Surgical Stapler Splay Arm Mechanism for Small Port Access
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional suturing techniques are impractical and often impossible in minimally-invasive surgical procedures due to the small size of access ports, which limits the application of surgical stapling tools.
Innovation Solution
A surgical stapler designed to fit through ports of 5 mm or less in diameter, equipped with a driver, pusher, splay arm, anvil, and anti-backup rack, allowing for the deployment and closure of staples to secure tissue without the need for traditional suturing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If conventional suturing techniques are used, then tissue closure can be achieved, but the procedure becomes impractical and impossible through small access ports
Solution Approach 1:
The surgical stapler is divided into multiple components including a handle, shaft, driver, pusher, anvil, and splay arm that can be inserted through small access ports. The stapling function is segmented into staple deployment, splaying, and closing operations performed by separate mechanical elements working in coordination.
Solution Approach 2:
The driver, pusher, and other internal components are nested within the shaft housing, allowing the entire stapling mechanism to be contained within a compact structure that can pass through small access ports while maintaining full functionality for tissue closure.
2Ease of operation
If access ports are enlarged to allow suturing, then suturing can be performed, but the benefits of minimally-invasive surgery are reduced or eliminated
Solution Approach 1:
The suturing function is extracted and replaced by a stapling mechanism that can operate through smaller ports. The surgical stapler extracts the need for traditional needle-and-thread suturing by providing an alternative method of tissue closure that is compatible with minimally-invasive access.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the fundamental parameter of how tissue is joined - from suturing requiring larger ports to stapling that can be performed through 5mm or smaller ports. This parameter change enables minimally-invasive surgery while maintaining effective tissue closure capability.
3Length of moving object
If a surgical stapler is designed to fit through ports of 5 mm or less, then minimally-invasive procedures are enabled, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple functions are merged into the single surgical stapler device - the handle provides actuation, the shaft provides structural support and guidance, the driver deploys staples, the pusher advances them, the anvil forms them, and the splay arm spreads them. This integration of multiple functions into one compact device enables portability through small ports while maintaining comprehensive stapling capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The surgical stapler incorporates dynamic elements including the movable driver that translates longitudinal motion into staple deployment, the spring-loaded splay arm that provides automatic staple spreading, and the coordinated motion of pusher and driver. These dynamic mechanisms enable complex stapling operations within a compact form factor suitable for small access ports.
Data Source
AI summary
An exemplary method for surgically stapling tissue may include providing a surgical stapler that includes at least one staple, a pusher configured to hold at least one staple, a splay arm movable relative to the pusher, where that splay arm includes two spaced-apart splay tips, and a driver movable relative to the pusher; splaying at least one staple by plastically deforming the distalmost staple against the splay tips; and after splaying, closing at least one staple by plastically deforming the distalmost staple against the splay tips. Another exemplary method for surgically stapling tissue may include providing a surgical stapler comprising a plurality of staples, a pusher configured to hold the staples, a splay arm movable relative to the pusher, a driver movable relative to the pusher, wherein the pusher, splay arm and driver are initially in a first configuration relative to one another; splaying at least one staple to a splayed state; after splaying, closing at least one splayed staple, after which the pusher, splay arm and driver are in a second configuration relative to one another; and resetting the stapler to the first configuration of the pusher, splay arm and driver; where the splaying and closing each plastically deform at least one staple.