Surgical Loading Unit Memory Override for Tissue-Specific Stapling

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Solution Overview

Problem

Surgical stapling instruments lack the ability to dynamically adjust staple firing speed and clamping force based on specific tissue types and procedures, leading to suboptimal performance during surgeries like endoscopic gastro-intestinal anastomosis and tissue resection.

Innovation Solution

A surgical loading unit with a memory that stores unique operating parameters, such as staple firing speed, clamping speed, and firing force, which can override the handle assembly's programming to adapt to specific tissue types and procedures, ensuring optimal performance during surgeries.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If surgical stapling instruments use pre-programmed handle assembly instructions to adjust firing speed and clamping force based on tissue thickness, then the instrument can adapt to varying tissue properties, but the system lacks the ability to implement procedure-specific or tissue-type-specific operating parameters

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveadaptability to tissue type and procedureVSAvoidsystem complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system divides the programming functionality into two separate components: the handle assembly contains general tissue thickness-based adjustment instructions, while the surgical loading unit contains procedure-specific and tissue-type-specific operating parameters. This segmentation allows each component to specialize in specific control functions, achieving comprehensive adaptability without requiring one monolithic complex system to handle all control logic.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The surgical loading unit is pre-programmed with specific operating parameters (firing speed, clamping force) tailored to particular tissue types and procedures before the surgical procedure begins. This preliminary configuration enables the system to automatically implement appropriate parameters when the specific loading unit is attached, eliminating the need for complex real-time adjustments and reducing system complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Adaptability or versatility

If the handle assembly memory contains programming for adjusting operating parameters, then the instrument can modify firing speed and clamping force, but the programming cannot be overridden to implement unique parameters for specific tissue types or procedures

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveimplementation of unique operating parametersVSAvoidmemory and instruction override mechanism

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The surgical loading unit comes pre-configured with specific operating parameters appropriate for its intended tissue type and procedure. This preliminary configuration allows the parameters to be automatically implemented when the loading unit is attached to the handle assembly, providing adaptability without requiring complex runtime override mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of requiring the handle assembly memory to store and manage multiple sets of procedure-specific parameters, the patent uses the surgical loading unit as a portable copy of the appropriate parameter set. Each loading unit carries its own embedded instructions, eliminating the need for a centralized complex memory system while achieving the same adaptability goal.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

3Productivity

If surgical stapling instruments use fixed operating parameters, then the system is simpler to operate, but the instrument cannot optimize performance for different tissue types and procedures

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesurgical efficiencyVSAvoidparameter adjustment capability

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The appropriate operating parameters are pre-configured in the surgical loading unit before the surgical procedure. This preliminary setup allows the system to automatically optimize performance for the specific tissue type and procedure without requiring complex real-time adjustments during surgery, thereby improving surgical efficiency while keeping the operational interface simple.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The surgical loading unit automatically provides the appropriate operating parameters for its intended use without requiring the surgeon to manually configure or select settings. The loading unit essentially configures itself by being attached to the handle assembly, improving productivity while avoiding the complexity of manual parameter adjustment interfaces.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentUS11259890B2Surgical stapling instruments and surgical loading units thereof

Publication Date: 2022.03.01 COVIDIEN LP

AI summary

A surgical stapling instrument includes a handle assembly, a surgical loading unit, and an adapter assembly interconnecting the handle assembly and the surgical loading unit. The surgical loading unit includes a memory having stored therein instructions, which when executed by a processor of the handle assembly, override instructions stored in a memory of the handle assembly and implement an operating parameter of the surgical loading unit that is unique to a tissue type or a specific surgical procedure to be performed by the surgical loading unit.