Surgical Stapler Jaw Friction Optimization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Surgical tools with opposing jaws of different materials and surface roughness experience differential friction, leading to non-uniform tissue deformation and suboptimal stapling and sealing performance due to varying friction coefficients between stainless steel and plastic surfaces.
Innovation Solution
Designing surgical staplers and shears with optimized friction coefficients between opposing jaws, where the delta of effective friction coefficients between the top and bottom jaws is less than or equal to 0.25, and varying surface treatments along the ultrasonic blade to control friction from the distal tip to the proximal node section, ensuring uniform tissue compression and motion.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If opposing jaws are made of different materials (stainless steel and plastic) with varied surface roughness, then gripping and manipulation capability is improved, but differential friction causes non-uniform tissue deformation and lateral shear forces
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies different surface treatments to different regions of the opposing jaws. Specifically, the first jaw surface receives a first surface treatment while the second jaw surface receives a second surface treatment, creating localized friction coefficient variations that are optimized for their specific functional roles while maintaining overall tissue deformation uniformity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the friction coefficient parameter by applying different surface treatments to the two opposing jaw surfaces. By controlling the friction coefficients through surface treatment selection and optimization, the patent achieves uniform tissue deformation while maintaining effective gripping capability
2Ease of operation
If jaw surfaces have high friction coefficients for better tissue gripping, then tissue manipulation control is improved, but lateral shear forces increase causing suboptimal stapling and sealing
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies different surface treatments to different regions of the opposing jaws. Specifically, the first jaw surface receives a first surface treatment while the second jaw surface receives a second surface treatment, creating localized friction coefficient variations that are optimized for their specific functional roles while maintaining overall tissue deformation uniformity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the friction coefficient parameter by applying different surface treatments to the two opposing jaw surfaces. By controlling the friction coefficients through surface treatment selection and optimization, the patent achieves uniform tissue deformation while maintaining effective gripping capability
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
Achieves optimized stapling and sealing performance by minimizing lateral forces and ensuring uniform tissue compression, enhancing the interaction surface friction for better control and tissue manipulation.
Implementation Method 1
an ultrasonic blade is detachably coupled to the distal end of the handle assembly and a non-active jaw is detachably coupled to the ultrasonic blade towards the distal end of the handle assembly. The ultrasonic blade is configured to vibrate at high frequency
Implementation Method 2
The ultrasonic blade is configured to vibrate at high frequency with an effective friction coefficient varying from a distal tip section to a proximal node section
Implementation Method 3
Due to the differential friction between the opposing jaws, the tissue adjacent to the two jaw surfaces may flow differently during the tissue compression and manipulation
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention discloses a surgical stapler instrument. The surgical stapler instrument comprises a handle assembly having a proximal end and a distal end. A bottom jaw is detachably coupled to the distal end of the handle assembly. The bottom jaw having a staple cartridge surface, configured to eject one or more staples. Further, a top jaw is detachably coupled to the bottom jaw toward the distal end of the handle assembly. The top jaw comprises a staple pocket disposed over an anvil surface of the top jaw and configured to bend the ejected one or more staples and deliver into targeted tissues. An effective friction coefficient (μe) of the staple pocket of the top jaw is lower than the staple cartridge surface of the bottom jaw to achieve optimized stapling.