Surgical Stapling End Effector Deformable Tip
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current surgical stapling instruments face challenges in efficiently positioning and visualizing the end effector within the surgical site, particularly in navigating through tissue and ensuring proper clamping and cutting of vessels, especially during endoscopic procedures where limited visibility and maneuverability are concerns.
Innovation Solution
The design incorporates an articulation joint and end effector with a pivotable anvil and lower jaw, featuring an angled cartridge and anvil with a tapered shape for enhanced visibility and maneuverability, along with a deformable tip for atraumatic tissue engagement, allowing for improved visualization and tissue gathering during procedures like vessel transection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If the end effector is made with a rigid structure for stable stapling and cutting, then the structural strength is improved, but the ability to navigate through tissue and articulate within the surgical site deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The end effector is divided into multiple segments including a shaft, articulation joint, and end effector assembly that can move independently. This segmentation allows the distal portion to articulate and navigate through tissue while the proximal portion maintains structural strength for stable stapling and cutting operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The articulation joint introduces dynamic movement capability to the end effector, allowing it to pivot and articulate relative to the longitudinal axis of the shaft. This dynamic feature enables the end effector to navigate through tissue and reach difficult surgical sites while maintaining a rigid structure for stable stapling and cutting when needed.
2Length of moving object
If the end effector is inserted through a trocar to reach deep surgical sites, then the depth of insertion is improved, but the visibility and control of the end effector within the surgical site deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The articulation joint enables the end effector to move in multiple dimensions, including articulation angles relative to the longitudinal axis of the shaft. This multi-dimensional movement capability allows the end effector to reach deep surgical sites through trocars while providing better visualization and control by articulating into optimal viewing and working positions.
3Measurement precision
If the tip of the end effector is made thin for precise positioning and visualization, then the positioning precision is improved, but the ability to engage tissue atraumatically and provide structural support deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The end effector features a thick distal end portion that provides structural support and atraumatic tissue engagement, while the overall tip configuration maintains positioning precision. The varying thickness creates local quality differences where the thick distal end protects tissue during insertion and positioning, while the precise tip geometry maintains accurate positioning capability.
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
This configuration enhances visualization and maneuverability, facilitating precise clamping and cutting of tissues, reducing tissue trauma, and enabling efficient stapling and severing operations, particularly in complex procedures like vessel transection.
Implementation Method 1
the placement tip includes a proximal portion and a distal portion, where the distal portion has a distal cross-sectional thickness along a transverse cross-section that is greater than a proximal cross-sectional thickness of the proximal portion along the transverse cross-section
Data Source
AI summary
An instrument includes a body, a shaft extending from the body and an end effector in communication with the shaft. The end effector is operable to compress, staple, and cut tissue. The end effector includes opposing jaws, a staple cartridge, and a placement tip. At least one of the first and second jaws is movable relative to the other of the first and second jaws between an open position and a closed position. The staple cartridge is removably coupled with the second jaw. The placement tip is located at a distal end of one of the opposing jaws. The placement tip includes proximal and distal portions. The distal portion has a distal cross-sectional thickness along a transverse cross-section that is greater than a proximal cross-sectional thickness of the proximal portion along the transverse cross-section.