigger mechanism. The movable jaw is directly coupled to the trigger, eliminating the need for separate complex mechanisms to control each function, thereby reducing device complexity while maintaining stapling reliability through the unified design.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Adaptability or versatility

If multiple triggers and handles are provided for proper stapling operation, then stapling functionality is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates due to user confusion

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestapling functionalityVSAvoiduser operation simplicity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The trigger mechanism is designed to perform multiple functions: it actuates the movable jaw for tissue clamping, positions the jaw assembly, and triggers the stapling action. This multi-functional trigger eliminates the need for multiple separate controls, reducing user confusion while maintaining comprehensive stapling functionality.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Manufacturing precision

If complex mechanisms are used to provide proper stapling, then stapling precision is improved, but ease of manufacture deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestapling precisionVSAvoidmanufacturing burden

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The stapler is divided into modular components including a handle assembly, elongate shaft, and jaw assembly that can be manufactured separately and assembled. This segmentation allows each component to be manufactured with standard precision using conventional manufacturing processes, avoiding the need for complex integrated manufacturing while maintaining overall stapling precision through proper assembly interfaces.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentUS20260069271A1Surgical stapler handle assembly having actuation mechanism with longitudinally rotatable shaft

Publication Date: 2026.03.12 APPL MEDICAL RESOURCES CORP

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.