Surgical Stapler Small Diameter Endoscopic Portion
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Solution Overview
Problem
There is a need for surgical staplers with small diameter endoscopic portions to minimize patient trauma during endoscopic surgical procedures, particularly for pediatric and thoracic surgeries, as existing staplers may not be sufficiently compact to pass through small incisions efficiently.
Innovation Solution
A surgical stapler design featuring a body portion with a large diameter for housing components and a small diameter portion for insertion through an 8 mm trocar, including a shipping lock that prevents the drive assembly's movement and articulation, allowing the stapler to be securely attached and used for endoscopic procedures without accidental activation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If the stapler body is made with large diameter to house all components, then the device can accommodate necessary components, but it cannot pass through small diameter trocars for endoscopic use
Solution Approach 1:
The stapler body is divided into two distinct sections: a large diameter proximal portion for housing components and a small diameter distal portion for passing through the trocar. This segmentation allows each section to serve its specific function optimally without compromise.
Solution Approach 2:
The small diameter distal portion is nested within or transitions from the large diameter proximal portion, creating a telescoping or stepped configuration that allows the overall device to fit through small openings while maintaining sufficient volume in the proximal section.
2Length of moving object
If the stapler is designed with small diameter for endoscopic use, then it can pass through small incisions, but the device complexity increases to accommodate the size constraint
Solution Approach 1:
Dividing the stapler into segmented portions with different diameters simplifies the design challenge by allowing each segment to be optimized independently, rather than attempting to design a uniformly small device that must accommodate all components.
Solution Approach 2:
The design transitions from a uniform cylindrical geometry to a multi-dimensional structure with varying cross-sectional areas along its length, utilizing the longitudinal dimension to resolve the conflict between size and component accommodation.
3Reliability
If the shipping lock is added to prevent accidental firing, then the safety is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The shipping lock is engaged in advance during device assembly or transport, preventing accidental firing before the stapler is ready for use. This preliminary safety measure is simple in design but effective in preventing errors.
Solution Approach 2:
The shipping lock function is extracted as a separate, dedicated component rather than being integrated into the main firing mechanism, simplifying the overall design by isolating the safety function from the operational complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
A surgical stapler including a shipping lock configured to obstruct movement of a drive member is provided. The surgical stapler includes an elongate body, a tool assembly pivotally secured to the elongate body, a drive member movable within the tool assembly between retracted and advanced positions, and a shipping lock releasably secured to the elongate body. The shipping lock includes a projection. When the shipping lock is secured to the elongate body, the projection obstructs movement of the drive member to its advanced position.