Surgical Anvil Cut Ring Multi-Layer Design

Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional surgical staplers with soft material cut rings fail to effectively cut through staples that may be positioned between the knife blade and the cut ring during tissue anastomosis procedures, as the soft material allows staples to become pressed into the cut ring rather than being cut.

Innovation Solution

An anvil assembly with a cut ring assembly featuring a multi-layered cover, including a soft first layer for tissue penetration and harder second and third layers to prevent staple penetration, allowing the knife blade to cut through staples while maintaining tissue cutting capability.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If a soft material cut ring is used, then tissue cutting capability is improved, but staple cutting capability deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetissue cutting capabilityVSAvoidstaple cutting capability

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The cut ring is divided into multiple functional layers: a soft inner layer for tissue cutting and a hard outer layer for staple cutting. This segmentation allows each layer to perform its specific function optimally without interfering with the other.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The cut ring uses a composite structure combining soft material (e.g., polyethylene) and hard material (e.g., metal or ceramic) in a single component. This composite approach enables the cut ring to exhibit both tissue-cutting softness and staple-cutting hardness simultaneously.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

2Reliability

If a hard material cut ring is used, then staple cutting capability is improved, but tissue cutting capability deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestaple cutting capabilityVSAvoidtissue cutting capability

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The cut ring is divided into multiple functional layers: a soft inner layer for tissue cutting and a hard outer layer for staple cutting. This segmentation allows each layer to perform its specific function optimally without interfering with the other.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The cut ring uses a composite structure combining soft material (e.g., polyethylene) and hard material (e.g., metal or ceramic) in a single component. This composite approach enables the cut ring to exhibit both tissue-cutting softness and staple-cutting hardness simultaneously.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

3Reliability

If a multi-layered cover is added to the cut ring, then both tissue and staple cutting capabilities are improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveoverall cutting performanceVSAvoidcut ring structure

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Multiple functional layers are merged into a single integrated cut ring component that fits within the existing anvil assembly. This combining approach achieves dual functionality without requiring separate components, thereby limiting the increase in device complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The cut ring is divided into multiple functional layers: a soft inner layer for tissue cutting and a hard outer layer for staple cutting. This segmentation allows each layer to perform its specific function optimally without interfering with the other.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentUS8141763B2Anvil assembly with improved cut ring

Publication Date: 2012.03.27 COVIDIEN LP

AI summary

An anvil assembly for use with a surgical stapler is provided. The anvil assembly includes a cut ring assembly having a body and a cover. The cover has a first layer of material having a first hardness to allow penetration by a knife of a surgical stapler and at least one additional layer of material having a second hardness greater than the first hardness to minimize penetration of the cover by a knife of a surgical stapler.