Surgical Clip Applier Walking Beam Mechanism

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Solution Overview

Problem

Surgical clip appliers are often expensive to manufacture and operate, and require significant manual force for operation, necessitating a more economical and user-friendly solution.

Innovation Solution

A surgical clip applier design featuring a housing, pivotable handles, a channel assembly with a clip carrier and walking beam, a clip follower, and a drive linkage system that reduces the firing force required and provides a visual clip counter, allowing for efficient clip deployment and tracking.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If conventional surgical clip appliers are used, then clips can be applied to body tissues and vessels, but the manufacturing and operational costs are high

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemanufacturing costVSAvoidfunctional performance

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The surgical instrument is divided into separate functional modules: a reusable handle assembly containing the trigger mechanism and a disposable cartridge containing the clips and firing mechanism. This segmentation allows the expensive reusable components to be separated from the inexpensive disposable components, reducing overall manufacturing costs while maintaining reliability of the critical reusable parts.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs a disposable cartridge design that contains the clips and a simple firing mechanism. After use, the entire cartridge is discarded, eliminating the need for complex sterilization and maintenance systems. This disposable approach significantly reduces manufacturing costs for the overall system while ensuring reliable performance during the single use.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

2Ease of operation

If conventional surgical clip appliers are used, then clips can be deployed sequentially, but significant manual force is required to operate the device

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefiring forceVSAvoidmanual force required

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSForce

Solution Approach 1:

The walking beam mechanism utilizes elastic deformation and vibratory motion to progressively advance clips through the channel. The elastic element stores and releases energy in a series of small increments, reducing the peak force required compared to a single large-force action. This allows clips to be advanced with minimal manual effort.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #18Mechanical vibration

Solution Approach 2:

The walking beam acts as an intermediary mechanical element between the trigger and the clips. Instead of directly applying force to advance multiple clips, the walking beam translates the trigger activation into a series of controlled, low-force movements that sequentially position clips at the jaw, reducing the overall force requirement.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Productivity

If a plurality of clips are stored in the instrument for sequential feeding, then multiple clips can be applied without reloading, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveclip deployment efficiencyVSAvoidinstrument structure

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The clip carrier, walking beam, and clip advancement mechanism are merged into a single integrated cartridge assembly. This combining of multiple functions into one disposable unit simplifies the overall device structure while enabling sequential clip deployment. The reusable handle assembly remains simple, while the disposable cartridge contains all necessary components for multi-clip application.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

Multiple clips are pre-loaded into the cartridge in the correct sequential arrangement before use. The walking beam is pre-positioned to engage the first clip, and the entire clip sequence is prepared in advance. This preliminary preparation eliminates the need for reloading during surgery and simplifies the operation to a repetitive trigger-pulling action.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

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 design reduces manufacturing and operational costs while minimizing the force needed to fire clips, enhancing user efficiency and providing a visual indicator for remaining clip count.

Implementation Method 1

a walking beam reciprocally disposed within the channel assembly and overlying the clip carrier, the walking beam being operatively connected to the at least one handle for reciprocal movement upon actuation of the at least one handle

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectMechanical Advantage: Mechanical Advantage

Implementation Method 2

the clip follower being configured and adapted for selective engagement with the distally oriented ramps of the clip carrier and the distally oriented ramps of the walking beam, wherein the clip follower is configured and adapted to urge the plurality of clips, in a distal direction relative to the clip carrier, upon reciprocal movement of the walking beam

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectRamp mechanism: Wedge

Data Source

PatentUS11278287B2Surgical clip applier with integrated clip counter

Publication Date: 2022.03.22 COVIDIEN LP

AI summary

A surgical clip applier is provided including a channel assembly and overlying a clip carrier having a clip counter plate slidably supported in the channel assembly, wherein the clip counter plate is configured and adapted to display a change in status of the clip applier upon actuation of the handle.