Wavy Surgical Stapling Instrument Anastomosis Design
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing intraluminal surgical stapling instruments face difficulties in retracting the instrument from the anastomotic site due to stiff anastomotic openings and have a high incidence of clinical stenosis, with wavy staple arrangements complicating the staple drive mechanism and limiting adaptability to different tissue thicknesses.
Innovation Solution
A surgical stapling instrument with a wavy distal end surface and matching anvil staple forming surface, featuring a two-peaks-two-valleys configuration and stepped surfaces, allowing for increased stapled seam length without excessive tissue trauma or longitudinal extension, and enabling a simple staple drive mechanism adaptable to various tissue thicknesses.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a wavy staple arrangement is used to increase anastomosis flexibility and facilitate instrument retraction, then the anastomotic site becomes more flexible and easier to retract, but the staple drive mechanism becomes more complex and adaptability to different tissue thicknesses is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies curvature by forming the staple line in a wavy pattern rather than a straight line. The wavy configuration increases the total length of the staple line, which in turn increases the circumference of the anastomotic ring, improving flexibility and facilitating instrument retraction without requiring complex mechanism changes
2Shape
If the staple line length is increased to create a larger diameter anastomosis, then the anastomotic lumen is larger and more flexible, but the instrument longitudinal extension increases causing tissue trauma and necrosis risk
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from a linear staple arrangement to a wavy two-dimensional pattern. By introducing vertical undulations (peaks and valleys) to the staple line, the effective circumference of the anastomotic ring is increased without proportionally increasing the longitudinal extension of the instrument, thus creating a larger diameter anastomosis while minimizing tissue trauma
3Adaptability or versatility
If a simple staple drive mechanism is used for adaptability to different tissue thicknesses, then the device is more versatile and easier to manufacture, but the ability to create wavy staple patterns is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by creating wavy patterns only in specific regions where needed for anastomosis formation, while maintaining a simple overall staple drive mechanism. The wavy configuration is achieved through localized undulations in the staple line path rather than requiring complex mechanism modifications throughout the entire device
Data Source
AI summary
A surgical stapling instrument (1) comprises a staple fastening assembly (4) in the distal region of said instrument, the staple fastening assembly (4) including a cartridge device (8) which comprises at least one closed row (17, 18) of staples and defines a wavy distal end surface (14), and an anvil (9) which defines a wavy proximal staple forming surface (20) substantially matching the distal end surface (14) and which is adapted to cooperate with the cartridge device (8) for forming the ends of the staples exiting from the cartridge device (8), wherein the distal end surface (14) and the staple forming surface (20) have a globally wavy shape including two opposite peaks (21) and two opposite valleys (22) angularly spaced at about 90° from the adjacent peaks (21) and in that said two-peaks-two-valleys wavy shape is formed by a stepped configuration of said surfaces (14, 20).