Surgical Stapling Instrument Rotation Adjustment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Powered surgical stapling instruments face challenges in maintaining accurate calibration and consistent performance due to manual rotation of the adapter assembly relative to the handle assembly, which changes the relative positions of motors and drive assemblies, necessitating recalibration to ensure proper tissue treatment.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a system that uses software to correlate motor positions with drive assembly positions and includes a controller to verify and adjust the adapter assembly's rotation, ensuring proper clamp gap, staple stroke, and cut stroke through calibration checks and ratiometric calculations based on gear ratios, allowing for recalibration before actuation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the adapter assembly is manually rotated to reposition the tool assembly within a body cavity, then the adaptability and ease of operation are improved, but the calibration accuracy and treatment precision deteriorate due to changed relative positions of motors and drive assemblies
Solution Approach 1:
The system incorporates sensors that detect the rotational position of the adapter assembly and provide feedback to a controller. The controller automatically adjusts calibration parameters based on the detected rotation, ensuring that accurate tissue treatment is maintained regardless of the adapter's rotational position. This feedback mechanism resolves the contradiction by allowing free rotation while maintaining precision through automatic compensation.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically changes calibration parameters based on the rotational position of the adapter assembly. When rotation is detected, the controller modifies the relationship between motor positions and drive assembly positions to account for the changed geometry. This parameter adjustment allows the system to maintain treatment accuracy across different rotational configurations.
2Manufacturing precision
If recalibration is performed after adapter rotation, then the treatment precision is maintained, but the surgical time increases due to additional calibration steps
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs calibration checks automatically at predetermined intervals and upon detection of adapter rotation, without requiring manual intervention. By anticipating when recalibration may be needed and performing it proactively, the system maintains precision while minimizing disruption to the surgical workflow. The automatic nature of this preliminary action prevents time loss that would occur with manual recalibration requests.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs self-calibration using onboard sensors and controllers to automatically adjust calibration parameters when adapter rotation is detected. This self-service capability eliminates the need for manual recalibration by surgical personnel, maintaining treatment precision while significantly reducing the time required for recalibration operations.
3Stability of the object's composition
If the relative positions of motors and drive assemblies are fixed, then the calibration stability is improved, but the ease of operation deteriorates due to inability to reposition the tool assembly
Solution Approach 1:
The system transitions from a static calibration model to a dynamic one that adapts to changes in adapter rotation. Sensors continuously monitor the rotational position, and the controller dynamically adjusts calibration parameters in real-time. This dynamic approach maintains calibration stability equivalent to fixed positions while enabling free repositioning of the tool assembly within the body cavity.
Data Source
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AI summary
A method for powered surgical stapling instrument rotation adjustment includes measuring a change in position of a first motor shaft of the surgical stapling instrument relative to a stored rotation verification position of the first motor shaft resulting from manual rotation of an adapter assembly of the surgical stapling instrument in relation to a handle assembly of the surgical stapling instrument, determining a distance traveled by a first drive assembly of the adapter assembly of the surgical stapling instrument resulting from the change in position of the first motor shaft, comparing the determined distance traveled to a first stored rotation verification position of the first motor shaft, determining if the compared distance falls into a predetermined acceptable range of rotation positions, and adjusting the position of the drive shaft if the compared distance is not within the predetermined range