Surgical Stapling Device Jaw Assembly Clamping Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
In minimally-invasive surgical procedures, the small size of access ports restricts effective manual suturing, making it difficult to perform complex suturing procedures, and alternatives to suturing are needed to maintain the benefits of minimally-invasive surgery.
Innovation Solution
A surgical stapling device with a handle assembly, clamp drive assembly, clamp assembly, and end-effector featuring a jaw assembly with an anvil member and staple channel member, allowing for clamping, stapling, and cutting of tissue, along with a mode switch to select clamping mode, and a method for treating tissue using this device.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If manual suturing is performed through small access ports, then minimally-invasive benefits are maintained, but effective suturing operation becomes significantly difficult or nearly impossible
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual suturing operations with an automated surgical instrument that delivers pre-formed sutures through small access ports. The instrument uses mechanical feed mechanisms and delivery systems to automatically position and deploy sutures, eliminating the need for manual manipulation through restricted access ports while maintaining minimally-invasive benefits.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a specialized surgical instrument as an intermediary between the surgeon and the tissue. This instrument includes components such as a needle holder, suture feeder, and delivery mechanism that facilitate suture placement through small access ports, acting as a mediator that overcomes the physical limitations of manual operation in constrained spaces.
2Ease of operation
If access ports are made larger to allow effective suturing operations, then ease of suturing improves, but benefits of minimally-invasive surgery are significantly reduced or eliminated
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the need for large access ports by substituting manual suturing operations with an automated instrument system. The mechanical feed mechanisms and suture delivery systems are designed to operate through small ports, eliminating the trade-off between port size and operational ease by automating the suturing process.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the operational parameters by using pre-formed sutures and automated delivery mechanisms instead of manual manipulation. This allows the system to perform effective suturing through small access ports by altering how the suturing operation is executed rather than changing the physical dimensions of the access ports.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If instruments of small diameter are used for minimally-invasive procedures, then physical trauma to patient is reduced, but effective manual manipulation within the body becomes restricted
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual manipulation with an automated instrument that includes mechanical feed mechanisms, suture delivery systems, and controlled activation mechanisms. These automated systems perform the manipulative functions that would otherwise require manual dexterity, allowing effective operation through small-diameter instruments.
Solution Approach 2:
The instrument is designed to perform its own manipulative functions through integrated mechanical systems. The suture feeder automatically advances sutures, the needle holder positions needles, and the activation mechanisms trigger suture deployment, allowing the instrument to service itself and perform complex operations through small access ports without requiring manual manipulation.
Data Source
Figure 1A~1B
Figure 1C~1D
Figure 1E~2A
AI summary
A surgical stapling device is configured for use in open and/or laparoscopic surgical procedures. The device includes a handle assembly, a shaft assembly coupled to the handle assembly, and an end-effector coupled to the shaft assembly. The end-effector comprises of a jaw assembly configured to clamp, staple, and/or cut a target tissue. The handle assembly comprises of a trigger element that can activate a drive assembly to advance a clamp drive assembly to clamp the aforementioned target tissue. The clamp drive assembly comprises of a clamp slide member to either advance the clamp drive assembly in a first direction or retreat the clamp drive assembly in a second direction. The clamp drive assembly is movably coupled to a clamp driver member. Movement of the clamp driver member operates clamping operations of a jaw assembly of the surgical stapling device.