Timer Circuit for Powered Surgical Stapler Motor Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current surgical stapling instruments lack efficient mechanisms for ensuring proper tissue alignment and staple formation during anastomosis procedures, leading to potential leaks or structural integrity issues at the anastomosis site.
Innovation Solution
The development of a circular stapling instrument with a modular anvil design and stapling head assembly that includes a rotary cam drive system, allowing for precise tissue clamping, cutting, and stapling, along with a motorized actuation mechanism for consistent staple formation and tissue alignment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If a motorized actuation mechanism is used for consistent staple formation, then manufacturing precision is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual mechanical actuation with a motorized actuation mechanism that uses electrical signals to control the stapling process. The motorized system includes a motor, drive train, and control circuitry that automatically positions and actuates the stapling head, eliminating the need for complex manual mechanical linkages and providing more consistent staple formation precision.
2Reliability
If a timer circuit is added to control firing sequence, then reliability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The timer circuit performs preliminary timing and sequencing actions before the actual stapling operation. It pre-coordinates the clamping, cutting, and stapling phases by generating timed control signals that ensure proper tissue alignment and sequential activation of different components, thereby improving reliability without requiring complex real-time feedback mechanisms.
3Manufacturing precision
If precise control mechanisms are implemented for tissue alignment, then anastomosis quality is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The instrument incorporates self-aligning features where the anvil and stapling head automatically position themselves relative to the tissue based on geometric constraints and mechanical guides. The modular design allows components to self-adjust and self-position during assembly and operation, providing precise tissue alignment without requiring complex manual adjustment mechanisms or specialized operator skills.
Data Source
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AI summary
An apparatus (10) includes a body (110), a shaft (200) extending distally from the body, a motor (160), a stapling assembly (300) disposed at a distal end of the shaft, and a timer circuit operatively coupled to the motor and the firing actuator (150). The body includes a firing actuator and the motor is configured to activate in response to a firing actuation of the firing actuator. The motor is further configured to deactivate after a first predetermined time period subsequent to the firing actuation. The stapling assembly is configured to selectively move from an open position to a closed position to clamp tissue and is operable to drive a plurality of staples (90) into the clamped tissue in response to activation of the motor. The timer circuit is configured to activate a timer in response to the firing actuation. The timer is configured to run for a second predetermined time period. The timer circuit is configured to ensure deactivation of the motor upon expiration of the second predetermined time period.