Surgical End Effector Adjunct Retention
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Solution Overview
Problem
Surgical staplers often cause leaks and inflammation due to the trauma of stapling, and the staples lack the natural flexibility of the tissue they are implanted in, leading to issues with tissue integrity and healing.
Innovation Solution
An end effector for surgical instruments that includes a first and second jaw with an adjunct material, where the adjunct is releasably retained using an attachment feature, such as a retaining filament, to minimize tissue trauma and maintain natural tissue characteristics during stapling.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If surgical staplers are used to close openings in tissue, then the openings are sealed, but leaks occur due to staple forming holes when penetrating the tissue
Solution Approach 1:
A seal member is introduced as an intermediary component between the staples and the tissue. The seal member is positioned within the staple holes formed by staple penetration, preventing leakage while allowing the staples to maintain their structural function of closing the opening.
Solution Approach 2:
The seal member is configured as a flexible membrane or thin film structure that can conform to the tissue surface and seal the staple holes. This flexible structure allows it to adapt to the tissue geometry while maintaining the sealing function.
2Reliability
If staples are used to close tissue openings, then the tissue is sealed, but the tissue becomes inflamed due to the trauma that results from stapling
Solution Approach 1:
The seal member is positioned in advance within the staple holes before tissue trauma fully develops. This pre-positioned seal member cushions and protects the tissue from the harmful effects of staple penetration, reducing inflammation while maintaining sealing effectiveness.
Solution Approach 2:
The seal member acts as a protective intermediary between the rigid staples and the soft tissue, reducing direct mechanical trauma and minimizing inflammatory response while maintaining the sealing function.
3Reliability
If staples are implanted in tissue, then the tissue opening is closed, but the staples lack the natural flexibility of the tissue in which they are implanted
Solution Approach 1:
The seal member is constructed from flexible materials that can bend and deform with tissue movement. This flexible structure allows the implant to maintain natural tissue characteristics and adaptability while the rigid staples provide structural support for closure.
Solution Approach 2:
The system combines rigid staples for structural closure with flexible seal members for adaptability. This composite approach allows the implant to simultaneously provide both structural integrity and natural tissue flexibility.
Data Source
AI summary
An end effector for a surgical instrument is provided that has different types of features for releasably retaining at least one adjunct material. The end effector has a first jaw having a cartridge and a second jaw having an anvil. The attachment feature includes a retaining filament having, an intermediate portion, and first and second ends disposed on opposed sides of the intermediate portion and having end features configured to mate with at least one jaw of the first and second jaws. The attachment feature is arranged to retain the adjunct material such that at least a part of the intermediate portion is disposed over the adjunct material and such that the first and second ends are spaced apart.