Surgical Stapling Device Knife Assembly Engagement

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing surgical stapling devices face challenges in securely coupling the knife assembly to the stapling device and preventing premature disengagement or unintended movement of the knife assembly during and after use.

Innovation Solution

The surgical stapling device incorporates engagement members on the thrust bar and knife assembly, which snap-fit together to securely couple the knife assembly to the thrust bar. Additionally, the cartridge assembly includes proximal and distal snaps that obstruct the knife assembly's movement before and after firing, ensuring safe retraction and easy replacement.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the knife assembly is securely coupled to the thrust bar using engagement members, then the reliability of the stapling device is improved, but the device complexity increases due to additional engagement structures

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesecure coupling of knife assemblyVSAvoidengagement structures

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The knife assembly is divided into separate components (knife holder, knife blade, engagement members) that can be independently manufactured and assembled. The engagement members are separate elements that connect the knife assembly to the thrust bar, allowing for modular construction and easier replacement of individual parts without affecting the entire assembly.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The knife blade is positioned within the knife holder, which in turn is coupled to the thrust bar via engagement members. The cartridge assembly is nested within the clamp slide assembly, and the knife assembly is nested within the cartridge body. This nested arrangement allows compact design while maintaining secure connections through the engagement members at each level.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

2Object-affected harmful factors

If the knife assembly is prevented from disengagement before use, then the safety is improved, but the ease of operation decreases due to restricted movement

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepremature disengagement preventionVSAvoidknife assembly movement

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The cartridge body includes prevention structures (such as retention arms or blocking features) that actively prevent the knife assembly from disengaging before the stapling device is used. These structures are positioned to counteract any forces that might cause premature disengagement, ensuring the knife assembly remains securely in place until intended use.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #9Preliminary anti-action

Solution Approach 2:

The engagement members are designed with dynamic characteristics, allowing them to be flexible or movable during normal operation to accommodate the knife assembly's movement within the cartridge body. However, these same engagement members provide rigid locking when the stapling device is fired, preventing disengagement while maintaining ease of operation during loading and positioning.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

3Object-affected harmful factors

If the knife assembly is obstructed from advancement after firing, then the safety is improved, but the productivity decreases due to extended operation time

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveunintended movement preventionVSAvoidoperation time

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The clamp slide assembly is designed to automatically perform the action of obstructing the knife assembly's advancement after firing. The prevention structures are pre-positioned to engage with the knife assembly or thrust bar immediately after the stapling action, eliminating the need for additional manual intervention to prevent unintended movement.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The engagement members and prevention structures are designed to automatically engage and disengage based on the operational state of the device. After firing, the structures self-activate to prevent further advancement of the knife assembly. When the cartridge is replaced, the structures self-disengage, allowing rapid replacement without manual intervention, thus maintaining productivity while ensuring safety.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentUS12318088B2Surgical stapling device with reloadable cartridge

Publication Date: 2025.06.03 COVIDIEN LP

AI summary

A surgical stapling device includes a removable or releasable cartridge assembly. The surgical stapling device and the cartridge assembly include engagement members for releasably securing a thrust bar of the stapling device to a knife assembly of the cartridge assembly. The stapling device also includes structure to prevent the knife assembly from being disengaged from a cartridge body of the cartridge assembly and for obstructing advancement of the knife assembly within the cartridge body after the stapling device has been fired.