Endoscopic Clip Arm Regulation for Secure Tissue Ligation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing clip devices for endoscopic treatment face challenges in efficiently and reliably gripping biological tissue, particularly in narrow lumens, due to the limitations in controlling the opening and closing of the clip arms and the integration with endoscopic applicators.
Innovation Solution
A clip device with a clip unit featuring arms that can be opened and closed, supported by a holder, and regulated by a sheath and a regulating member, allowing for controlled transitions between open and closed forms, and enabling independent or coordinated opening and closing of the arms, facilitating easy deployment and secure ligation of tissue.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the clip arms are designed to be independently controllable, then the ease of operation is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The clip device is divided into functionally independent segments: the first arm and second arm can be controlled independently through separate control wires, allowing selective opening or closing of individual arms. This segmentation enables nuanced control for different tissue types and procedural needs without requiring a completely complex control system.
Solution Approach 2:
A sheath with a regulating member is introduced as an intermediary mechanism to manage the control wires. The regulating member can selectively restrict or permit movement of control wires, thereby controlling arm movement. This intermediary structure provides a manageable way to handle independent arm control without directly complicating the arm mechanisms themselves.
2Reliability
If the clip device is designed for secure ligation in narrow lumens, then the reliability is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The holder is nested within the sheath, creating a compact integrated structure that fits within narrow endoscopic lumens. The clip arms are nested within the holder, allowing the entire assembly to be delivered through a small profile while maintaining the functional complexity needed for reliable ligation. This nested configuration reduces the overall device footprint without sacrificing ligation reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
Multiple functional components are merged into integrated structures: the holder combines support functions for both arms, the sheath integrates control wire management and positioning features, and the regulating member combines multiple control functions in a single component. This merging reduces the number of separate parts while maintaining reliable ligation capability.
3Manufacturing precision
If the second arm's opening operation is regulated, then the manufacturing precision is improved, but the ease of operation decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The regulating member provides dynamic control over the second arm's opening operation, allowing the system to adapt between different operational modes. When precise control is needed, the regulating member restricts control wire movement to ensure accurate arm positioning. When speed is prioritized, the regulating member can be adjusted to permit freer movement, maintaining ease of operation while preserving manufacturing precision capabilities.
Data Source
AI summary
This clip device comprises: a clip unit having arms that includes a first arm and a second arm, and a holder for supporting the arms so that the arms can be opened and closed; a sheath separably connected to the clip unit; and a regulating member capable of regulating an opening operation in which the first arm transitions from a closed state to an open state. The arms can transition to: a first form in which the first arm and the second arm can be opened and closed; and a second form in which the second arm can be opened and closed and the opening operation of the first arm is regulated by the regulating member.