Segmented Surgical Clamp Jaws for Reliable Vessel Occlusion
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current surgical clamping devices for minimally invasive cardiac procedures lack reliable and strong clamping force, are difficult to operate through small access sites, and often require significant space, posing risks of blood loss if they slip or release.
Innovation Solution
A surgical device with pivotable clamp jaws and actuator interfaces, featuring channels for sutures secured by mechanical fasteners, allowing for precise control and easy manipulation through small incisions, and incorporating alignment guides for accurate positioning.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If traditional surgical clamping devices are used for minimally invasive procedures, then access to the heart is obtained, but the clamping force is insufficient and the device is difficult to operate through small incisions
Solution Approach 1:
The surgical device is divided into separate components: a clamp assembly with clamp jaws and a separate actuator assembly connected via a control cable. This segmentation allows the actuator to be manipulated through a small incision while the clamp jaws apply force directly to the blood vessel, resolving the contradiction between ease of operation and clamping force reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
A control cable serves as an intermediary element transmitting force from the actuator (manipulated through the incision) to the clamp jaws (applying force to the vessel). This intermediary mechanism enables reliable clamping force delivery while maintaining ease of operation through the small access site.
2Area of stationary object
If traditional clamping devices are used, then clamping function is provided, but the device requires significant space and is difficult to manipulate through small incisions
Solution Approach 1:
The device is segmented into a compact clamp assembly that can be positioned at the target site and a separate actuator assembly that remains outside the body. This allows the overall device to fit through small incisions while maintaining full clamping functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The actuator is positioned in a different spatial dimension (outside the body) and connected to the clamp jaws via a flexible control cable. This dimensional separation allows the device to operate through small incisions without requiring significant surgical space.
3Ease of operation
If the clamping device is made more maneuverable for small incisions, then ease of operation improves, but the clamping force and reliability decrease
Solution Approach 1:
By separating the maneuverable actuator component from the force-applying clamp jaws, the device achieves both high maneuverability (actuator through incision) and high clamping force (jaws on vessel) without compromise.
Solution Approach 2:
The control cable acts as a force transmission intermediary that preserves clamping force while allowing the actuator to be highly maneuverable through the small incision. The cable transmits force effectively despite the spatial separation and maneuverability requirements.
Data Source
AI summary
A surgical clamping device is disclosed, having a first clamp jaw and a second clamp jaw, each having one or more channels configured for receiving suture for reliably securing the clamp jaws to maintain a clamping pressure during a surgical procedure, as well as to reliably and releasably secure the clamp jaws onto the introducer shaft of the clamping device. Also described are clamp jaws having one or more actuator interfaces and alignment guides configured for reversible and slidable engagement with an actuator at the end of an articulating introducer shaft. Also described are various features of clamp jaws for use with a surgical clamping device. Also disclosed is a surgical clamping device having detachable, pivotable first and second clamp jaws releasably held on pivotable fingers at a proximal end of an articulating introducer shaft. Related methods of surgical clamping procedures are also disclosed.