Surgical Ligation Clip Hinges for Low-Force Tissue Clamping
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing surgical clips require significant closure forces and may cause tissue damage due to scissoring action, making them inefficient and potentially harmful in minimally invasive procedures.
Innovation Solution
The development of surgical ligation clips with deformable hinges and distal hooks that allow for minimal closure force transition from an open to a fully closed state, utilizing staged motion and snap-fit mechanisms to secure the clip without axial deflection, facilitated by robotic applicators.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If existing surgical clips are used to clamp tissue, then secure clamping is achieved, but significant closure forces are required causing tissue damage
Solution Approach 1:
The surgical clip is divided into multiple segments or arms that can move independently through staged motion. The distal portion can pivot relative to the proximal portion through intermediate hinges, allowing progressive closure rather than simultaneous closure of the entire clip structure. This segmentation enables the clip to achieve secure clamping through incremental steps, reducing the peak force required at any single moment and thereby minimizing tissue damage.
Solution Approach 2:
The clip employs deformable hinges and movable joints that allow dynamic adjustment during closure. The proximal hinge and intermediate hinges enable the clip arms to flex and pivot in a controlled manner, transitioning from an open configuration to a fully closed state through staged motion. This dynamic behavior allows the clip to adapt to tissue contours and achieve secure clamping with reduced closure force, avoiding the scissoring action that causes tissue damage in rigid clip designs.
2Reliability
If existing surgical clips are used to clamp tissue, then clamping is achieved, but scissoring action causes tissue damage
Solution Approach 1:
The clip structure is segmented into multiple movable portions connected by hinges, allowing each segment to close independently and progressively. The distal portion can pivot relative to the proximal portion through intermediate hinges, preventing the simultaneous scissoring action that occurs in conventional single-action clips. This segmentation eliminates the harmful scissoring motion while maintaining secure clamping through staged closure.
Solution Approach 2:
The clip employs deformable hinges and movable joints that allow dynamic adjustment during closure. The proximal hinge and intermediate hinges enable the clip arms to flex and pivot in a controlled manner, transitioning from an open configuration to a fully closed state through staged motion. This dynamic behavior allows the clip to adapt to tissue contours and achieve secure clamping without the scissoring action that causes tissue damage in rigid clip designs.
3Reliability
If surgical clips require significant closure force, then secure clamping is achieved, but procedural complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The clip is designed with spring-loaded or resilient elements that automatically return to their original configuration after deployment. The resilient biocompatible material enables the clip to be released and returned to its open state without requiring complex manual manipulation. This self-service mechanism simplifies the procedural steps while maintaining secure clamping during the procedure, reducing the overall complexity of the surgical intervention.
Solution Approach 2:
The clip employs deformable hinges and movable joints that allow dynamic adjustment during closure. The proximal hinge and intermediate hinges enable the clip arms to flex and pivot in a controlled manner, transitioning from an open configuration to a fully closed state through staged motion. This dynamic behavior allows the clip to adapt to tissue contours and achieve secure clamping with reduced closure force, avoiding the scissoring action that causes tissue damage in rigid clip designs.
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
Enables secure clamping of tissue with minimal force, reducing tissue damage and procedural complexity in minimally invasive surgeries.
Implementation Method 1
such clips may be fabricated from a resilient biocompatible material and may be released to resiliently clamp the vessel
Data Source
AI summary
A surgical ligation clip includes a first arm extending from a proximal end to a first distal end. The first arm includes a distal hook at the first distal end. The surgical ligation clip also includes a second arm extending from the proximal end to a second distal end. The second arm is pivotable relative to the first arm about a proximal hinge to clamp tissue between the first and second arms. The second arm includes a proximal portion and a distal portion. The distal portion is pivotable relative to the proximal portion about a distal hinge.