Surgical Stapling Apparatus Buttress Adhesion via Liquid Expulsion
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Solution Overview
Problem
In minimally invasive surgical procedures, surgical stapling devices face challenges with buttress materials shifting during tissue manipulation, leading to staples forming outside the intended perimeter, which compromises the reinforcement of the staple line.
Innovation Solution
A surgical stapling apparatus incorporating a resilient, porous material, such as a sponge, that is releasably disposed between the tissue-facing surfaces of the cartridge and anvil assemblies, which expels a liquid upon compression to secure the surgical buttress in place, preventing shifting and enhancing adherence to the tissue.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If buttress material is attached to the stapler jaw, then reinforcement of the staple line is improved, but the buttress material shifts during tissue manipulation causing staple misalignment
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-attaching the buttress material to the stapler jaw before the stapling operation. This ensures the buttress is in position to reinforce the staple line from the beginning, preventing shifts during tissue manipulation and ensuring accurate staple placement relative to the buttress perimeter.
2Strength
If buttress material is placed between staple and tissue, then prevention of tears and pull-through is improved, but positioning precision deteriorates due to shifting
Solution Approach 1:
The buttress material is attached to the stapler jaw in advance, establishing precise positioning before the stapling operation begins. This preliminary attachment ensures the buttress remains accurately positioned between the staple and tissue throughout the procedure, maintaining both tissue reinforcement strength and positioning precision.
3Device complexity
If conventional stapling without buttress is used, then device complexity is reduced, but sealing against air or fluid leakage deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the buttress material attachment function with the existing stapler jaw structure. By integrating the buttress attachment system into the stapler jaw, the device maintains relative simplicity while achieving improved seal integrity against air or fluid leakage at the staple line.
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 use of a resilient, porous material ensures that the surgical buttress remains securely positioned, preventing staple misalignment and improving the integrity of the staple line by maintaining the buttress in contact with the tissue, thereby reducing the risk of tears and fluid leakage.
Implementation Method 1
The resilient, porous material is configured to expel a liquid therefrom upon compression thereof by an approximation of the cartridge assembly and the anvil assembly
Implementation Method 2
a resilient, porous material releasably disposable between the first and second tissue facing surfaces and in contact with the surgical buttress that is configured to expel a liquid therefrom upon compression
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3A
AI summary
A surgical stapling apparatus includes a tool assembly, at least one surgical buttress, and a resilient, porous material. The tool assembly includes a cartridge assembly and an anvil assembly pivotably coupled to the cartridge assembly. The cartridge assembly includes a first tissue facing surface defining staple retaining slots. The anvil assembly includes a second tissue facing surface defining staple pockets for forming staples expelled from the staple retaining slots of the cartridge assembly. The at least one surgical buttress is releasably disposed on at least one of the first and second tissue facing surfaces. The resilient, porous material is releasably disposable between the first and second tissue facing surfaces and in contact with the at least one surgical buttress. The resilient, porous material is configured to expel a liquid therefrom upon compression thereof by an approximation of the cartridge assembly and the anvil assembly.