Stapler Knob Locking Mechanism for Anvil Gap Stability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current surgical stapling instruments lack effective mechanisms for ensuring precise staple height adjustment and preventing accidental actuation during circular anastomosis procedures, which can lead to suboptimal tissue sealing and increased risk of complications.
Innovation Solution
The surgical stapling instrument incorporates a rotatable adjusting knob for setting staple height, a pivotal safety latch to lock the staple actuating lever and adjusting knob, and various locking mechanisms to prevent unintended operation, ensuring the anvil gap is within a predetermined range before allowing stapling.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a locking mechanism is added to prevent accidental actuation and lock the adjusting knob, then safety and reliability are improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the safety latch mechanism with the adjusting knob locking function into a single integrated system. The safety latch, when engaged, simultaneously locks both the staple actuating lever and the adjusting knob through mechanical coupling, eliminating the need for separate locking mechanisms and reducing overall device complexity while maintaining enhanced safety
Solution Approach 2:
The safety latch is designed to be engaged before stapling operations begin, preliminarily establishing the locked state for both the actuating lever and adjusting knob. This preliminary action ensures that accidental actuation is prevented before it can occur, and the locking configuration is set in advance to maintain staple height settings throughout the procedure
2Reliability
If the safety latch locks both the staple actuating lever and adjusting knob, then accidental actuation is prevented, but ease of operation is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The safety latch system is designed with dynamic engagement and disengagement capabilities. The latch can be easily engaged by a simple action (such as pressing a release button or moving a lever) to lock both components, and just as easily disengaged when needed. This dynamic design allows rapid transition between locked and unlocked states, maintaining ease of operation while ensuring safety when required
Solution Approach 2:
The locking mechanism incorporates self-latching features where engagement of the safety latch automatically secures both the actuating lever and adjusting knob without requiring separate manual locking actions. The system serves itself by having the single latch mechanism simultaneously control both components through mechanical linkage, reducing the number of user actions needed while maintaining comprehensive locking
Data Source
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AI summary
A surgical stapling instrument for performing a circular anastomosis comprises a stapling head assembly, an actuator handle assembly, a shaft assembly, a safety latch, and a locking member. The stapling head assembly includes an anvil that moves relative to a staple holder and a staple driver to drive staples from the staple holder into tissue and against the anvil. The actuator handle assembly has a first actuator that controls motion of the anvil and a second actuator that controls motion of the staple driver. The shaft assembly couples the stapling head assembly to the actuator handle assembly. The safety latch prevents operation of the second actuator when the gap between the anvil and staple holder is outside a predetermined range. The locking member is configured to prevent adjustment of the anvil gap after the desired staple height has been set inside the predetermined range.