Surgical Stapler Knife Holder Release for Jaw Closure
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing surgical staplers face issues where a malfunctioning motor can cause the knife holder to obstruct the jaws, preventing smooth closure and complicating removal from the body, necessitating cumbersome manual interventions or increased patient trauma.
Innovation Solution
A surgical stapler design featuring a knife holder that moves between positions, restricted by a first elastic member in the first position and driven to a second position by the elastic member when external force is applied, allowing jaws to close smoothly, facilitated by a gear and rack mechanism with a clutch mechanism to release locking.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the knife holder is in the first position to restrict jaw closure, then the surgical stapler can be safely positioned, but the jaws cannot close and the stapler cannot be removed from the body
Solution Approach 1:
The knife holder is designed to be dynamically repositionable between a first position (restricting jaw closure) and a second position (allowing jaw closure). The elastic member enables automatic transition from the first position to the second position when the driving device malfunctions, transforming a static blocking configuration into a dynamic release mechanism that resolves the contradiction between safe positioning and ease of removal.
2Reliability
If manual pushing of the rack is used to drive the central rod and knife holder, then the knife holder restriction is released, but the operation becomes cumbersome and inconvenient
Solution Approach 1:
The elastic member is pre-loaded to automatically drive the knife holder from the first position to the second position when the driving device malfunctions, without requiring manual intervention. This self-service mechanism eliminates the need for surgeons to manually push the rack, significantly improving ease of operation while maintaining the reliability of restriction release.
3Reliability
If the incision is enlarged to keep the surgical stapler jaws open, then the stapler can be removed from the body, but patient trauma increases and recovery is detrimental
Solution Approach 1:
The elastic member is pre-loaded during normal operation to automatically drive the knife holder to the second position upon driving device malfunction, enabling jaw closure and stapler removal through the existing incision. This preliminary preparation eliminates the need for incision enlargement, preventing the harmful effect of increased patient trauma while ensuring reliable stapler removal.
4Extent of automation
If the first gear engages with the rack, then the driving device can drive the knife holder, but the first elastic member cannot drive the knife holder automatically
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically switches between two modes: when the driving device is functional, the first gear engages with the rack for controlled movement; when the driving device malfunctions, the first gear disengages from the rack, allowing the pre-loaded first elastic member to automatically drive the knife holder to the second position. This dynamic engagement/disengagement mechanism ensures both automated control during normal operation and automatic release capability during malfunction.
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
Enables smooth jaw closure and convenient operation by automatically moving the knife holder to a position that no longer obstructs jaw closure, simplifying user interaction and reducing patient trauma.
Implementation Method 1
When the knife holder is in the first position, the first elastic member is in a compressed state, and when the knife holder is in the second position, the first elastic member is in a natural state
Implementation Method 2
the first elastic member is configured to drive the knife holder to move from the first position to the second position
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~3A
Figure 3B~3D
AI summary
Provided is a surgical stapler. The staple includes a knife holder, a first elastic member, jaws, and a housing assembly. The jaws are connected to the housing assembly. The first elastic member is disposed in the housing assembly. The knife holder is movable between a first position and a second position. The knife holder restricts the closure of the jaws when the knife holder is in the first position, and the jaws are configured to be closed when the knife holder is in the second position. The first elastic member is configured to drive the knife holder to move from the first position to the second position. The surgical stapler drives the knife holder to move by the first elastic member so that the knife holder no longer hinders the closing of the jaws, thereby facilitating user operation.