Surgical Stapler with Rupturable Tissue Treatment Reservoir

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current medical technologies lack an effective method for delivering tissue healing agents directly to stapled or cut sites during surgical procedures, which hampers efficient tissue regeneration and healing.

Innovation Solution

A surgical stapler with a reservoir for housing a tissue treatment composition, including viable tissue fragments and a biocompatible carrier, is designed to deliver healing agents directly to the staple line and cut site, utilizing a fluid conduit and rupturable housing to ensure precise application.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If tissue healing agents are delivered directly to stapled tissue using a surgical stapler with reservoir and fluid conduit system, then tissue healing and regeneration is accelerated, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetissue healing efficacyVSAvoidstapler system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines the stapling function with the tissue treatment composition delivery function into a single integrated surgical stapler system. The reservoir, fluid conduit, and stapling mechanism work together as one unified device, eliminating the need for separate application procedures and improving tissue healing efficacy while managing device complexity through functional integration

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The surgical stapler is designed to perform multiple functions: stapling tissue and simultaneously delivering tissue treatment compositions directly to the stapled tissue. This multi-functionality allows the same device to address both mechanical tissue joining and biological healing promotion, improving overall treatment efficacy

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Manufacturing precision

If a rupturable housing is used to contain and deliver tissue treatment composition, then precise application to staple line is achieved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveapplication precisionVSAvoiddelivery mechanism complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The tissue treatment composition is pre-loaded into the rupturable housing before the surgical procedure. The housing is designed to rupture automatically when exposed to the stapling mechanism, ensuring precise delivery of the composition directly to the staple line without requiring additional manual intervention or complex delivery mechanisms

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The rupturable housing is designed to self-activate through the stapling process itself. The mechanical action of stapling automatically causes the housing to rupture and release the tissue treatment composition, eliminating the need for separate activation mechanisms or complex control systems while maintaining precise application

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentEP2568887B1Apparatus for delivering tissue treatment compositions to stapled tissue
Publication Date: 2014.04.16 ETHICON ENDO SURGERY INC
  • EP2568887B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2568887B1 patent drawingFigure 2A
  • EP2568887B1 patent drawingFigure 2B

AI summary

A surgical stapler includes first and second tissue clamping members and a knife member. The first tissue clamping member is configured to receive a plurality of staples. The second tissue clamping member comprises an anvil configured to form the staples. A tissue treatment member is positionable between the first and second tissue clamping members. The tissue treatment member comprises a rupturable pouch or baffle that is configured to receive a medical fluid including at least one tissue cell. The tissue treatment member may have a spiral shape, an annular disc shape, or an elongate sleeve shape. The tissue treatment member may also include outwardly extending tabs. The tissue treatment member may also include an injection port. In use, the staples and/or the knife pierce the tissue treatment member to release at least a portion of the medical fluid held by the tissue treatment member.