Multi-fire Surgical Stapler Lockout Cam and Visual Indicator
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current surgical stapling apparatuses lack a mechanism to prevent excessive or incomplete firing during laparoscopic and endoscopic procedures, necessitating removal from the surgical site and lacking visual indicators for the device's state.
Innovation Solution
A surgical stapling apparatus with a lockout mechanism that limits firings to a predetermined number and includes a visual indicator system using a cam track and cam member to inhibit further actuation after the limit is reached, and sliding indicators to display the remaining number of firings.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a multi-fire surgical stapling apparatus is used to provide multiple firings without removal, then productivity is improved, but the risk of excessive or incomplete firing increases
Solution Approach 1:
The lockout assembly is pre-configured with a cam track that defines multiple discrete positions corresponding to the predetermined number of firings. Before use, the cam member is positioned at the initial location, and the system automatically transitions through predefined positions with each firing, preventing excessive or incomplete firing without requiring manual intervention.
Solution Approach 2:
The visual indicator assembly provides real-time feedback on the number of remaining firings by displaying the current position of the cam member relative to the cam track. This feedback mechanism allows the operator to monitor the firing count and understand the device state, preventing misuse while maintaining productivity.
2Reliability
If a lockout mechanism is added to prevent excessive firing, then reliability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The lockout assembly integrates the cam track, cam member, and visual indicator assembly into a single unified mechanism. The cam member simultaneously controls the lockout function and provides visual indication, eliminating the need for separate control systems and reducing overall device complexity while maintaining reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The cam member serves multiple functions: it controls the sequential firing positions, enables the lockout mechanism to prevent excessive firing, and provides visual feedback through the indicator assembly. This multi-functionality reduces the number of separate components needed, thereby reducing device complexity.
3Ease of operation
If a visual indicator system is added to show device state, then ease of operation is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The visual indicator assembly is merged with the lockout mechanism, using the same cam member and cam track structure. The indicator simply displays the position of existing moving parts rather than requiring separate sensing and display systems, thereby improving ease of operation with minimal increase in complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
A surgical stapling apparatus includes a cartridge assembly, a firing assembly, and a lockout assembly. The cartridge assembly is configured to house a plurality of sets of surgical fasteners. The firing assembly is configured for repeated actuation wherein, upon each actuation, the firing assembly is moved from a first position to a second position to at least partially eject a set of surgical fasteners. The firing assembly further configured to translate from the second position back to the first position to reset the firing assembly for subsequent actuation. The lockout assembly is configured to permit a predetermined number of actuations and is configured to transition from a first condition, wherein subsequent actuation is permitted, to a second condition, wherein subsequent actuation is inhibited, when a number of previous actuations of the firing assembly is equal to the predetermined number of actuations.