Surgical Stapler Timer Controller for Tissue Compression
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current surgical stapling devices lack consistency in tissue compression time, leading to variable staple formation due to manual control by surgeons, which can result in non-uniform staples and fluid displacement during stapling.
Innovation Solution
A surgical stapler with a controller that delays the firing mechanism for a predetermined time period after tissue compression, ensuring the tissue is in a stable compressed state before staples are fired, and includes sensory indicators for feedback on compression status.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If manual control of tissue compression time is used by the surgeon, then the device structure remains simple, but the compression time consistency deteriorates leading to variable staple formation
Solution Approach 1:
The controller is programmed with predetermined compression time parameters that are established before the surgical procedure. When the surgeon activates the device, the controller automatically enforces the predetermined compression duration, ensuring consistent tissue compression without requiring the surgeon to manually time the compression period.
Solution Approach 2:
The device incorporates sensors that monitor tissue compression status and provide feedback to the controller. The controller uses this feedback to verify that the predetermined compression time has been achieved before allowing staple firing, ensuring consistent staple formation while maintaining automated control.
2Manufacturing precision
If manual timing of tissue compression is used, then the device complexity remains low, but the compression time precision deteriorates resulting in non-uniform staples
Solution Approach 1:
The controller continuously monitors the compression state through sensors and compares it against predetermined parameters. When the tissue compression reaches the desired state after the predetermined time period, the controller provides feedback confirmation and automatically triggers the staple firing mechanism, ensuring precise and consistent compression timing.
Solution Approach 2:
The controller is designed to autonomously manage the compression timing process without requiring continuous surgeon intervention. The system self-regulates the compression duration based on predetermined parameters and automatically transitions to the stapling phase, reducing the burden on the surgeon while maintaining high precision.
3Manufacturing precision
If immediate staple firing occurs after compression, then the operation speed is fast, but the staple uniformity deteriorates due to fluid displacement in uncompressed tissue
Solution Approach 1:
The controller is programmed to enforce a predetermined compression time period before allowing staple firing. This preliminary compression phase ensures that tissue fluid is adequately displaced and the tissue is properly compacted, creating optimal conditions for uniform staple formation. The automated timing ensures this preliminary action is always completed before stapling, regardless of surgeon haste.
Solution Approach 2:
The controller acts as an intermediary between the compression phase and the stapling phase. It mediates the transition by enforcing the predetermined compression time and verifying compression adequacy through sensors before permitting staple firing, thus ensuring staple uniformity without significantly delaying the overall procedure.
4Reliability
If automated delay mechanism is added to ensure consistent compression time, then the staple formation quality improves, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The controller is designed to perform multiple functions: it manages compression timing, monitors compression status through sensor integration, determines when compression adequacy is achieved, and triggers staple firing. By consolidating these functions into a single multi-functional controller, the device achieves high reliability in compression time consistency while minimizing the increase in overall device complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
A surgical apparatus has a clamp and a stapling mechanism. The clamp has a first jaw and a second jaw to clamp on a body tissue at a desired location for a stapling operation. The stapling mechanism is controlled by a trigger handle or a switch assembly. The surgical apparatus has a controller for providing a delay between clamping and actuating of the firing mechanism of the stapling mechanism. The delay provides for a desired amount of time for tissue compression producing a more uniform staple formation. The surgical apparatus also has an indicator. The indicator provides feedback about the status of the stapling mechanism and also displays a time of tissue compression by the clamp.