Surgical Stapler with Sequential Firing and Groove Anvil
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional surgical staplers face issues such as complex designs, high manufacturing costs, difficulty in staple formation due to precise pocket alignment, simultaneous stapling and cutting leading to incomplete sealing, and post-operative imaging challenges from permanent metal staples.
Innovation Solution
A simplified surgical stapler design featuring a circular configuration with a contiguous groove anvil, pre-bent staples, and a high-mechanical-advantage firing system, eliminating the need for discrete pockets and allowing sequential stapling and cutting, using biocompatible materials, and an automatically opening mechanism for safe removal.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If conventional discrete pockets are used in the anvil for staple formation, then staple formation can be achieved, but manufacturing complexity and costs increase due to precise alignment requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the complex discrete pocket structure from the anvil and replaces it with a simple groove. This extraction of the problematic feature eliminates the need for precise pocket alignment while maintaining staple formation capability, directly resolving the contradiction between ease of manufacture and manufacturing precision requirements
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the geometric parameter of the anvil feature from a three-dimensional pocket to a two-dimensional groove. This parameter change simplifies the manufacturing process and eliminates alignment precision requirements while still enabling effective staple formation through the modified geometry
2Productivity
If simultaneous stapling and cutting are performed, then surgical efficiency is improved, but incomplete sealing occurs leading to leakage and bleeding
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary stapling before cutting by designing the surgical stapler to first form staples that seal the tissue, then subsequently cut the tissue. This preliminary action ensures complete sealing is achieved before any cutting occurs, eliminating leakage and bleeding while maintaining surgical efficiency through the streamlined sequential process
3Strength
If permanent metal staples are used, then staple strength and sealing are improved, but post-operative imaging challenges occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs composite material construction for the staples, combining strong metallic components for structural integrity with radiolucent materials that allow imaging penetration. This composite approach maintains the necessary staple strength for reliable sealing while eliminating interference with post-operative imaging modalities such as X-ray and CT scans
4Ease of operation
If complex firing mechanisms are used, then precise control of stapling and cutting is achieved, but device complexity and manufacturing costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the control functions for stapling and cutting into a single integrated firing mechanism. This consolidation maintains precise control over the sequential stapling and cutting operations while significantly reducing device complexity and manufacturing costs compared to separate control systems
Data Source
AI summary
A surgical stapler is disclosed herein. The surgical stapler comprises a body having a distal end and a proximal end, and the body defines an interior space. A first knob and a second knob are configured adjacent the proximal end of the body. An anvil and trocar assembly is configured adjacent the distal end of the surgical stapler, wherein the anvil and trocar assembly is coupled to the first knob, and the first knob is configured to facilitate the extension and retraction of the anvil and trocar assembly at the distal end of the body. A staple and knife assembly is configured adjacent the anvil and trocar assembly within the body, wherein the staple and knife assembly is coupled to the second knob, and wherein the second knob is configured to facilitate firing of staples and actuation of a knife of the staple and knife assembly sequentially.