Surgical Clip Applier Lockout Mechanism Prevents Dry Firing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing surgical clip applying apparatuses are complex and prone to accidental movement or dry firing, lacking effective occlusion of blood vessels and failing to provide tactile feedback when clips are depleted.
Innovation Solution
A surgical clip applier with a body portion housing a clip stack, a pair of jaws, a clip pusher, a camming member, and a lockout mechanism that includes a notch and stop members to prevent accidental movement and ensure all clips are used, providing tactile feedback when the clip supply is low.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a lockout mechanism with stop members and notches is added to prevent accidental movement and dry firing, then reliability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The lockout mechanism is self-actuating through the clip follower that automatically engages the lockout member when clips are depleted. The system monitors its own state (clip availability) and automatically implements the lockout function without requiring external intervention or complex control systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The lockout member acts as an intermediary mechanical element between the clip follower and the camming member. It translates the position of the clip follower into a locking action that prevents further operation, providing a simple mechanical mediation that avoids complex electronic or hydraulic control systems.
2Device complexity
If the apparatus is designed to be less complex, then device complexity is reduced, but reliability may worsen due to increased risk of accidental movement or dry firing
Solution Approach 1:
The lockout mechanism is pre-configured with stop members and notches that automatically engage when specific conditions are met (clip depletion). The system prepares the locking action in advance through mechanical design rather than requiring active control, ensuring reliability is built into the structure from the beginning.
Solution Approach 2:
The clip follower provides mechanical feedback about the clip stack status to the lockout member. When the follower reaches a predetermined position indicating clip depletion, it automatically actuates the lockout, creating a simple feedback loop that prevents dry firing without complex electronics.
3Manufacturing precision
If the lockout member is positioned to engage the notch at a predetermined point, then manufacturing precision is improved for clip depletion detection, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The lockout member combines multiple functions into a single component: it serves as both the actuating element and the engagement element with the camming member. The stop members and notches are integrated features of this single component rather than separate parts, reducing overall complexity while maintaining precise positioning requirements.
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus for applying surgical clips has a body portion housing a clip stack and a pair of jaws supported at a distal end of the body portion. The body portion includes a camming member, a clip follower and a lockout member having a plurality of stop members. The lockout member is movable from a first position in slidable relation to the camming member to a second position interlocked with the camming member. The camming member has at least one notch, and in a second position the lockout member has at least one of the stop members positioned to interface with the at least one notch. The engagement between the stop member and the notch limits distal movement of the camming member. The clip follower actuates the lockout member when the clip follower advances to a predetermined clip in the clip stack.