Surgical Jaw Alignment System Preventing Tissue Jamming
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing surgical stapling instruments face challenges in efficiently stapling and cutting tissue, particularly in preventing tissue jamming and ensuring precise control over the end effector.
Innovation Solution
The surgical instrument features a design with an end effector that includes a first jaw with a staple cartridge and a second jaw with an anvil, equipped with tissue stops and ramp portions to prevent tissue jamming, and a sled mechanism for staple firing, along with an articulation joint for flexible end effector movement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If tissue stops and ramp portions are added to prevent tissue jamming, then reliability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Tissue stops are positioned on the anvil and ramp portions are formed on the first jaw before tissue insertion. These features preliminarily define the correct tissue placement position and guide the tissue into the proper orientation, preventing jamming before it can occur during the stapling operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The ramp portions act as intermediary elements between the tissue and the clamping mechanism. These ramps guide the tissue into the correct position and orientation, mediating the interaction between tissue and end effector to prevent improper positioning and subsequent jamming.
2Adaptability or versatility
If an articulation joint is added for flexible end effector movement, then adaptability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The end effector is segmented into movable components connected by an articulation joint. This allows the end effector to be divided into sections that can articulate relative to each other, providing flexibility to navigate around anatomical structures while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The articulation joint introduces dynamic capability to the end effector, allowing it to change its configuration and orientation during the surgical procedure. This dynamic adaptability enables the instrument to accommodate various surgical angles and tissue positions without requiring multiple separate instruments.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 1B
Figure 1C
AI summary
A surgical instrument comprising an end effector including a first jaw and a second jaw rotatable relative to the first jaw is disclosed. One or both of the first jaw and the second jaw comprise alignment features