Semi-Automatic Clip Applier With Ratchet Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current medical clip appliers for blood vessel occlusion in endoscopic surgery either require two operators, increasing surgery time and risk of infection, or are disposable and costly, with designs that compromise reliability and stability due to lack of control mechanisms during continuous firing.
Innovation Solution
A semi-automatic medical continuous-firing clip applier with a biological clip cartridge, featuring a connecting rod drive mechanism, safety lock, and a spring mechanism with ratchet tooth and backstop structure to ensure controlled and stable clip firing, reducing the risk of clip deviation and improving clip closure force.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a reusable biological clip single-firing clip applier is used, then the clip application is effective and reliable, but two operators are needed and surgery time is extended
Solution Approach 1:
The clip applier is divided into separate functional modules: a reusable main body and a disposable cartridge containing multiple clips. This segmentation allows the main instrument to remain while only the cartridge is replaced, enabling continuous firing without requiring the instrument to be removed and reloaded by another operator.
Solution Approach 2:
The cartridge is designed with an automatic clip feeding mechanism that advances the next clip into position after each firing. The spring mechanism automatically pushes the subsequent clip forward, allowing the instrument to service itself without external intervention for reloading.
2Productivity
If a disposable titanium clip continuous-firing clip applier is used, then continuous firing is achieved, but surgery costs increase and clips have adverse effects
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of making the entire instrument disposable, only the cartridge containing the clips is designed as a disposable component. This allows the use of inexpensive biological clips while maintaining a reusable expensive instrument platform, reducing overall cost while enabling continuous firing.
Solution Approach 2:
The solution combines reusable metallic instrument components with disposable biological clip cartridges. This composite approach allows the instrument structure to be made of durable materials while the consumable clips are made of biocompatible, absorbable biological materials that avoid long-term adverse effects.
3Productivity
If a spring mechanism is used for automatic clip feeding, then continuous firing is enabled, but clips may fall off or deviate due to lack of control
Solution Approach 1:
The spring mechanism is pre-loaded with stored energy before each clip is fired. This preliminary energy storage ensures that the next clip is ready to be advanced immediately after the current one is fired, maintaining continuous operation without requiring additional control actions during the firing sequence.
Solution Approach 2:
A controlled release mechanism acts as an intermediary between the spring mechanism and the clip advancement. This mediator regulates the spring's energy release to advance clips at the appropriate moments, preventing premature or uncontrolled clip movement that would cause deviation or falling off.
4Device complexity
If a fixed clip applying platform is used, then the structure is simple, but closing force is insufficient for reliable ligation
Solution Approach 1:
The clip applying platform is designed with rotational movement capability rather than being completely fixed. The platform can rotate to position clips at different angles and apply closing force through a flipping motion, providing dynamic adjustment while maintaining structural simplicity.
Solution Approach 2:
The closing action is moved from a single linear dimension to include rotational movement in another dimension. By allowing the platform to rotate and flip, the system gains additional degrees of freedom to generate sufficient closing force without complicating the basic platform structure.
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 solution enables efficient, safe, and stable blood vessel occlusion with reduced surgery time and costs, minimizing bleeding risks and allowing for reusable instruments with disposable cartridges.
Implementation Method 1
A hemostatic clip in a hemostatic clip cartridge abuts against a spring mechanism disposed in a clip applier, the spring mechanism already stores energy before the hemostatic clip is fired
Implementation Method 2
a spring mechanism with ratchet tooth and backstop structure to ensure controlled and stable clip firing
Data Source
AI summary
A semi-automatic medical continuous-firing clip applier includes a grip and a forceps rod, one end of the forceps rod is connected to the grip, and the other end of the forceps rod is connected to an upper jaw and a lower jaw; the upper jaw and the lower jaw are connected to a trigger, where the forceps rod is internally provided with a biological clip cartridge; the upper jaw and the lower jaw are provided with biological clip positioning grooves; the forceps rod is further internally provided with a transmission mechanism respectively in coordination with the biological clip cartridge and a biological clip propelling apparatus. The biological clip propelling apparatus is configured to drive a biological clip in the biological clip cartridge to enter the positioning grooves in the upper and lower jaws, and then the trigger is tightly held to close the biological clip.