Hemostatic Clip Magazine With Rotational Orientation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Endoscopic hemostatic clipping devices face challenges in properly positioning and releasing hemostatic clips due to size constraints and lack of feedback mechanisms, leading to potential improper deployment and increased procedure complexity.
Innovation Solution
A shaft with a handle and control linkage connected to a magazine containing a chain of clips, allowing for rotational orientation and controlled deployment of clips, with tactile and auditory feedback mechanisms to ensure proper placement and release.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a clip is deployed improperly, then additional clips may be required to stop the bleeding, but this extends the time required for and the complexity of the procedure
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates feedback mechanisms including tactile feedback through the control linkage that provides resistance changes during clip deployment, and visual feedback through indicators showing clip status (deployed, undeployed, mispositioned). This feedback allows the operator to confirm proper clip placement before release, preventing improper deployments that would require additional clips and procedure time.
2Ease of operation
If the clipping tool allows the user to orient the clips as required during deployment, then proper positioning is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs dynamic elements including a rotatable magazine that can be oriented in different directions, and a flexible control linkage that allows multi-directional manipulation. The control linkage can be deflected in multiple directions to position clips at various angles relative to the endoscope axis, providing orientation control without requiring a complex mechanical positioning system.
3Reliability
If the operator needs positive indication that a clip has fully deployed and been released, then reliability is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates feedback mechanisms including tactile feedback through the control linkage that provides resistance changes during clip deployment, and visual feedback through indicators showing clip status (deployed, undeployed, mispositioned). This feedback allows the operator to confirm proper clip placement before release, preventing improper deployments that would require additional clips and procedure time.
Solution Approach 2:
The control linkage itself serves as the feedback mechanism through its mechanical properties. As the clip deploys and releases, the control linkage experiences characteristic resistance changes and movement patterns that provide inherent feedback to the operator without requiring separate sensing systems or complex electronic indicators.
4Productivity
If multiple clips are deployed in sequence, then productivity is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the clip supply into a magazine containing multiple individual clips arranged in sequence. Each clip can be independently deployed one at a time through the control linkage, allowing multiple clips to be deployed without removing the device from the patient. The magazine segments the clips while maintaining a simple retrieval mechanism.
Solution Approach 2:
The clips are pre-loaded into the magazine in the desired sequence and orientation before insertion into the patient. This preliminary preparation allows for rapid sequential deployment without requiring complex real-time manipulation or repositioning mechanisms during the procedure.
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus for deployment of multiple hemostatic clips, comprises a shaft connected to a handle and a control linkage operatively connected to the handle in combination with a magazine disposed at a distal end of the shaft, the magazine containing a plurality of clips arranged in a chain rotatable within the magazine, wherein a proximal-most one of the clips is coupled to the control linkage, a distal portion of the magazine being contoured to permit opening of a distal-most one of the clips during a distal stroke of the control linkage, and to assist closing and locking of the distal-most clip during a proximal stroke of the control linkage, the magazine including an expanded chamber sized to allow opening in any rotational orientation of a next clip located immediately proximal to the distal-most clip to a degree sufficient to disengage the distal-most clip. A method for deploying multiple hemostatic clips, comprises positioning a distal end of a magazine containing a clip chain over selected target tissue and actuating a control link of the magazine in a distal stroke to open and distally translate a distal-most clip of the clip chain in combination with orienting the open distal-most clip in a desired orientation to grasp the target tissue and actuating the control link in a proximal stroke to close and lock the distal-most clip over the target tissue. The control link is further actuated in the proximal stroke to move a next clip immediately proximal to the distal-most clip into an expanded portion of the magazine sized to allow the next clip to open to a degree sufficient to release the distal-most clip regardless of a circumferential orientation of the next clip.