Surgical Stapler Spline Crash Correction via Motor Oscillation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Circular stapling devices face issues with spline crash, which can damage components and prevent proper alignment of staple forming pockets with receiving pockets, leading to malformation or failure in tissue fastening.
Innovation Solution
A surgical stapler with a motor-driven anvil retainer that oscillates between extension and retraction patterns to prevent spline crash by realigning the anvil and shell assemblies, using a processing unit to control the motor and sensors to detect and correct clamping force thresholds.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If the anvil assembly and shell assembly are approximated to align staple forming pockets with receiving pockets, then proper alignment and staple formation are achieved, but spline crash may occur causing component damage and alignment failure
Solution Approach 1:
The motor is configured to oscillate the anvil retainer between extension and retraction positions, creating controlled mechanical vibration that prevents the splines from crashing into each other. This vibration allows the splines to pass by one another smoothly during approximation, eliminating the crash condition while maintaining proper alignment.
Solution Approach 2:
The system employs periodic oscillation of the anvil retainer between extension and retraction positions during the approximation process. This periodic action continues until the splines have safely passed one another, ensuring reliable alignment without component damage.
2Ease of operation
If the splines are designed to engage smoothly, then alignment is facilitated, but simultaneous engagement of tapered ends causes spline crash and binding
Solution Approach 1:
The motor-generated oscillation introduces controlled vibration that prevents simultaneous engagement of the tapered spline ends. This vibration ensures that splines engage sequentially rather than simultaneously, eliminating the harmful crash effect while maintaining ease of alignment.
Solution Approach 2:
The system converts the potentially harmful simultaneous engagement force into a beneficial oscillatory motion. By introducing controlled vibration through motor oscillation, the harmful crash condition is transformed into a safe sequential engagement process that facilitates alignment.
3Measurement precision
If the anvil retainer is extended fully to ensure alignment, then proper positioning is achieved, but the risk of spline crash increases
Solution Approach 1:
The motor oscillates the anvil retainer between extension and retraction positions, creating vibration that prevents spline crash even during full extension. This allows the system to achieve maximum positioning precision without the harmful effects of spline engagement crash.
Solution Approach 2:
The anvil retainer is made dynamic through motor-controlled oscillation between extension and retraction positions. This dynamic behavior allows the system to achieve precise positioning while the oscillation prevents the static harmful condition of spline crash.
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 spline crash, ensuring proper alignment and reducing the risk of damage, thereby ensuring reliable staple formation and tissue clamping during surgical procedures.
Implementation Method 1
The motor is configured to oscillate the anvil retainer between extension and retraction in a first oscillation pattern to obviate a spline crash between the anvil spline and the shell spline
Data Source
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AI summary
A method for obviating spline crash in a surgical stapler that utilizes a motor of the surgical stapler includes oscillating an anvil retainer of the surgical stapler in a first oscillation pattern, oscillating the anvil retainer in a second oscillation pattern that is different from the first oscillation pattern after the first oscillation pattern, and retracting the anvil retainer until an anvil of the surgical stapler is in a clamped position relative to a shell assembly after the second oscillation pattern. Oscillating the anvil retainer in the first oscillation pattern includes oscillating the anvil retainer in a longitudinal direction between extension and retraction with the motor such that the anvil moves towards and away from the shell assembly. Oscillating the anvil retainer in the second oscillation pattern includes moving the anvil towards and away from the shell assembly.