Surgical Stapler Rotatable Tip for Complex Anatomy
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current surgical staplers lack advanced features for precise tissue manipulation and visualization during endoscopic procedures, limiting their effectiveness in achieving accurate clamping, cutting, and stapling, especially in complex anatomical sites.
Innovation Solution
The surgical stapler incorporates a rotatable tip member with discrete positions, allowing for enhanced maneuverability and visualization, along with an angled anvil design that urges tissue into the stapling area, facilitating better access and visibility during procedures.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a traditional surgical stapler with a fixed straight tip is used, then the structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but the ability to access and visualize complex anatomical sites is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The tip member is made rotatable about the longitudinal axis of the shaft, allowing it to dynamically change orientation between multiple discrete positions (e.g., 0°, 45°, 90°, 135°). This enables the stapler to adapt to different anatomical configurations and access complex sites that would be inaccessible with a fixed straight tip, while maintaining a relatively simple mechanical implementation through a rotation mechanism.
Solution Approach 2:
The tip member can be articulated or deflected relative to the longitudinal axis of the shaft, adding an articulation dimension to the otherwise linear shaft-end effector arrangement. This articulation capability allows the end effector to reach into complex anatomical spaces and provide improved visualization angles without requiring complete redesign of the stapler's core structure.
2Illumination intensity
If the tip member is made rotatable with multiple discrete positions, then visualization and access to surgical sites are enhanced, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The rotatable tip member provides dynamic repositioning capability with discrete angular positions (e.g., 0°, 45°, 90°, 135°), enabling the clinician to optimize visualization and access for different surgical scenarios. The rotation mechanism allows the tip to be oriented toward different anatomical landmarks or surgical sites, enhancing illumination and visualization without requiring multiple separate instruments.
Solution Approach 2:
The rotatable tip member serves multiple functions: it provides mechanical access to different anatomical sites, optimizes illumination angles for better visualization, and can be positioned to facilitate different surgical maneuvers. This multi-functionality is achieved through a single rotatable component rather than requiring multiple specialized instruments, thereby managing complexity while enhancing capability.
3Manufacturing precision
If an angled anvil design is used to urge tissue into the stapling area, then clamping accuracy is improved, but the structural complexity of the end effector increases
Solution Approach 1:
The anvil is designed with an asymmetric angled configuration where the distal end is oriented at a specific angle (e.g., 30°, 45°, or 60°) relative to the longitudinal axis of the shaft. This asymmetric angling creates a tissue-guiding surface that passively directs tissue into the correct position for clamping and stapling, improving clamping accuracy without requiring active positioning mechanisms or complex control systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The angled anvil surface performs preliminary tissue positioning and guidance before the actual clamping action occurs. As tissue is introduced into the end effector, the angled surface automatically directs and orients the tissue into the proper alignment for accurate clamping by the jaws, preparing the tissue in advance for the stapling operation and reducing the need for complex active positioning mechanisms.
Data Source
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AI summary
A surgical stapler that includes a body, a shaft extending from the body, and an end effector in communication with the shaft. The end effector is operable to compress, staple, and cut tissue. The end effector includes a first jaw; a second jaw opposed from the first jaw, and a tip member. The first and second jaws are operable to transition from an open state to a closed state to clamp tissue therebetween. The tip member is coupled with a distal end of the first jaw. The tip member is selectively rotatable along a rotation axis to toggle between a first discrete position and a second discrete position. The tip member in the first discrete position is configured to assume a first orientation relative to the second jaw, and the tip member in the second discrete position is configured to assume a second orientation relative to the second jaw.