Surgical Stapling Instrument Shifting Mechanism

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Current surgical stapling instruments face challenges in ensuring accurate staple firing and tissue cutting, particularly in preventing the firing of spent or missing cartridges, which can lead to inefficiencies and potential tissue damage.

Innovation Solution

The development of a surgical stapling instrument with advanced locking mechanisms and sensors that prevent staple firing unless a compatible and unfired cartridge is installed, incorporating a firing drive system with a shiftable transmission and slip clutch for controlled staple deployment and tissue cutting.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a surgical stapling instrument uses a simple firing mechanism without locking mechanisms or sensors, then the device complexity is reduced, but the reliability of preventing spent cartridge firing deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprevention of spent cartridge firingVSAvoidlocking mechanisms and sensors

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The instrument performs preliminary verification of cartridge status before allowing firing. Sensors detect whether a cartridge is properly installed and unfired before the firing sequence can be initiated, preventing spent cartridge firing in advance

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

A firing lockout mechanism acts as an intermediary between the trigger and the firing drive system. The lockout can be engaged or disengaged based on sensor input, mediating the firing sequence to prevent accidental or improper firing

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If the surgical stapling instrument includes sensors and locking mechanisms to verify cartridge status, then the reliability of staple firing is improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaccurate staple firingVSAvoidfiring drive system

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system uses self-service through automatic sensor verification of cartridge presence and status. The sensors automatically detect cartridge conditions and the control system automatically engages or disengages the firing lockout based on detected conditions, without requiring manual verification

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

Sensors provide feedback about cartridge status to the control system, which then adjusts the firing lockout state accordingly. This feedback loop ensures that firing is only permitted when proper conditions are met

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

3Reliability

If the surgical stapling instrument prevents firing of spent cartridges through locking mechanisms, then the operational safety is improved, but the ease of operation deteriorates due to additional verification steps

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveoperational safetyVSAvoidfiring process

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The automatic sensor verification and lockout control system performs safety checks without requiring additional manual steps from the operator. The system self- verifies cartridge status and automatically enables or disables firing based on detected conditions

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentUS20220296230A1Method of shifting a surgical stapling instrument

Publication Date: 2022.09.22 CILAG GMBH INTERNATIONAL

AI summary

A method of operating a surgical stapling instrument comprising a shifting mechanism is disclosed.