Tilting Anvil Assembly for Trans-Oral Delivery
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing anvil assemblies for surgical stapling instruments are cumbersome for trans-oral delivery and have limited tilting capabilities, which complicates minimally invasive surgical procedures like circular anastomosis.
Innovation Solution
An anvil assembly with a pivotally secured head assembly and a plunger member connected by a drive link, allowing the head assembly to tilt and move from a tilted position to an operative position, facilitated by a spring bias and a tubular guide assembly with a flexible tube and retaining suture for trans-oral insertion.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the head assembly is made larger to improve tilting capability, then the tilting range increases, but the projected size increases making trans-oral delivery more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The head assembly is designed to be dynamically tiltable relative to the anvil center rod through a pivot axis, allowing the head assembly to change its orientation from a first position to a second position. This dynamic configuration enables the head assembly to achieve greater effective tilting capability while maintaining a compact projected size during delivery, as the tilting function is activated only when needed at the surgical site.
2Reliability
If the anvil assembly is designed with complex mounting mechanisms to improve stability, then the engagement reliability increases, but the device complexity increases making trans-oral delivery more cumbersome
Solution Approach 1:
The anvil assembly is segmented into distinct functional components: the anvil center rod, the head assembly, and the mounting mechanism. The mounting mechanism includes a mounting portion with external threading on the anvil center rod that engages with internal threading in the surgical stapling instrument. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently while maintaining overall simplicity for trans-oral delivery.
Solution Approach 2:
The anvil center rod serves as an intermediary component that connects the head assembly to the surgical stapling instrument. It features a mounting portion with threading that interfaces with the instrument, and a distal end that supports the head assembly. This intermediary structure simplifies the overall mounting mechanism while ensuring reliable engagement and stable operation during the surgical procedure.
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
Enables more precise and efficient trans-oral delivery of the anvil assembly with enhanced tilting capability, facilitating easier surgical procedures and reducing the projected size for improved accessibility during minimally invasive surgeries.
Implementation Method 1
a spring is received about the plunger member. The spring is positioned to bias the plunger member towards the proximal position
Data Source
AI summary
An anvil assembly suitable for trans-oral delivery includes an anvil head configured to be tilted. An anvil delivery assembly includes the anvil assembly and a tubular guide assembly secured to the anvil assembly. The tubular guide assembly includes a flexible tube having an oblate cross-section.