Reusable Surgical Clip Applier Handle with Modular Clamping Assembly
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional surgical vessel clip appliers are disposable due to their non-reusable structural design, leading to high operational costs and increased risk of infection from reused components.
Innovation Solution
A reusable surgical vessel clip applier handle with a modular design allowing for easy installation and removal of clamping assemblies, featuring a handle body, drive structure, and head unit that enables the clamping assembly to be swapped after each use, reducing waste and infection risk.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If the grip and clamping assembly are designed as fixed together in an inseparable manner, then the structural simplicity is improved, but the cost increases because both parts must be discarded together after each use
Solution Approach 1:
The vessel clip applier is divided into separate modular components: a reusable handle body and a disposable clamping assembly. The clamping assembly can be detached from the handle body after use, allowing the expensive handle to be reused while only the disposable components are discarded. This segmentation resolves the contradiction by enabling cost reduction through selective replacement while maintaining structural simplicity in each module.
2Reliability
If the vessel clip applier is designed as disposable to avoid blood contamination, then the infection risk is reduced, but the operational cost increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The device is segmented into reusable and disposable portions. The handle body, which is expensive and complex, is designed for reuse after sterilization, while the clamping assembly that contacts blood is disposable. This allows infection risk to be controlled through proper disposal of contaminated parts while reducing overall operational costs by reusing the non-contaminated handle.
Solution Approach 2:
Different parts of the device have different quality requirements. The handle body requires high durability and reusability, while the clamping assembly requires single-use sterility. By applying different design qualities to different local parts, the system achieves both infection prevention and cost efficiency.
3Loss of substance
If the clamping assembly is designed as an independent separable structure, then the cost is reduced by allowing selective replacement, but the device complexity increases due to additional linkage mechanisms
Solution Approach 1:
The linkage mechanism incorporates dynamic elements such as springs and movable connections that enable automatic engagement and disengagement of the clamping assembly. This dynamic design simplifies the separation process compared to rigid fixed connections, reducing the operational complexity despite enabling modular replacement.
Solution Approach 2:
The linkage mechanism is designed to automatically engage and disengage components through spring-loaded connections and complementary geometries. This self-service feature reduces the need for complex manual assembly and disassembly procedures, offsetting the added complexity of the separable structure with automated functionality.
Data Source
AI summary
A surgical vessel clip applier handle is provided and has a head unit capable of being flipped relative to a handle body having a front end pivotally connected to the head unit. An embedding opening is formed on the top of a barrel part of the handle body. Two slides blocks are disposed inside the barrel part at a front position and a rear position. The front part of a grip part of the handle body has a trigger having a linkage assembly disposed between the trigger and the slide blocks. The invention is capable of installing and removing conventional clamping assemblies by simply flipping the head unit; when the head unit is flipped back, the rear end of the clamping assembly will connect to the slide blocks via the embedding opening, the linkage assembly thereby drives the clamping assembly to clamp while the trigger is being pulled by a user.