Surgical Fastener Deployment Guide Surface Orientation
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Solution Overview
Problem
The application of excessive force and relative motion between fasteners during surgical procedures can interfere with the deployment of fasteners, leading to inconsistent results and potential complications in hernia repair surgeries.
Innovation Solution
A surgical instrument with a fastener deployment system that includes a driveshaft with a guide surface and a follower mechanism, which applies controlled forces to maintain fastener orientation and deployment, using a combination of restraining elements and a walking beam assembly to ensure precise and consistent deployment of fasteners.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a plurality of fasteners are included within the surgical instrument, then the speed of the procedure is increased and the need to remove and re-introduce the surgical instrument is reduced, but the application of excessive force and relative motion between fasteners can interfere with deployment
Solution Approach 1:
The fastener deployment system divides the fasteners into individual cells within the magazine, with each fastener isolated in its own compartment. This segmentation prevents relative motion between fasteners while allowing controlled deployment of each fastener through the needle mechanism, resolving the contradiction by maintaining both high productivity through multiple fasteners and reliability through consistent individual deployment
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a needle mechanism as an intermediary between the magazine and tissue. The needle pierces through the fastener holder and delivers each fastener individually to the tissue, acting as a mediator that controls the deployment force and orientation. This intermediary mechanism ensures consistent fastener deployment even when multiple fasteners are stored in the instrument, maintaining reliability while enabling high productivity
2Loss of time
If multiple fasteners are held in the surgical instrument, then the need to remove and re-introduce the instrument is reduced, but excessive force application during deployment can cause complications
Solution Approach 1:
The surgical instrument pre-loads multiple fasteners into the magazine before the surgical procedure begins. This preliminary action eliminates the need to remove and re-introduce the instrument during the procedure, saving time. The controlled deployment mechanism ensures that each pre-loaded fastener is delivered with appropriate force, preventing deployment complications while maintaining the time-saving benefit of multiple pre-loaded fasteners
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces direct mechanical pushing of multiple fasteners with a needle-based delivery system. Instead of applying excessive mechanical force to push multiple fasteners simultaneously, the needle mechanism delivers each fastener individually through controlled piercing motion. This substitution reduces harmful forces and deployment complications while maintaining the efficiency benefit of multiple fasteners
3Productivity
If fasteners are deployed from a magazine structure, then procedure efficiency is improved, but relative motion between fasteners can interfere with consistent deployment
Solution Approach 1:
The magazine structure is segmented into individual cells, each containing a single fastener. This segmentation prevents relative motion between fasteners while maintaining the efficiency of having multiple fasteners available. The needle mechanism interacts with each segmented cell individually, ensuring consistent orientation and precise deployment of each fastener, thus resolving the contradiction between deployment efficiency and orientation consistency
Solution Approach 2:
Each cell in the magazine is designed with specific local features that maintain fastener orientation, such as oriented walls or guide surfaces. This local quality control ensures that each fastener is positioned and oriented correctly within its cell before deployment. The needle mechanism is also designed with specific local features for precise engagement, ensuring consistent fastener delivery while maintaining the productivity benefits of multiple fasteners
Data Source
AI summary
Surgical instruments and their methods of use are disclosed. In some embodiments, the surgical instrument may include a handle and an elongated shaft assembly extending distally from the handle. The surgical instrument may also include a fastener deployment system for deploying fasteners from the elongated shaft assembly including a reciprocating driveshaft disposed within the elongated shaft assembly. The driveshaft may include an internal channel and at least one guide surface shaped and arranged to maintain an orientation of at least one fastener in the channel of the driveshaft. In other embodiments, the fastener deployment system may include a follower disposed within the elongated shaft assembly for displacing one or more fasteners within the elongated shaft assembly towards a distal fastener deployment position.