Trocar Tip Band for Circular Stapler Alignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing surgical stapling devices for circular anastomosis lack a robust and reliable mechanism for ensuring proper alignment and engagement between the anvil rod and the trocar, which can lead to inconsistent stapling and tissue handling.
Innovation Solution
The trocar assembly includes a shaft, a trocar tip with movable portions, and a band made from durable materials like polyphenylene oxides or polyetheretherketone. The band encircles parts of the trocar tip portions, ensuring proper engagement when the retention rod of the anvil assembly covers the band, providing a visual indication of proper alignment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a band is added to indicate proper engagement, then alignment reliability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The band serves as a visual indicator that changes its visibility state to communicate engagement status. When the anvil rod is properly engaged with the trocar, the band is occluded from view; when disengaged, the band is visible. This color/visibility change principle provides intuitive feedback to the operator about alignment status without adding complex mechanical sensing systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The band acts as an intermediary element between the anvil rod and trocar assembly, providing visual feedback about their engagement status. Rather than requiring direct mechanical or electronic sensing of the engagement state, the band mediates this information visually, allowing the operator to assess alignment reliability through simple observation.
2Ease of manufacture
If the first portion of the trocar tip is movable relative to the second portion, then ease of assembly is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The trocar tip is segmented into a first portion and a second portion that can move relative to each other during assembly. This segmentation allows the band to be properly positioned and secured around both portions in a straightforward manufacturing process, rather than requiring the tip to be a single complex piece with integrated band attachment features.
Solution Approach 2:
The first portion of the trocar tip is designed to be movable relative to the second portion during the assembly process. This dynamic capability enables easier assembly by allowing the portions to be positioned and secured sequentially, with the band being placed around both portions as they move into their final engaged configuration.
Data Source
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AI summary
A trocar assembly for use with a circular stapler includes a shaft, a trocar tip, and a band. The trocar tip is configured to mechanically engage a distal portion of the shaft. The trocar tip includes a first portion and a second portion. The first portion of the trocar tip is movable relative to the second portion of the trocar tip prior to assembly of the trocar tip. The band encircles part of the first portion of the trocar tip and part of the second portion of the trocar tip.