Surgical Stapling Device Buttress Material Support Structure
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Solution Overview
Problem
There is a need for an annular support structure that can be used with annular or circular surgical stapling devices to prevent stenosis, reduce trauma, leakage, and bleeding, and create a strong bond between adjacent body tissues during anastomosis procedures, particularly in bowel or tubular organ surgeries.
Innovation Solution
A surgical stapling device with support members that attach and secure a buttress material between the staple cartridge assembly and anvil assembly, allowing the buttress material to be positioned between the tissue and staples to reinforce the tissue connection and assist in maintaining the lumen integrity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If bare staples are used in direct contact with tissue, then the device complexity is reduced and the procedure is simpler, but the tissue reinforcement and prevention of stenosis is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
A buttress material is introduced as an intermediary component between the staples and the tissue. This material serves as a mediator that reinforces the tissue connection, distributes staple forces, and prevents stenosis while allowing the staple cartridge to maintain its basic structure and function.
Solution Approach 2:
The solution combines two distinct materials: the metallic staple material and the buttress material (which may be synthetic, natural, or composite itself). This composite approach creates a reinforced tissue connection that leverages the strengths of both materials - the penetrating ability of staples and the reinforcing properties of the buttress material.
2Strength
If support members are added to attach buttress material, then the tissue bonding strength is improved, but the ease of operation is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The buttress material is pre-attached to the support members within the staple cartridge assembly before the surgical procedure. This preliminary action eliminates the need for separate attachment steps during surgery, allowing the surgeon to simply load the pre-prepared cartridge and fire it, thereby maintaining ease of operation while achieving strong tissue bonding.
Solution Approach 2:
The support members are integrated into the existing staple cartridge structure, merging the buttress material attachment function with the staple deployment mechanism. This consolidation allows both functions (staple firing and buttress material delivery) to be performed through a single integrated device operation.
3Reliability
If buttress material is positioned between tissue and staples, then the prevention of trauma and leakage is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The buttress material serves multiple functions simultaneously: it reinforces tissue connection, distributes mechanical forces to prevent trauma, seals potential leakage paths, and maintains lumen patency. This multi-functionality achieves comprehensive protection against multiple complications through a single material component, offsetting the added device complexity with enhanced reliability across multiple failure modes.
Data Source
AI summary
A surgical stapling device is provided and includes a handle assembly and a tubular body portion supported on a distal end of the handle assembly having a staple cartridge assembly containing a plurality of surgical staples in an annular array. An anvil assembly is at a distal end of the stapling device and has a shaft for removably connecting the anvil assembly to the tubular body portion. The anvil assembly and tubular body portion are juxtaposed with respect to one another along the shaft and are arranged so as to be approximated with respect to one another. A support member extends from the tubular body portion towards the anvil assembly and a buttress material is supported by the support member and removably attached to the support member where the buttress material is disposed between the anvil assembly and the staple cartridge assembly.