Surgical Clip Applier Cartridge for Precise Sequential Crimping
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current surgical instruments for applying clips to tissue lack efficient mechanisms for sequential and precise deployment of clips, leading to difficulties in consistent clamping force application and tissue manipulation during surgical procedures.
Innovation Solution
A surgical clip applier with a rotary drive system that includes a firing drive and crimping drive, utilizing a clip cartridge with a biasing member and lockout mechanism, allows for sequential advancement and deformation of clips, ensuring consistent clamping force and preventing accidental firing after clip depletion.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If a rotary drive system with firing drive and crimping drive is used, then sequential and precise deployment of clips is achieved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The firing drive and crimping drive are integrated into a single rotary drive system that shares common components such as the drive shaft, gears, and control mechanisms. This merging approach enables sequential clip deployment and crimping through a unified mechanism, achieving precise control while managing device complexity through component sharing and integration.
2Reliability
If a lockout mechanism is implemented to prevent accidental firing, then safety is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The lockout mechanism is designed to automatically engage when the clip cartridge is depleted, preventing accidental firing without requiring additional manual intervention. This preliminary action ensures safety by defaulting to a locked state when clips are exhausted, improving reliability while minimizing the need for complex additional controls.
3Force
If a biasing member is used to apply consistent clamping force, then clamping force consistency is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The biasing member is integrated into the cartridge assembly and automatically applies consistent clamping force to the clip during the crimping process. This self-service mechanism ensures force consistency through the inherent elastic properties of the biasing member, eliminating the need for external force control systems and simplifying the overall device architecture.
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 precise and efficient deployment of clips with consistent clamping force, improving tissue manipulation during surgeries and preventing unintended firing, thus enhancing surgical precision and safety.
Implementation Method 1
a biasing member positioned within the cartridge and configured to bias the clip along the firing axis
Implementation Method 2
The frangible connection can be deformed to advance the clip from the cartridge
Data Source
AI summary
Surgical clip appliers are disclosed comprising a plurality of clips which are stored in a compressed state. When a stored clip is moved into the crimping chamber of the surgical clip applier, the clip can assume a configuration which is different than its stored configuration before it is crimped.