Surgical Stapler Cartridge-Adjustable Clamp Gap
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional surgical staplers are limited in their ability to accommodate cartridges of different staple sizes, as the gap between the anvil and the cartridge must be precisely maintained for proper staple formation, leading to incomplete or malformed staples when incompatible cartridges are used.
Innovation Solution
The surgical stapler is designed to accommodate both blue and white cartridges, which set different clamp gaps through unique gap-setting features, allowing for the use of staples across 0.035 inch and 0.020 inch gaps respectively, by adjusting the position of the shuttles and pivot pins to automatically set the appropriate distance between the anvil and the cartridge.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If the gap between the anvil and cartridge is maintained at a fixed value for proper staple formation, then staple quality is improved, but the stapler can only accommodate cartridges with specific staple sizes
Solution Approach 1:
The anvil is designed with movable components (shuttles and pivot pins) that allow the gap between the anvil and cartridge to be dynamically adjusted. When a cartridge is inserted, the shuttles move to different positions based on the cartridge type, automatically setting the appropriate gap distance. This dynamic adjustment mechanism enables the stapler to maintain proper staple formation quality while accommodating multiple cartridge sizes.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the gap parameter between the anvil and cartridge based on the cartridge type. Different cartridge sizes (e.g., blue cartridges for 0.035 inch gap, white cartridges for 0.020 inch gap) trigger different gap settings through the shuttle mechanism. This parameter adjustment allows the stapler to optimize staple formation for each cartridge type while maintaining versatility.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the stapler is designed to accommodate multiple cartridge sizes, then cartridge compatibility is improved, but the gap between anvil and cartridge becomes difficult to control precisely
Solution Approach 1:
The shuttle acts as an intermediary mechanism between the cartridge and the anvil gap setting. When a cartridge is inserted, the shuttle is pushed to a specific position by the cartridge's gap-setting feature, and this shuttle position then determines the pivot pin location, which in turn sets the anvil gap. This intermediary mechanism translates cartridge insertion into precise gap control, enabling both compatibility and precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The system automatically adjusts the gap setting based on the cartridge inserted, without requiring manual intervention. The cartridge itself, through its gap-setting feature, triggers the shuttle movement and subsequent gap adjustment. This self-service mechanism ensures that the correct gap is maintained for each cartridge type while maintaining versatility.
3Adaptability or versatility
If manual adjustment of the gap is required for different cartridge sizes, then cartridge compatibility is improved, but the ease of operation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The gap adjustment is performed automatically by the system itself based on the cartridge inserted. The cartridge's gap-setting feature directly actuates the shuttle mechanism, which then sets the appropriate gap without any manual adjustment by the surgeon. This self-service operation maintains both cartridge compatibility and ease of use.
Solution Approach 2:
The gap setting is prepared in advance by the cartridge design itself. The cartridge includes gap-setting features that are pre-configured to trigger the appropriate shuttle position and anvil gap setting upon insertion. This preliminary action eliminates the need for manual adjustment during surgery, improving ease of operation.
Data Source
AI summary
An exemplary surgical apparatus for treating tissue may include an anvil; a jaw pivotally connected to the anvil; and a first cartridge detachably connected to the anvil, holding staples of a first size; where a first clamp gap between the anvil and first cartridge is set by the connection between the first cartridge and jaw. An exemplary cartridge for a surgical stapler may include a cartridge housing; a plurality of staples held within the cartridge housing; and a sled slidable within, and retained by, the cartridge housing, including a central platform, at least one wedge connected to the central platform, and a knife rotatable relative to the central platform.