Surgical Stapling Control by Cartridge Type for Absorption Timing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing surgical staples made of bioabsorbable materials face challenges in maintaining structural integrity and biocorrosion timeframe, considering factors like stiffness, strength, ductility, toxicity, and compatibility with electrosurgical instruments, while ensuring they dissolve at the right time to allow sufficient tissue healing.

Innovation Solution

A surgical stapling system that identifies the type of staple cartridge (absorbable or non-absorbable) and adapts its operation accordingly, using a control circuit to configure the instrument based on the identified cartridge type, ensuring appropriate functionality and biocorrosion timeframe.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Duration of action of moving object

If staples are made of bioabsorbable materials, then they can dissolve and release tissue after sufficient time, but they must maintain structural integrity for the biocorrosion timeframe which limits material selection

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebiocorrosion timeframeVSAvoidmaterial selection flexibility
Core Design Contradiction:
Duration of action of moving objectVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The system changes operational parameters (staple driver speed, anvil positioning, firing sequence) based on the identified staple cartridge type to optimize performance for either bioabsorbable or non-bioabsorbable materials, resolving the contradiction between maintaining structural integrity over time and material selection flexibility

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The surgical instrument dynamically adapts its operation based on real-time identification of the staple cartridge type, switching between different operational modes to accommodate different material properties, thereby enabling versatile material selection while ensuring appropriate performance for each material type

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Adaptability or versatility

If the surgical instrument uses fixed operation parameters, then the control system is simple, but it cannot optimize performance for different staple cartridge types

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecartridge type adaptabilityVSAvoidcontrol system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The control circuit receives feedback from the RFID tag identification and automatically adjusts operational parameters based on the detected cartridge type, enabling adaptive performance optimization without requiring complex manual configuration or intervention

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The surgical instrument self-configures its operation by automatically identifying the cartridge type through RFID tags and adjusting its parameters accordingly, eliminating the need for manual setup and reducing control system complexity while maintaining high adaptability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

3Measurement precision

If RFID tags are placed on both the staple cartridge and shaft, then device identification is comprehensive, but the number of components increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedevice identification accuracyVSAvoidnumber of RFID components
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary identification of the staple cartridge type using RFID tags before the surgical procedure begins, allowing the control circuit to pre-configure optimal operational parameters, thereby achieving comprehensive device identification without requiring multiple tags to be read during the procedure itself

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP4171396B1Adaptive control of surgical stapling instrument based on staple cartridge type
Publication Date: 2025.08.20 CILAG GMBH INTERNATIONAL
  • EP4171396B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4171396B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP4171396B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

A method and apparatus of adaptively controlling a surgical stapling instrument are disclose. The method includes identifying a staple cartridge type, configuring the surgical stapling instrument based on the identified staple cartridge, and adaptively controlling, by a control circuit, operation/functionality of the surgical stapling instrument based on the configuration of the surgical stapling instrument loaded with the identified staple cartridge type. The apparatus includes a control circuit including a microcontroller and a memory coupled to the microcontroller. The memory stores machine executable instructions that when executed by the microcontroller cause the microcontroller to execute the above method.