Surgical Clip Applier Camming Plate Lost Motion Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current surgical clip appliers are complex and costly, requiring numerous components that complicate their operation and maintenance, while still needing to provide efficient and effective clip application during surgical procedures.
Innovation Solution
A surgical clip applier design featuring a housing, pivotable handle, channel assembly with a clip carrier, jaw assembly, and a camming plate with a lost motion portion and flexible tab, which simplifies the mechanism by using fewer components to efficiently form and apply clips to tissues and vessels.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional surgical clip appliers use multiple components to ensure reliable clip application, then the reliability is improved, but the device complexity increases and costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the camming plate and clip pusher bar into a single integrated component. The camming plate includes an integrated clip pusher bar that performs both the camming function (controlling jaw movement) and the clip pusher function (advancing clips sequentially) without requiring separate components. This merging reduces device complexity while maintaining reliable clip formation and deployment through the unified mechanical design.
Solution Approach 2:
The camming plate is designed as a multi-functional component that simultaneously serves as a camming mechanism for jaw control and as a clip carrier with an integrated pusher bar for clip advancement. This universal design allows a single component to perform multiple functions that traditionally required separate parts, thereby reducing overall device complexity while ensuring reliable operation.
2Adaptability or versatility
If conventional surgical clip appliers use numerous components to ensure proper clip sequencing and jaw control, then the functionality is maintained, but the ease of operation deteriorates due to complex mechanism
Solution Approach 1:
By merging the camming plate and clip pusher bar into one integrated component, the patent simplifies the operating mechanism. The surgeon operates a single handle that simultaneously controls jaw closure and clip advancement through the integrated camming action, eliminating the need to coordinate multiple separate components and improving ease of operation while maintaining full clip application functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The integrated camming plate with its built-in pusher bar automatically sequences clip delivery through camming action as the handle is closed. The mechanism self-regulates the timing and sequence of clip advancement and jaw closure without requiring complex external control systems or multiple operating steps, thereby simplifying operation while preserving functionality.
3Manufacturing precision
If conventional surgical clip appliers use multiple separate components for camming and clip pushing, then the manufacturing precision can be optimized for each component, but the overall manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent integrates the camming plate and clip pusher bar into a single manufacturable component. This merging reduces the total number of parts that require precision manufacturing, assembly, and quality control, thereby lowering overall manufacturing costs. The integrated design allows for optimized manufacturing processes for the unified component while maintaining the necessary precision for camming and clip advancement functions.
Solution Approach 2:
While merging components, the integrated camming plate is designed with distinct functional zones (camming surfaces, clip storage channel, pusher bar features) that can be independently optimized during the manufacturing process. This segmented functional design within a unified component allows precision manufacturing techniques to be applied to specific functional areas without requiring multiple separate precision components, balancing manufacturing precision with cost efficiency.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The design enhances operational efficiency and reduces costs by streamlining the clip application process, maintaining functionality with fewer components and ensuring reliable clip formation and deployment.
Implementation Method 1
a camming plate slidably supported within the channel assembly and configured to effectuate closure of the pair of jaws, the camming plate including a lost motion portion
Implementation Method 2
the clip pusher bar comprises at least one flexible tab which is distally oriented and inwardly biased against the lost motion portion of the camming plate, the at least one flexible tab being configured to: engage the shoulder of the lost motion portion of the camming plate
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2A
Figure 2B~2C
AI summary
A surgical clip applier, comprising: a housing; at least one handle pivotably connected to the housing; a channel assembly extending distally from the housing; a clip carrier disposed within the channel assembly and defining a channel therein; a plurality of clips slidably disposed within the channel of the clip carrier; a jaw assembly including a pair of jaws extending from an end of the channel assembly, opposite the housing, the jaw assembly configured to accommodate a clip therein and being operable to effect formation of the clip in response to movement of the at least one handle; a clip pusher bar slidably supported within at least one of the housing and the channel assembly, the clip pusher bar having a first end operatively connected to the at least one handle and at least one flexible tab; and a camming plate slidably supported within the channel assembly and configured to effectuate closure of the pair of jaws, the camming plate including a lost motion portion, the at least one flexible tab of the clip pusher bar being distally oriented and biased against the lost motion portion of the camming plate, the at least one flexible tab being and configured to: engage the lost motion portion of the camming plate, during an initial movement of the clip pusher bar, to cause the camming plate to move with the clip pusher bar; and disengage from the lost motion portion of the camming plate, during a subsequent movement of the clip pusher bar, to allow the clip pusher bar to move relative to the camming plate.