Resilient Stopper for Surgical Stapler Pusher Retention

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Surgical stapling devices lack a simple and effective mechanism to retain the pusher and knife assembly in a retracted position before firing and to prevent readvancement of the knife assembly after firing, which can lead to premature staple ejection and unwanted exposure of the cutting blade, posing a risk to clinicians during transport or disposal.

Innovation Solution

A surgical stapling device with a cartridge assembly featuring a resilient stopper that is deformable from a retracted position to an advanced position to allow movement of the pusher and knife assembly during firing, and returns to the retracted position to prevent readvancement, ensuring the knife assembly remains shielded post-firing, utilizing a base portion and cantilevered arm with a proximally facing stop surface and distally facing cam surface for engagement.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a stop member is provided to retain the pusher and knife assembly in retracted position, then premature advancement is prevented, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprevention of premature staple ejectionVSAvoidcomplexity of retention mechanism

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The stop member changes its physical state from engaged to disengaged position along the longitudinal axis, transitioning between blocking and non-blocking states to control advancement of the pusher and knife assembly

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The stop member is movable along the longitudinal axis between engaged and disengaged positions, allowing dynamic control of the retention function rather than a fixed static structure

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Object-affected harmful factors

If a stopper is provided to prevent readvancement of the knife assembly after firing, then clinician safety is improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveexposure of cutting bladeVSAvoidcomplexity of retention mechanism

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The stop member combines multiple functions into a single component: it retains the pusher assembly, prevents readvancement of the knife assembly, and works with the resilient member to provide both initial retention and post-firing safety

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The stop member serves multiple purposes throughout the device operation cycle: preventing premature advancement before firing and preventing readvancement after firing, making it a multi-functional safety component

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Ease of operation

If the stop member is made resilient to allow deformation, then the pusher and knife assembly can advance during firing, but the manufacturing complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveadvancement during firingVSAvoidmanufacturing of resilient component

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The resilient member changes its physical state from engaged to disengaged position along the longitudinal axis, transitioning between blocking and non-blocking states to control advancement of the pusher and knife assembly

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The resilient member is made from elastomeric material allowing it to deform and flex between engaged and disengaged positions, providing the necessary elasticity for the retention mechanism to function

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

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

The solution effectively prevents premature advancement of the pusher and knife assembly before firing and ensures the knife assembly is safely retracted post-firing, enhancing user safety and device functionality by maintaining the cutting blade in a shielded position, thus preventing injuries and ensuring proper device operation.

Implementation Method 1

a resilient stopper (106, 206, 306) supported on the cartridge body and deformable from a first position in which the resilient stopper extends into the cavity of the cartridge body to obstruct movement of the pusher and the knife assembly from their retracted positions to their advanced positions to a second position allowing movement of the pusher and the knife assembly from their retracted positions to their advanced positions

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentUS20240225642A1Surgical stapling device with stopper for pusher/knife retention

Publication Date: 2024.07.11 COVIDIEN LP

AI summary

A surgical stapling device includes an end effector that has a cartridge assembly with a stopper of simple construction that prevents advancement of a pusher and a knife assembly within a cartridge body of the cartridge assembly until the stapling device is fired, and/or prevents readvancement of the knife assembly of the cartridge assembly after the stapling device is fired.