Endoscopic Clip Applier Jaw Stabilization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Endoscopic surgical clip appliers face challenges in stabilizing the jaw structure during clip insertion, leading to potential clip misalignment and compression issues, which can result in incomplete or improper clip application, especially in minimally invasive procedures where tactile feedback is limited.
Innovation Solution
The design incorporates a handle assembly with a shaft assembly, jaws, a clip pusher bar, and a lockout system that prevents the pusher bar from returning to its home position when clips are exhausted, ensuring proper clip loading and preventing excessive compression, along with a wedge plate mechanism to maintain jaw alignment and a shear pin for controlled force transmission.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If the clip is loaded between the jaws without any compression, then the clip alignment and geometry are preserved, but the device complexity increases due to the need for wedge plate mechanism and lockout system
Solution Approach 1:
The wedge plate is positioned in advance between the jaw members before clip loading occurs. This preliminary positioning prevents jaw compression during clip insertion, allowing the clip to be loaded without compression while maintaining proper alignment and geometry. The lockout system is also pre-configured to prevent premature jaw closure.
Solution Approach 2:
The wedge plate acts as an intermediary element between the jaw members during clip loading. It physically separates the jaws and prevents them from compressing the clip, serving as a mediator that enables compression-free loading. The lockout system similarly intermediates the trigger mechanism to prevent premature jaw closure.
2Reliability
If a lockout system is implemented to prevent pusher bar return when clips are exhausted, then reliable clip depletion indication is achieved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The lockout system is automatically activated when clips are exhausted. The pusher bar itself triggers the lockout mechanism upon reaching the end of the clip stack, eliminating the need for separate sensors or indicators. The system serves itself by using the mechanical state of clip depletion to activate the lockout function.
Solution Approach 2:
The lockout system provides immediate mechanical feedback when clips are depleted. The inability of the pusher bar to return to its home position serves as a clear indication to the surgeon that the clip magazine is empty, creating a direct feedback loop between the mechanical state and user awareness.
3Reliability
If the jaws are prevented from compressing the clip before firing, then successful clip loading is ensured, but the device complexity increases due to additional stabilization mechanisms
Solution Approach 1:
The wedge plate is inserted between the jaw members in advance of clip loading to establish a compressed-free environment. This preliminary action ensures that when the clip is loaded, the jaws remain separated and cannot compress the clip, guaranteeing successful loading without damage.
Solution Approach 2:
The wedge plate serves as an intermediary that physically prevents direct contact between the jaw members during clip loading. By inserting this intermediate element, the system ensures that no compression force is transmitted to the clip, thereby ensuring successful loading while adding minimal complexity.
Data Source
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AI summary
An apparatus for application of surgical clips to body tissue, the apparatus comprising: a) a handle assembly; b) a shaft assembly extending distally from the handle assembly and defining a longitudinal axis; c) a plurality of surgical clips disposed within the shaft assembly; d) jaws mounted adjacent a distal end portion of the shaft assembly, the jaws including a pair of jaw members movable between a spaced-apart and an approximated position; e) a clip pusher bar (156) configured to individually distally advance a surgical clip to the jaws while the jaw members are in the spaced apart position; f) a drive bar (140) at least partially disposed within the handle assembly and the shaft assembly, the drive bar (140) being longitudinally movable in response to actuation of a trigger of the handle assembly; g) a drive channel positioned adjacent the first and second jaw members to move the jaw members to the approximated position; and h) a trip mechanism (192) supported on the drive bar (140), the trip mechanism includes a trip lever (196) biased into contact with the clip pusher bar, wherein distal movement of the drive bar moves the trip mechanism until the trip lever (196) thereof engages a lip of the clip pusher bar (156) and in turn distally moves the clip pusher bar.