Surgical Stapling Apparatus Detachable Buttress Anchor System
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing surgical stapling apparatuses lack a mechanism for selectively connecting and easily removing a surgical buttress from the tissue-contacting surfaces of the cartridge and anvil during the stapling process, which can complicate the procedure and reduce efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A surgical stapling apparatus with a detachable buttress system, where anchors secure the buttress to the anvil and cartridge assemblies, and a knife blade within longitudinal slots cuts these anchors to release the buttress during the stapling process, allowing for easy detachment and reattachment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the surgical buttress is permanently secured to the cartridge and anvil assemblies, then the stapling operation is simplified, but the ability to selectively remove and reuse components is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The surgical buttress is designed with dynamic attachment characteristics - initially secured to both cartridge and anvil assemblies for stable stapling operation, then selectively removable via knife blade cutting of anchors. This transforms the attachment state from static to dynamic, allowing the system to adapt between operational stability and component reusability based on procedural needs.
2Manufacturing precision
If the surgical buttress is securely anchored to prevent movement during stapling, then stapling accuracy is improved, but the complexity of the attachment mechanism increases
Solution Approach 1:
The attachment mechanism is segmented into discrete functional elements: anchors that attach the buttress to the assemblies, and a knife blade that selectively cuts these anchors. This segmentation allows the system to achieve secure attachment during stapling while maintaining simplicity through modular, easily manufactured components that can be independently optimized.
3Reliability
If the buttress remains attached throughout the entire procedure, then tissue support is maintained, but the time required for component removal and potential reuse increases
Solution Approach 1:
The knife blade is pre-positioned within longitudinal slots of the assemblies, aligned with the anchors securing the buttress. This preliminary positioning allows for rapid cutting and release of the buttress immediately after stapling completion, minimizing the time required for component removal while maintaining tissue support throughout the critical stapling phase.
Data Source
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AI summary
A loading unit for a surgical stapling apparatus, comprising a cartridge assembly defining a tissue contacting surface, an anvil assembly defining a tissue contacting surface and a surgical buttress releasably secured to at least one of the tissue contacting surface of the cartridge assembly and the tissue contacting surface of the anvil assembly by at least one anchor.