Surgical Fastening Apparatus Retainer Alignment via Perforation Severing
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional surgical stapling instruments for circular anastomosis face issues with misalignment of two-part surgical fasteners and retainers due to shifting or slippage during the firing process, leading to potential misalignment of tissue staples.
Innovation Solution
A surgical fastening apparatus featuring a fastener retaining frame with a first annular portion of retainers and a second annular portion of perforations, where the fastener guide member ejects surgical fasteners to mate with retainers, and an annular blade severs the perforations to detach the fastener retaining frame, reducing slippage and misalignment by securing the frame to an anvil via a flange member.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional surgical stapling instruments are used for circular anastomosis, then the procedure can be performed remotely, but misalignment of fasteners and retainers occurs due to shifting or slippage during firing
Solution Approach 1:
The device is divided into distinct functional modules: a shell assembly containing fasteners, an anvil assembly containing retainers, and a pusher mechanism. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently while maintaining overall system functionality, addressing the misalignment issue by ensuring each segment performs its specific function accurately
Solution Approach 2:
A pusher mechanism acts as an intermediary between the operator's remote actuation and the fastener firing process. The pusher translates remote actuation into precise mechanical motion that ejects fasteners along predetermined paths, ensuring accurate alignment with retainers despite the remote operation distance
2Strength
If two-part surgical fasteners are used, then tissue fastening capability is improved, but retainer slippage or displacement occurs during the firing process
Solution Approach 1:
The retainers are pre-positioned and secured within the anvil assembly before the firing process begins. The anvil assembly is designed to hold retainers in fixed, predetermined positions, preventing slippage or displacement during fastener ejection and tissue fastening
Solution Approach 2:
The retainer and anvil are combined into a single integrated anvil assembly, ensuring that retainers cannot become dislodged or misaligned during operation. This merging provides structural support and positional stability to the retainers while maintaining their fastening function
3Productivity
If conventional stapling instruments are used, then circular anastomosis can be performed, but tissue severing and fastener detachment require additional steps
Solution Approach 1:
The anvil assembly serves multiple functions: it holds and positions retainers, provides a surface for fastener ejection and tissue fastening, and incorporates a cutting element for tissue severing. This multi-functionality consolidates several operations into a single integrated component, improving procedural efficiency
Solution Approach 2:
The device enables continuous operation where fastener ejection, tissue fastening, and tissue severing occur in an integrated sequence without requiring intermediate steps for component replacement or repositioning. The unified design allows the procedure to proceed continuously from approximation to fastening to separation
Data Source
AI summary
A surgical fastening apparatus includes a fastener retaining frame having a first annular portion having a plurality of retainers circumferentially disposed thereon and a second annular portion having a plurality of circumferentially arranged perforations. The fastener retaining frame is detachably secured to a supporting structure. After the plurality of surgical fasteners has been mated with the plurality of retainers, an annular blade severs the perforations.