Endoscopic Clipping Device With Flexible Cannula And Biasing Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional hemostatic devices for gastrointestinal bleeding are invasive, require rigid instruments, and often fail to achieve permanent hemostasis due to insufficient constrictive force and difficulties in secure attachment and release at the target site.
Innovation Solution
A clipping device with pivotable arms and a cannula system that allows for remote operation, featuring a scissor-like mechanism and biased fingers to securely attach and release clips for tissue closure, enabling precise application and effective hemostasis without the need for rigid instruments.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If conventional hemostatic devices are used, then they can be delivered using rigid shafted instruments, but the procedure becomes invasive and requires incision or trocar cannula
Solution Approach 1:
The delivery device employs a flexible shafted instrument with a cannula that can navigate through the gastrointestinal tract without requiring external incisions. The flexible construction allows the device to conform to the anatomical structures while delivering the clip to the target site, thereby reducing invasiveness while maintaining operational capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The device is divided into separate functional components including a delivery catheter, a clip mechanism, and a release system. This segmentation allows the clip to be delivered through a flexible catheter while the release mechanism can be actuated remotely, enabling minimally invasive delivery without compromising the ability to secure and deploy the clip effectively.
2Force
If conventional hemostatic devices are used, then they can apply constrictive forces, but they are not strong enough to cause permanent hemostasis
Solution Approach 1:
The clip mechanism incorporates a spring-loaded or shape memory alloy-based biasing system that dynamically applies and maintains optimal constrictive force. The dynamic design allows the clip to adapt to tissue compliance while ensuring sufficient force is applied to achieve permanent hemostasis, overcoming the limitation of static conventional devices.
Solution Approach 2:
The clip is constructed from high-strength, elastic recovery materials such as nitinol or stainless steel alloys that combine high strength-to-weight ratio with excellent elastic properties. These composite material characteristics enable the clip to exert sufficient constrictive force for permanent hemostasis while maintaining flexibility for delivery through flexible instruments.
3Ease of operation
If conventional hemostatic devices are used, then they can be attached to delivery apparatus, but securing and releasing the clip device is difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The clip device incorporates a self-locking mechanism that automatically secures itself to the delivery apparatus during insertion and automatically releases upon actuation of a simple control. The self-service design eliminates the need for complex manual securing and releasing operations, reducing both operational difficulty and device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
A simple release mechanism such as a pull wire or shape memory alloy actuator serves as an intermediary between the operator and the clip release function. This intermediary allows the operator to control clip release from the proximal end of the flexible catheter without requiring direct manipulation at the distal tip, simplifying the operation while maintaining secure attachment during delivery.
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 device provides a less invasive, effective means of achieving permanent hemostasis by allowing precise placement and secure closure of blood vessels, reducing the need for invasive surgery and minimizing morbidity.
Implementation Method 1
The proximal portions of the first and second fingers are fixed together to bias the distal portions of the first and second fingers toward each other
Data Source
AI summary
A hemostatic clipping device is provided. The device includes first and second elongate arms, each arm comprising distal and proximal end portions, the arms being connected to allow relative motion between the first and second arms, the distal portion of each of the first and second arms further comprising a track blindly defined from a distal end of each arm toward the proximal portion of each arm. A clip is slidably disposed between the opposed distal portions of each of the first and second arms, the clip comprising first and second fingers each with distal and proximal portions, the proximal portions of the first and second fingers being fixed together to bias the distal portions of the first and second fingers toward each other, the first and second fingers each further comprising a pin extending radially outward from the distal end portion thereof.