Surgical Stapler Adjunct Release Mechanism for Clean Detachment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing surgical staplers face issues with leaks and tissue inflammation due to staple holes, and challenges in securely attaching and cleanly separating adjunct materials during surgical procedures.
Innovation Solution
A surgical stapler design with an adjunct cartridge that includes connection cavities and drivers with adjunct releasing mechanisms, allowing for secure attachment and clean detachment of adjuncts using protrusions or adhesives, ensuring proper placement and release during stapling.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If adjuncts are securely attached to the surgical stapler using protrusions or adhesives, then proper placement and secure retention during positioning is achieved, but clean separation and detachment during use becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The system transitions from a static attachment state to a dynamic release state. During positioning, the adjunct is securely retained by the retention mechanism (protrusions engaging with retention features or adhesives bonding the adjunct to the cartridge). During the stapling operation, the driven element dynamically interacts with the release feature to automatically detach the adjunct from the cartridge, enabling clean separation at the appropriate moment.
Solution Approach 2:
The system enables self-service through automatic release. The release feature on the adjunct works in conjunction with the driven element to automatically detach the adjunct from the cartridge during the stapling operation, eliminating the need for manual intervention or complex additional mechanisms for detachment.
2Productivity
If staples are ejected to form staple holes in tissue, then tissue closure is achieved, but leaks and tissue inflammation occur due to the holes created
Solution Approach 1:
The adjunct acts as an intermediary material between the staples and the tissue. It is positioned at the tissue site along with the staples, providing a barrier or sealing function that addresses the leaks and inflammation caused by staple holes while maintaining the tissue closure function.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the physical or chemical parameters of the tissue-staple interface by introducing the adjunct material. This material modifies the properties at the staple hole locations, reducing fluid leakage and inflammatory response while preserving the mechanical closure function.
3Productivity
If multiple drivers are used to deploy staples, then stapling efficiency is improved, but complexity of the device increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system combines multiple functions into the driven element. The driven element simultaneously performs staple deployment, adjunct release, and tissue cutting functions by integrating the release feature that interacts with the adjunct's release mechanism, thereby managing complexity while maintaining multi-functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The driven element is designed as a multi-functional component that serves multiple purposes: deploying staples, releasing the adjunct from the cartridge, and potentially assisting in tissue cutting. This universal design reduces the need for separate dedicated components for each function.
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 solution provides secure attachment and clean detachment of adjuncts, reducing leaks and inflammation by maintaining adjuncts at the treatment site, enhancing surgical outcomes.
Implementation Method 1
Each driver has at least one adjunct releasing mechanism located thereon such that the plurality of drivers configured to cause the adjunct to detach from the cartridge body when the plurality of drivers are advanced into the staple cavities
Implementation Method 2
The adjunct can be releasably attached to the tissue-facing surface of the cartridge body with an adhesive
Data Source
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AI summary
Various adjunct releasing mechanisms are provided herein that can be incorporated into surgical devices, such as an end effector of a surgical stapler. For example, an adjunct releasing mechanism can act to release an adjunct attached to an end effector of a surgical stapler upon deployment of staples retained within the end effector. The adjunct can be retained on the end effector through a variety of means, such as through use of adhesive or by having a portion of the adjunct partially received within cavities formed on a tissue-facing surface of the end effector. The releasing mechanisms can extend into the cavities formed on the tissue-facing surface of the end effector to cause the adjunct to detach from the end effector upon deployment of staples.