Surgical Clip Applier Shuttle Bar Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Surgical clip appliers have complexity in operation and require multiple components, which can make them less efficient and more costly without compromising functionality.
Innovation Solution
A surgical clip applier design featuring a housing, pivotable handle, channel assembly, clip carrier, jaw assembly, shuttle bar, and linkage mechanism that simplifies the operation by using fewer components to efficiently transport and deploy clips, with a shuttle bar maintaining jaws open and a clip pusher bar to engage clips between jaws.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If conventional surgical clip appliers use multiple components to transport and deploy clips, then the functionality is comprehensive, but the device complexity increases and operational efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple separate components into integrated assemblies. The shuttle bar integrates the jaw-opening function (via wedge) and clip transport function (via shuttle box) into a single component. The clip carrier integrates clip storage and feeding mechanisms. This merging reduces the total number of components while maintaining all necessary functions, directly resolving the contradiction between device complexity and operational efficiency
Solution Approach 2:
The shuttle bar serves multiple functions: it acts as a wedge to maintain jaws open, functions as a transport mechanism via the shuttle box to move clips from the carrier to the jaws, and coordinates with the clip pusher bar. This multi-functionality allows a single component to perform what previously required multiple separate components, reducing overall device complexity while improving operational efficiency
2Ease of manufacture
If surgical clip appliers use multiple components for clip transport, then the mechanism is comprehensive, but the manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
By merging the jaw actuation mechanism and clip transport mechanism into the single shuttle bar component, the patent reduces the total number of parts that need to be manufactured, assembled, and quality-tested. This integration directly reduces manufacturing complexity and associated costs while maintaining comprehensive functionality
Solution Approach 2:
The shuttle bar's wedge automatically maintains the jaws in an open position during clip transport without requiring a separate jaw actuation mechanism. This self-service feature eliminates the need for additional components, simplifying manufacturing and reducing costs
Data Source
AI summary
A surgical clip applier is provided including a housing, at least one handle pivotably connected to the housing, a channel assembly extending distally from the housing, a clip carrier disposed within said channel assembly and defining a channel therein, a plurality of clips slidably disposed within the channel of said clip carrier, a jaw assembly including a pair of jaws extending from an end of the channel assembly, opposite the housing, adapted to accommodate a clip therein and being operable to effect formation of a clip in response to movement of said at least one handle, and a shuttle bar slidably supported in the channel assembly and configured to transport a clip from the clip carrier to the jaw assembly.