Reloadable Endoscopic Clip Assembly for Repeated Tissue Clipping

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing endoscopic clipping devices require multiple devices for delivering and deploying hemostasis clips, limiting their reusability and efficiency in treating tissue pathologies.

Innovation Solution

A reloadable endoscopic clipping system with a clip assembly that can be loaded onto an applicator, featuring a malleable element crimped over a control member to move between tissue receiving and gripping configurations, allowing for multiple deployments using the same applicator.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If multiple separate devices are used for delivering and deploying hemostasis clips, then the reliability of clip delivery is improved, but the device complexity and procedural efficiency deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveclip delivery reliabilityVSAvoidnumber of devices required
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines the clip delivery function and clip deployment function into a single integrated applicator device. The applicator includes a control member that can deliver the clip assembly to the tissue site and then actuate the clip arms to close and secure the tissue, eliminating the need for separate delivery and deployment devices while maintaining reliable clip delivery through the integrated design

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Reliability

If multiple separate devices are used for delivering and deploying hemostasis clips, then the reliability of clip delivery is improved, but the productivity and procedural efficiency deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveclip delivery reliabilityVSAvoidprocedural efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The integrated applicator allows the operator to perform both clip delivery and deployment in a single continuous action, improving productivity by eliminating the time and steps required to switch between separate delivery and deployment devices while maintaining the reliability of clip delivery through the unified design

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Device complexity

If a non-reloadable applicator is used, then the device complexity is reduced, but the loss of time and procedural efficiency worsen due to device replacement

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveapplicator structureVSAvoidtime for device replacement
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The applicator is designed with a reloadable clip assembly that can be detached and replaced. The control member can be disengaged from the clip assembly and reattached to a new clip assembly, allowing the expensive or complex applicator body to be reused while only the consumable clip assembly is discarded and replaced, thereby reducing time loss compared to replacing the entire device

Inventive Principle:
Principle #34Discarding and recovering

Data Source

PatentEP4349280B1System for treating tissue
Publication Date: 2025.12.31 BOSTON SCIENTIFIC SCIMED INC
  • EP4349280B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP4349280B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP4349280B1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

The present invention relates to a system for treating tissue, comprising an applicator including a catheter extending longitudinally from a proximal end to a distal end and including a lumen extending therethrough, a control member extending through the lumen of the catheter, and a clip assembly releasably coupleable to a distal end of the applicator, the clip assembly including a pair of clip arms, proximal ends of which are slidably received within a channel of a capsule, a pair of opposing coupling elements extending proximally from the proximal ends of the clip arms and being crimped over the distal end of the control member so that the clip arms are movable relative to the capsule via a longitudinal motion of the control member between a tissue receiving configuration, in which distal ends of the clip arms are separated from one another, and a tissue clipping configuration, in which distal ends of the clip arms are moved toward one another, wherein the proximal ends of the clip arms are connected to one another via a connector including a proximal portion and distal portion connected to one another via a separable link designed to separate when a predetermined threshold force is exerted thereon.