Surgical Stapling Device Multi-Layered Buttress Tissue Sealing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing surgical stapling instruments struggle to effectively seal and reinforce tissue, particularly in delicate tissues like lung, esophageal, intestinal, duodenal, and vascular tissues, which are prone to air or fluid leakage, thereby increasing post-operative recovery time.

Innovation Solution

A surgical stapling device with an end effector featuring an anvil jaw member and a staple cartridge jaw member, pivotally coupled to each other, and equipped with a surgical buttress comprising a substrate, a porous and/or swellable layer, and a non-permeable layer, which are strategically positioned to enhance tissue sealing and reinforcement.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If surgical stapling instruments are used to join tissue segments, then tissue joining is achieved, but effective sealing and reinforcement of delicate tissues is insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetissue sealing effectivenessVSAvoiddevice structure

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The surgical buttress employs a multi-layer composite structure comprising a porous hydrophilic polymer layer for fluid absorption and swelling, a non-permeable layer for sealing, and a substrate for structural support. This composite material design enables effective sealing and reinforcement of delicate tissues while maintaining device functionality.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

Solution Approach 2:

The surgical buttress acts as an intermediary material placed between tissue segments during stapling. It reinforces the staple line, prevents leakage, and promotes healing by providing mechanical support and controlling fluid dynamics at the tissue interface.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Productivity

If traditional staple lines are applied to delicate tissues, then tissue joining is achieved, but air or fluid leakage occurs increasing recovery time

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepost-operative recovery speedVSAvoidair or fluid leakage

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The porous hydrophilic polymer layer absorbs excess fluids at the staple line and swells to fill gaps, while the non-permeable layer provides a seal against air and fluid leakage. This combination effectively prevents harmful leakage that would otherwise extend recovery time.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #31Porous materials

Solution Approach 2:

The surgical buttress is applied beforehand to reinforce the staple line and prevent leakage before it occurs. The swelling layer provides preemptive cushioning by expanding to seal potential leakage pathways, thereby preventing rather than correcting the harmful effect.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The described surgical stapling device with a multi-layered surgical buttress significantly reduces staple line bleeding and increases leak pressure, thereby improving tissue sealing and reducing post-operative recovery time.

Implementation Method 1

a porous layer, and a non-permeable layer... the porous and/or swellable layer of the surgical buttress

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectAbsorption: Absorption (physical)

Implementation Method 2

the porous and/or swellable layer of the surgical buttress is adjacent the substrate of the surgical buttress

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectSwelling:

Data Source

PatentUS20250040931A1Surgical medical devices

Publication Date: 2025.02.06 COVIDIEN LP

AI summary

Surgical stapling devices have a surgical buttress attached to an anvil jaw member, a cartridge jaw member, or both. In use, the surgical buttress reinforces a staple line formed upon application of staples from the surgical stapling device and minimizes leaks which may exude from the staple line and/or tissue being stapled by the surgical stapling device.