Variable-Size Staple Cartridge for Tissue Thickness Adaptation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Surgical stapling instruments face challenges in achieving a balance between anastomotic strength and hemostasis, as existing technologies often rely on uniform staple sizes and fixed gaps between the anvil and cartridge, which may not adequately address the varying tissue thickness and types encountered during procedures.
Innovation Solution
The surgical stapling apparatus features an anvil with a stepped tissue contacting surface and a staple cartridge with varying staple leg lengths, where the distance between the anvil and cartridge also varies, allowing for different staple sizes and leg lengths to accommodate different tissue thicknesses, thereby enhancing anastomotic strength and hemostasis.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If uniform staple sizes are used in surgical stapling instruments, then device simplicity is maintained, but the ability to accommodate varying tissue thicknesses and types is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The cartridge is divided into multiple rows, each containing staples of different sizes. The anvil is segmented with corresponding forming surfaces for each staple size. This segmentation allows the instrument to accommodate varying tissue thicknesses by selecting appropriate staple sizes for different tissue types and locations.
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the cartridge contain staples with different leg lengths and sizes, tailored to specific tissue thickness requirements. The anvil has locally differentiated forming surfaces that match each staple size. This local quality variation enables optimized stapling performance for different tissue characteristics within the same surgical procedure.
2Adaptability or versatility
If a fixed gap between anvil and cartridge is used, then manufacturing precision is simplified, but the balance between anastomotic strength and hemostasis cannot be optimized for different tissue types
Solution Approach 1:
The gap distance between anvil and cartridge is segmented into multiple zones, with each zone having a specific distance optimized for particular tissue types. This segmentation allows surgeons to select appropriate gap distances for different surgical scenarios, optimizing both anastomotic strength and hemostasis.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces variation in the gap distance dimension, creating a gradient or stepped structure where different distances exist at different locations. This dimensional variation enables optimization of stapling parameters for different tissue characteristics without requiring multiple complete instruments.
3Strength
If single staple size is used, then device complexity is reduced, but tissue holding strength varies for different tissue thicknesses
Solution Approach 1:
The cartridge contains multiple rows of staples segmented by size, with each row containing staples of a specific leg length. The anvil has corresponding segmented forming surfaces. This segmentation enables selection of optimal staple size for each tissue thickness, maximizing tissue holding strength.
Solution Approach 2:
The staple leg length parameter is varied across different rows to match different tissue thicknesses. By changing this critical parameter, the instrument optimizes penetration depth and clamping force for each tissue type, thereby maximizing tissue holding strength across varying surgical scenarios.
4Ease of manufacture
If uniform gap distance is maintained, then ease of manufacture is improved, but hemostasis effectiveness varies with tissue thickness
Solution Approach 1:
The gap distance is segmented into multiple predetermined values corresponding to different tissue thicknesses. This segmentation allows relatively simple manufacturing of each gap zone while providing varied hemostasis effectiveness across different tissue types.
Solution Approach 2:
A single cartridge-anvil assembly incorporates multiple gap distances and staple sizes, making it universally applicable to different tissue types and thicknesses. This multi-functionality achieves varied hemostasis effectiveness without requiring multiple separate instruments, balancing manufacturing simplicity with adaptability.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3A~3B
AI summary
A surgical stapling apparatus (100) includes a staple cartridge (118) and an anvil member (112). The staple cartridge includes a plurality of surgical fasteners (125) disposed in rows of retention slots (123). The staple cartridge may have an annular or linear configuration of retention slots. The tissue contacting surface (121) of the staple cartridge may be tapered or stepped. The anvil member has a tissue contacting surface (112a,112b,112c) that includes a number of pockets (114) arranged for substantially aligning with the retention slots. In addition, the tissue contacting surface of the anvil member may complement the tissue contacting surface of the staple cartridge.