Surgical Staple With Segmented Clamping Teeth
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing surgical staples for endoscopic use face challenges in maintaining tissue clamping without crushing or allowing sliding, often causing tissue damage and infection due to deep penetration and poorly controlled pressure, with complex geometry making mass production difficult and force distribution inadequate.
Innovation Solution
The surgical staple features a design with multiple clamping teeth arranged symmetrically between pointed ends and arched connecting zones, allowing for even force distribution and minimizing tissue penetration, along with an applicator system for precise deployment through an endoscope.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If deep penetration is used to ensure tissue holding, then tissue holding is improved, but tissue damage and infection risk increase
Solution Approach 1:
The single clamping tooth is segmented into multiple clamping teeth (at least two) arranged in series along the branch. This segmentation distributes the holding force across multiple contact points, maintaining reliable tissue holding while reducing the penetration depth required at each individual tooth, thereby minimizing tissue damage and infection risk.
Solution Approach 2:
Different parts of the clamping zone have different functions: the multiple clamping teeth provide distributed holding force with shallow penetration, while the pointed end maintains the ability to penetrate tissue when needed. This local differentiation allows the staple to adapt its penetration depth to specific functional requirements, reducing overall tissue damage while maintaining holding reliability.
2Reliability
If force is increased to prevent tissue sliding, then tissue holding is improved, but tissue crushing occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The clamping force is segmented and distributed across multiple clamping teeth arranged in series along the branch. Instead of concentrating force on a single tooth, the multiple teeth share the load, preventing tissue crushing while maintaining sufficient holding force to prevent sliding. The distributed force profile ensures reliable tissue holding without excessive pressure at any single contact point.
3Reliability
If complex geometry is used to optimize clamping, then tissue holding is improved, but manufacturing difficulty increases
Solution Approach 1:
The complex clamping function is achieved through segmentation into multiple identical or similar teeth rather than a single complex tooth geometry. This modular approach simplifies manufacturing, as the same tooth pattern can be replicated along the branch using standard fabrication processes, enabling mass production while maintaining optimized clamping performance at each contact point.
Solution Approach 2:
Multiple clamping teeth are merged into a single continuous branch structure, combining the benefits of simplified manufacturing (single-piece construction) with the functional advantages of multiple contact points. The teeth are integrated into the branch geometry, eliminating the need for separate components or complex assembly processes, thus facilitating mass production while achieving reliable tissue holding.
4Device complexity
If single clamping tooth is used to simplify structure, then device complexity is reduced, but force distribution is inadequate
Solution Approach 1:
The structure is segmented into multiple clamping teeth along the branch, improving force distribution across the tissue interface. While this increases structural complexity compared to a single tooth, the segmentation is achieved through a simple repetitive pattern that can be easily fabricated, maintaining relative structural simplicity while dramatically improving force distribution and tissue holding reliability.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The staple effectively clamps tissues without crushing or sliding, reducing tissue damage and infection risk, while allowing for controlled pressure distribution and easier mass production with optimized geometry for endoscopic applications.
Implementation Method 1
The transverse connecting zone is deformable to enable said movable branches to be brought approached by folding about the axis of the said transverse connecting zone
Data Source
AI summary
The disclosure relates to a surgical staple defining a median folding zone which is continued by a pair of branches, each branch having a pointed fastening end and an intermediate clamping zone situated between the median folding zone and the pointed fastening end. The staple is deformable so that each branch can be folded relative to the median folding zone by causing each fastening end to approach the other branch, the staple being formed by a metal cutout pre-shaped by folding, and is of constant thickness. Intermediate clamping zones of the two branches are cut out such as to form at least two teeth, the edges of which form two complementary clamping surfaces, parallel to the median plane when the staple is folded. The cross-section of clamping surfaces correspond to the cross-section of the metal cutout.