Bent Control Wire Tissue Clip Delivery for Transverse Access
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing minimally invasive procedures, such as ECRP, face difficulties due to the mismatch between the longitudinal axis of insertion devices and the transverse application of treatment devices like hemostatic clips, leading to increased complexity and risk.
Innovation Solution
A device with a flexible insertion section and a control wire featuring a predetermined bend allows for the deployment of end effectors, like tissue clips, through transverse ports without plastic deformation, using a bend in the control wire and insertion section to align with the port and a mechanism for releasing the clip from the insertion device.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If treatment devices are applied along the longitudinal axis of the insertion device, then the application is straightforward and simple, but this approach is not suitable for procedures requiring transverse access to anatomical structures
Solution Approach 1:
The control wire includes a bendable distal portion that can be dynamically reconfigured from a straight configuration during insertion to a bent configuration at the target site. This dynamic transformation allows the device to adapt between longitudinal access (straight wire) and transverse application (bent wire), resolving the contradiction between operational simplicity and procedural versatility
Solution Approach 2:
The control wire transitions from a one-dimensional longitudinal path to a two-dimensional bent path, enabling the end effector to reach transverse targets while being inserted through a longitudinal channel. This dimensional change allows the device to operate effectively in both longitudinal and transverse orientations
2Manufacturing precision
If the control wire is made rigid to maintain shape and positioning, then positioning precision is improved, but the device cannot navigate the bends required for transverse port access
Solution Approach 1:
The control wire's distal portion is designed with controlled flexibility, allowing it to be bent to a specific angle (e.g., 90 degrees) while maintaining that bent shape at the target site. The wire transitions from a flexible state during navigation to a stable bent configuration for precise positioning, resolving the contradiction between navigability and positioning precision
Solution Approach 2:
The control wire's physical state changes from straight to bent, with the bend angle being a controllable parameter. This parameter change allows the wire to adapt its shape for navigation while maintaining precise positioning once the desired bend is achieved, balancing flexibility and precision
3Adaptability or versatility
If the control wire is made flexible to navigate bends, then navigation capability is improved, but positioning precision and shape maintenance deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The control wire has different properties in different sections: the proximal portion remains straight and rigid for precise actuator control, while the distal portion is flexible and bendable for navigation. This local differentiation allows the wire to navigate bends effectively while maintaining positioning precision at the target site
4Strength
If the insertion section is made rigid to maintain structural integrity, then device strength is improved, but the device cannot conform to the bent path required for transverse port access
Solution Approach 1:
The insertion section is divided into multiple segments or articulated sections that can bend at specific joints while maintaining overall structural integrity. This segmentation allows the device to conform to bent paths for transverse access while each segment maintains sufficient strength, resolving the contradiction between strength and conformability
5Reliability
If the end effector remains permanently coupled to the insertion device, then device reliability is improved, but procedural complexity increases due to difficulty in deployment and retrieval
Solution Approach 1:
The coupling between the end effector and insertion device is dynamic rather than static. The end effector can be securely coupled during insertion and navigation, then easily decoupled at the target site for deployment. This dynamic coupling maintains reliability during critical phases while simplifying deployment procedures
Data Source
Figure 1A~1B
Figure 2~3
Figure 4
AI summary
A device includes a flexible insertion section extending from a distal end which, during use is inserted to a target site to a proximal end which remains outside the body; an end effector coupled to a distal end of the insertion section; and a control wire received within the insertion section and extending from a proximal end coupled to an actuator to a distal end coupled to the end effector. The control wire is movable within the insertion section to operate the end effector. The control wire and the insertion section include a bend in a distal portion thereof configured so that, in a resting state, the control wire and the insertion section bend through a predetermined arc at a selected bending radius. A distal portion of the control passes into and through a working channel of an insertion device without plastic deformation of the control wire.