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Publication Number
US-11786238-B2
Publication Date
2023-10-17
Expiration Date
Abstract
The present invention discloses a surgical stapler instrument. The surgical stapler instrument comprises a handle assembly having a proximal end and a distal end. A bottom jaw is detachably coupled to the distal end of the handle assembly. The bottom jaw having a staple cartridge surface, configured to eject one or more staples. Further, a top jaw is detachably coupled to the bottom jaw toward the distal end of the handle assembly. The top jaw comprises a staple pocket disposed over an anvil surface of the top jaw and configured to bend the ejected one or more staples and deliver into targeted tissues. An effective friction coefficient (μe) of the staple pocket of the top jaw is lower than the staple cartridge surface of the bottom jaw to achieve optimized stapling.
Core Innovation
The invention relates to a surface optimized surgical shear instrument that includes a handle assembly and an ultrasonic blade. The ultrasonic blade is detachably coupled to the distal end of the handle assembly, and a non-active jaw is detachably coupled to the ultrasonic blade towards the distal end of the handle assembly. The ultrasonic blade is configured to vibrate at high frequency and to provide surface-optimized friction behavior between an opposing jaw/contact surfaces for tissue compression and stapling.
In the ultrasonic shear instrument, an effective friction coefficient varies from a distal tip section to a proximal node section along the ultrasonic blade, with the effective friction coefficient of the distal tip section higher than the proximal node section. The disclosed minimum change constraint is tied to the varying effective friction coefficient between these sections (Δce ≥ 0.1). The variation is implemented via surface treatment and includes tailoring top vs bottom blade surface friction.
The disclosed surface treatment for the friction coefficient variation can include surface treatment patterns and approaches described in the document, including laser treatment, blasting, shot peening, chemical reaction, and coatings or modified surface characteristics. The document also describes that the friction variation can be reversible during a blade back cutting operation, and it includes discussion of figure concepts and friction/wettability/roughness effects. A similar concept is applied to an opposing non-active jaw surface, including a distal-to-proximal effective friction coefficient change constraint (Δce ≥ 0.1).
Claims Coverage
The patent includes one independent claim covering the overall surface-optimized ultrasonic shear instrument, with multiple dependent claims that refine how the effective friction coefficient varies along the ultrasonic blade and how it is implemented and/or applied to opposing surfaces, including reversibility during a blade back cutting operation and quantitative constraints on the friction coefficient change magnitude.
Ultrasonic blade with distal-to-proximal varying effective friction coefficient
An ultrasonic blade configured to vibrate at high frequency, where an effective friction coefficient varies from a distal tip section to a proximal node section, with the effective friction coefficient of the distal tip section higher than the proximal node section.
Non-active jaw detachably coupled to the ultrasonic blade
A non-active jaw detachably coupled to the ultrasonic blade towards the distal end of the handle assembly as part of the surface optimized surgical shear instrument.
Blade top vs bottom friction tailored to retain tissue and vessels
The effective friction coefficient associated with the ultrasonic blade top surface is higher than the effective friction coefficient of the ultrasonic blade bottom surface to retain tissue and vessels.
Reversible friction coefficient during blade back cutting operation
The effective friction coefficient between the ultrasonic blade top and bottom surfaces is reversible during a blade back cutting operation.
Minimum magnitude friction coefficient change along ultrasonic blade
A change in surface friction coefficient along the ultrasonic blade between the distal tip section and the proximal node section by an amount of Δce ≥ 0.1.
Surface treatment to produce distal-to-proximal friction variation
A surface treatment produces a change in the surface friction coefficient along the ultrasonic blade between the distal tip section and the proximal node section.
Minimum magnitude friction coefficient change along opposing non-active jaw
An opposing non-active jaw having a jaw-surface friction coefficient that changes along the jaw between the distal tip section and the proximal node section by an amount of Δce ≥ 0.1.
Overall, the claim coverage centers on an ultrasonic blade whose effective friction coefficient varies along its length from a distal tip section to a proximal node section, with the distal tip higher than the proximal node, and on applying related friction tailoring via top vs bottom surface selection, quantitative Δce ≥ 0.1 constraints, surface treatment implementation, potential reversibility during blade back cutting, and corresponding friction coefficient variation on the opposing non-active jaw.
Stated Advantages
Not explicitly described in patent.
Documented Applications
Not explicitly described in patent.
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