Polymeric Ligating Clip Retainer with Boundary Leaves
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Solution Overview
Problem
Polymeric ligating clips in cartridges tend to prolapse during transport and handling, leading to potential dislodgment and inefficiencies in surgical procedures.
Innovation Solution
A clip retainer with a peripheral skirt and upwardly inclined boundary leaves, featuring downwardly inclined distensions that register with clip bosses to prevent prolapse, ensuring secure retention and easy dispensing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If clips are stored in cartridges during transport and handling, then clips are protected from damage, but clips tend to prolapse and become dislodged
Solution Approach 1:
The retainer is divided into multiple boundary leaves (first, second, third, and fourth boundary leaves) that are spaced apart from each other. Each boundary leaf engages with corresponding bosses on different clips, segmenting the retention function across multiple independent engagement points. This segmentation allows the retainer to effectively control multiple clips simultaneously while maintaining individual clip stability through distributed engagement.
Solution Approach 2:
The retainer is designed to be nested within the cartridge structure, with the peripheral skirt fitting inside the cartridge and the boundary leaves extending into the clip storage space. The retainer integrates with the existing cartridge design, nesting seamlessly within the cartridge's compartmentalized structure to provide additional retention functionality without requiring a completely separate storage system.
2Reliability
If clips are securely retained in cartridges, then clips remain in position during shipment, but clips may be difficult to dispense and apply
Solution Approach 1:
The retainer provides different levels of retention control at different locations. The boundary leaves are spaced to allow limited slippage between adjacent clips, creating localized zones of retention that are secure enough during transport but flexible enough to allow individual clips to be dispensed when needed. This local quality variation enables both secure retention and easy dispensing.
Solution Approach 2:
The retainer allows dynamic adjustment of clip position through controlled slippage. While the boundary leaves provide secure engagement during transport, the spaced configuration allows clips to slide along the retainer to the dispensing position when needed. This dynamic capability transitions from a static locked state during shipping to a flexible dispensing state during surgical use.
3Reliability
If complex retention mechanisms are used to prevent clip prolapse, then clip retention improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple retention functions are merged into a single integrated retainer component. The boundary leaves, peripheral skirt, and engagement structures are combined in one piece that simultaneously provides transport protection, position stability, and dispensing capability. This merging eliminates the need for separate retention mechanisms, reducing overall device complexity while maintaining reliable clip retention.
Data Source
AI summary
A retainer for a ligating clip cartridge includes a peripheral skirt nested within the cartridge. The retainer includes a planar peripheral top margin surface extending from the skirt. A plurality of spaced rectilinear upwardly arched boundary leaves project from opposite sides of the top margin surface. The distal ends of the boundary leaves include a pair of spaced, downwardly inclined integral distensions. When positioned within a cartridge loaded with clips, the distensions are registered with and spaced above bosses which extend transversely from each clip leg. Should the clips tend to prolapse within the cartridge; the bosses engage a keeper notch formed at the juncture between the upwardly arched boundary leaves and the downwardly inclined distensions to maintain the clips in position suitable for dispensing.