Surgical Handle Extender for Stapler Positioning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Surgical handles of varying lengths are insufficient for positioning surgical staplers in certain procedures, making it difficult to accurately place the stapling device, especially for patients of different sizes.
Innovation Solution
An extender for surgical handle assemblies that includes a drive rod and articulation arm, with features like a connector for coupling to the handle's drive mechanism, a tab extender for articulation assembly coupling, and a blade lock to manage cartridge position and prevent misalignment, allowing for adjustable length and improved positioning of the stapler.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the surgical handle assembly is extended to increase reach, then the ability to position the stapler in difficult-to-reach areas is improved, but the device complexity increases due to additional components like extenders, connectors, and locking mechanisms
Solution Approach 1:
The surgical handle assembly is divided into modular components: a base handle assembly, an extender component with drive rod, and a cartridge assembly. The extender can be attached or detached as needed, allowing the system to be segmented into configurations suitable for different surgical scenarios without permanently increasing complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The extender incorporates dynamic elements including a movable drive rod that can extend and retract, and a locking mechanism that transitions between locked and unlocked states. This dynamic design allows the extender to adapt its length and configuration during surgery, providing flexibility without requiring multiple fixed-length components.
2Measurement precision
If the handle assembly length is increased to reach deeper surgical sites, then the positioning precision is improved, but the device complexity increases due to additional articulation and drive mechanisms
Solution Approach 1:
The drive rod is nested within the extender housing, allowing the extended components to be compact when not in use. The articulation arm and drive rod are integrated in a nested configuration that minimizes the overall profile while maintaining the extended reach capability when deployed.
Solution Approach 2:
The extender acts as an intermediary component between the handle assembly and the cartridge, providing the additional reach and articulation needed for deep surgical sites. This intermediate element isolates the complexity of the extension mechanism from both the handle and cartridge, allowing each to remain relatively simple while the extender handles the complexity of extended positioning.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the extender components are added to increase reach, then the adaptability for different surgical procedures is improved, but the ease of manufacture decreases due to additional assembly steps and components
Solution Approach 1:
The extender is designed as a universal component that can be attached to various handle assemblies and work with different cartridge types. The standardized interface and coupling mechanisms allow a single extender design to serve multiple surgical procedures and configurations, reducing the need for procedure-specific components and simplifying manufacturing through component standardization.
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure includes an extender for a surgical stapler. An example extender includes a proximal end configured to removably couple to a surgical handle assembly, a distal end configured to removably coupled to a reloadable cartridge assembly, and an extender drive rod configured to transfer power from the surgical handle assembly to the reloadable cartridge assembly.