Surgical End Effector Cam Pin Mechanism for Tissue Clamping
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing surgical staplers face challenges in efficiently grasping and stapling tissue due to factors like tissue size, shape, thickness, and toughness, and the refilling process is cumbersome, leading to potential misfires and improper loading.
Innovation Solution
A surgical fastening device with an end effector featuring a cartridge jaw and anvil pivotally coupled, a cam pin within cam slots, and a closure mechanism, such as a lobe cam or wedge, to securely engage and compress tissue, along with a cable or actuation shaft to facilitate precise closure and clamping.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a traditional stapler design is used, then the device can perform basic stapling function, but it is difficult to grasp and staple tissue properly due to size, shape, thickness and toughness variations
Solution Approach 1:
The end effector is designed with movable jaws that can dynamically adjust their position and orientation to adapt to different tissue sizes, shapes, and thicknesses. The closure mechanism allows the jaws to close with appropriate force for various tissue types, improving both adaptability and stapling accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The stapler incorporates adjustable features that allow local adaptation to tissue characteristics. The end effector can be configured to match specific tissue properties at the surgical site, enabling proper engagement and stapling for each local condition.
2Volume of moving object
If a small cartridge is used for stapling, then the device maintains a compact size, but the cartridge is difficult to manipulate and secure within the jaw during refilling
Solution Approach 1:
A cartridge retention mechanism acts as an intermediary between the small cartridge and the jaw, providing features such as retention arms or clamps that securely hold the cartridge during refilling. This intermediary structure makes it easier to manipulate and secure the small cartridge without increasing its size.
3Device complexity
If the closure mechanism applies force only at the distal end, then the structure is simpler, but the clamping force is insufficient for tough or thick tissue
Solution Approach 1:
The closure mechanism is designed to apply clamping force at multiple locations along the jaw, not just at the distal end. This multi-point force application increases overall clamping force on tough or thick tissue while maintaining reasonable structural complexity through the use of additional force application points.
4Device complexity
If manual refilling of cartridges is used, then the device structure is simpler, but the process is time consuming and can result in improper loading
Solution Approach 1:
The cartridge retention mechanism is designed to guide and secure the cartridge automatically during the refilling process. The retention arms or clamps engage with the cartridge features to ensure proper positioning and loading without requiring complex automated mechanisms, thereby improving refilling speed while maintaining simple device structure.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The device provides improved tissue engagement and stapling efficiency, reducing the likelihood of misfires and enhancing the ease of refilling by ensuring proper cartridge loading, thus improving surgical precision and speed.
Implementation Method 1
a cam pin disposed within a cam slot formed in each of the cartridge jaw and the anvil. The cam pin is slidable within the cam slots to move the anvil and cartridge jaw between a spaced-apart position and a closed position
Implementation Method 2
The closure mechanism is positioned adjacent to a proximal-most end of the anvil and is configured to apply a force to the proximal-most end of the anvil to compress tissue engaged between the anvil and the cartridge jaw
Data Source
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AI summary
Devices and methods are provided for facilitating closing and clamping of an end effector of a surgical device. In general, the devices and methods can be configured to increase a moment arm of the end effector, thereby increasing a closure force of the end effector. In an exemplary embodiment, a surgical device can include a closure mechanism configured to provide an increased moment arm at the device's end effector, such as at a proximal end thereof.