Surgical Stapler Trigger Mechanism for Independent Jaw Closure
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing surgical staplers require complex trigger operations to control both staple deployment and cutting, often necessitating high force and limiting the surgeon's ability to evaluate jaw position before staple deployment, with no option for partial retraction of the cutting member.
Innovation Solution
A surgical instrument with a single trigger that uses a switching mechanism and ratchet assemblies to selectively advance or retract a cutting member, allowing for different rates of motion and enabling the surgeon to close the jaw member independently of staple deployment, with a mechanism to reopen the jaw for repositioning.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a single trigger is used to actuate both the end effector closing system and the staple firing system, then the device complexity is reduced, but the force required to actuate the trigger becomes excessively high
Solution Approach 1:
The trigger system is segmented into two independent triggers: a first trigger (closure trigger) that actuates only the end effector closing system, and a second trigger (firing trigger) that actuates only the staple firing system. This segmentation divides the previously combined high-force requirement into two separate, lower-force triggers, making the device easier to operate while maintaining functional integration.
2Device complexity
If both jaw closing and staple deployment are performed in the same trigger actuation, then the device complexity is reduced, but the surgeon loses the ability to evaluate jaw position before staple deployment
Solution Approach 1:
The triggering system is divided into separate closure and firing triggers, allowing the surgeon to first actuate the closure trigger to close the jaw member and evaluate the jaw position, then actuate the firing trigger to deploy staples. This sequential control provides the surgeon with the ability to assess jaw positioning before staple deployment, improving operational safety and precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The jaw closing action is performed as a preliminary step before staple deployment. The surgeon first actuates the closure trigger to close the jaw member and evaluate the position, then proceeds to actuate the firing trigger for staple deployment. This preliminary action allows verification of correct jaw positioning before the irreversible staple firing occurs.
3Ease of operation
If multiple triggers are used to control closing and firing systems separately, then the ability to control jaw closing and staple deployment independently is improved, but the device complexity and ease of operation worsen due to requiring hand repositioning
Solution Approach 1:
Both the first trigger (closure trigger) and second trigger (firing trigger) are merged into a single pistol grip handle assembly, positioned such that the surgeon can operate both triggers sequentially without releasing the handle or repositioning the hand. This spatial merging maintains independent control capability while eliminating the operational inconvenience of hand repositioning required by completely separate trigger mechanisms.
4Productivity
If the cutting member is advanced at a fast rate, then the productivity is improved, but the control precision and safety are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The cutting member advancement is implemented as a periodic, discrete action rather than continuous motion. Each actuation of the firing trigger advances the cutting member by a predetermined distance (e.g., one staple row at a time), allowing the surgeon to control the advancement in controlled increments. This periodic action provides both productivity through rapid discrete advances and control precision through incremental positioning.
Data Source
AI summary
A surgical instrument including a trigger which can be configured to close a jaw member upon a first actuation of the trigger and advance a staple driver and/or cutting member upon a subsequent, or second, actuation of the trigger. Such a surgical instrument can allow a surgeon to position the surgical instrument in a surgical site and close the jaw member with an initial actuation of the trigger without deploying any staples into, or incising, the tissue. As a result, the surgeon can manipulate the position of the surgical instrument and then actuate the trigger a second time to deploy staples into, and/or incise, the tissue. In at least one such embodiment, the first actuation of the trigger which closes the jaw member can also unlock a firing drive configured to advance the staple driver and cutting member during the second actuation of the trigger.