Surgical Stapler Tension Balancing to Prevent End Effector Swing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing surgical staplers experience end effector assembly swinging due to imbalanced tension forces, leading to tissue traction and abrasion during the surgical procedure.
Innovation Solution
A surgical stapler design incorporating an intermediate connecting member with first and second channels, each featuring protruding structures, where bending tension members passively contact these structures to generate additional tension forces, maintaining balance and preventing swinging.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the bending control mechanism is used to bend the end effector assembly, then the end effector assembly can be positioned, but the end effector assembly swings causing tissue traction and abrasion
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a counterbalancing mechanism where the bending control mechanism includes a balance arm and balance spring that counteracts the swinging motion of the end effector assembly during bending. The balance spring provides a restoring force that opposes the harmful swinging motion, thereby preventing tissue traction and abrasion while maintaining positioning capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary balancing mechanism between the bending control mechanism and the end effector assembly. The balance arm and balance spring act as intermediaries that mediate the bending motion, converting the direct swinging motion into a controlled bending motion that does not cause tissue damage.
2Force
If the bending control mechanism causes the end effector assembly to swing, then the bending motion is generated, but additional tension force is needed to prevent swinging
Solution Approach 1:
The balance spring provides a counterbalancing force that opposes the swinging motion generated during bending. The balance arm is positioned to create a moment arm that generates a restoring force equal to the swinging force, thereby preventing swinging while maintaining the necessary bending force for positioning.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the mechanical parameters of the bending control mechanism by introducing the balance arm and balance spring, which alter the force distribution and moment balance during bending operations. This parameter change enables the system to maintain stability while generating the necessary bending force.
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 design prevents end effector assembly swinging, reducing tissue traction and abrasion by ensuring balanced tension forces throughout the bending process.
Implementation Method 1
the first bending tension member passively contacts the first protruding structure, expanding along a first direction to generate additional tension force
Implementation Method 2
the second bending tension member passively contacts the second protruding structure, expanding along the second direction to generate additional tension force
Implementation Method 3
the intermediate connecting member is elastic; when the end effector assembly bends along the first direction, the intermediate connecting member is compressed on a side facing the first direction to provide supporting force and stretches on a side facing the second direction
Data Source
AI summary
A surgical stapler is provided. The surgical stapler includes: an intermediate connecting member, an end effector assembly, a first bending tension member and a second bending tension member; the first bending tension member is configured to pass through the first channel to connect to the end effector assembly; the second bending tension member is configured to pass through the second channel to connect to the end effector assembly; a first protruding structure is provided on a side of the first channel close to the second channel; when the second bending tension member is forced to pull the end effector assembly to bend along a second direction, the first bending tension member passively contacts the first protruding structure, generating additional tension force. The present disclosure prevents the first bending tension member from loosening during the surgical procedure, thereby reducing traction or abrasion to the patient's tissue.