Surgical Stapling Loading Unit Shipping Member Alignment

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Solution Overview

Problem

Circular stapling apparatus face issues with misalignment of pusher and knife assemblies during shipping and attachment, lack of prevention for premature firing of empty loading units, and difficulty in detaching the loading unit after firing, which affects proper attachment and reuse.

Innovation Solution

A shipping member, such as a shipping cap, is designed to be selectively received on the distal end of the loading unit, preventing premature advancement of the pusher member and re-firing, while facilitating attachment and subsequent separation by engaging specific features of the loading unit's housing.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If the loading unit is made replaceable to permit reuse, then productivity is improved, but the risk of misalignment during shipping and attachment increases, affecting reliability

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvereuse of circular stapling apparatusVSAvoidproper attachment of loading unit

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The shipping member is attached to the loading unit before shipping and attachment to the apparatus. It preliminarily maintains the pusher and knife assemblies in proper alignment, preventing misalignment from occurring during handling and attachment operations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The shipping member acts as an intermediary component between the loading unit and the external environment during shipping and attachment. It mediates the alignment maintenance function, ensuring the internal components remain properly positioned without requiring complex internal alignment mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Device complexity

If no prevention mechanism is provided, then device complexity is reduced, but the risk of premature firing of empty loading units increases, affecting safety

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefiring prevention mechanismVSAvoidprevention of premature firing

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The shipping member serves multiple functions: it maintains alignment during shipping, prevents premature firing of empty loading units, and facilitates easy detachment after firing. By combining these functions into a single component, the solution adds minimal complexity while achieving multiple safety and operational goals.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The shipping member's structure inherently provides firing prevention through its engagement with the pusher member. When attached, it physically blocks the pusher from advancing, automatically preventing premature firing without requiring additional sensors, locks, or control systems.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Device complexity

If the loading unit lacks a detachment facilitation mechanism, then device complexity is reduced, but the difficulty of separating the loading unit from the apparatus increases, affecting ease of operation

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedetachment facilitation mechanismVSAvoidseparation of loading unit

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The shipping member serves as an intermediary that facilitates detachment. Its attachment and detachment features interact with corresponding features on the apparatus, providing a mechanical advantage that enables easy separation of the loading unit after firing without requiring complex detachment mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The shipping member is designed as a separate, removable component that can be independently attached and detached. This segmentation allows the detachment function to be simplified by focusing on the interface between the shipping member and apparatus, rather than designing a complex integrated detachment system for the entire loading unit.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

4Reliability

If the shipping member is designed to maintain alignment, then reliability is improved, but the device complexity increases due to additional components

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvealignment during shippingVSAvoidshipping member structure

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The shipping member is designed to perform multiple functions with a single structure: maintaining alignment, preventing premature firing, and facilitating detachment. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate components for each function, thereby limiting the increase in overall device complexity while achieving multiple reliability and operational goals.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentEP3164084B1Loading unit with shipping member for surgical stapling device

Publication Date: 2020.02.19 COVIDIEN LP

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AI summary

A loading unit (100) including a shipping member (200) is provided. The shipping member (200) is receivable on a distal end of the loading unit (100) in a first orientation to prevent movement of a pusher assembly (130) from a first to a second position and in a second orientation to effect separation of the loading unit (100) from a surgical stapling device (10).