Surgical Clamp with Elastomeric Strap for Keyhole Ligation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current surgical ligation methods during keyhole surgery, such as using nylon tape or sutures, are time-consuming and often require additional assistance, and existing tools lack the ability to be efficiently deployed and controlled by a single surgeon.
Innovation Solution
A surgical clamp assembly comprising a deployable clamp with a grippable strap, a deployment tube, and a manipulator that allows the clamp to transition from a constrained straight condition to a curled condition within the patient, featuring a latching arrangement and drive assembly for precise control, enabling single-handed operation and reduced skill requirement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If nylon tape or sutures are used for ligation, then ligation can be achieved, but the procedure is time-consuming and requires considerable skill
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the complex suturing process and replaces it with a pre-formed clamp device that can be deployed through a keyhole incision. The clamp is delivered ready-made through the deployment tube, eliminating the need for time-consuming suturing operations while maintaining reliable ligation through its clamping mechanism
Solution Approach 2:
The deployment tube acts as an intermediary device that enables the clamp to be delivered through a small keyhole incision. This intermediary mechanism allows the clamp to reach the surgical site without requiring large incisions or complex manual manipulation, thereby reducing procedure time while ensuring reliable delivery and deployment
2Reliability
If nylon tape or sutures are used for ligation, then ligation can be achieved, but considerable skill is required
Solution Approach 1:
The clamp is designed to be self-forming and self-ligating once deployed. The elastomeric body automatically forms a loop around the lumen and the clamping mechanism automatically secures it, eliminating the need for the surgeon to perform complex suturing maneuvers. This self-service capability reduces skill requirements while maintaining reliable ligation
Solution Approach 2:
The invention removes the need for complex suturing skills by replacing the suture-based ligation method with a pre-engineered clamp device. The clamp contains all necessary functional elements (clamping surfaces, locking mechanism, deployment structure) integrated into a single device that can be operated with minimal skill
3Ease of operation
If an additional assistant is used to manipulate the uterus, then access and visual operative fields are improved, but device complexity and procedural complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The clamp is designed to be deployed through a keyhole incision from a remote location, utilizing the spatial dimension created by the deployment tube. This allows the clamp to reach and manipulate structures (such as the uterus) from an external approach, improving access to operative fields without requiring additional assistants to manipulate structures internally
4Object-affected harmful factors
If the clamp is delivered through keyhole surgery, then minimally invasive approach is achieved, but precise control and manipulation become more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The deployment tube serves as an intermediary that provides a controlled environment for delivering and manipulating the clamp. It guides the clamp through the keyhole incision and allows the surgeon to control clamp deployment and positioning from outside the body, maintaining precise control while achieving minimally invasive delivery
Solution Approach 2:
The clamp incorporates an elastomeric body with inherent flexibility and elasticity that allows it to dynamically adapt to the anatomical structures it encounters. This dynamic property enables the clamp to be manipulated through the constrained keyhole approach while maintaining the ability to securely clamp target structures once deployed
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
Facilitates efficient and precise temporary ligation of bodily lumens with reduced need for additional assistance, improving surgical efficiency and reducing the complexity of the procedure.
Implementation Method 1
the elastomeric body is biased to move from a constrained generally straight condition within the deployment tube to an unrestrained curled condition within a patient
Data Source
AI summary
A surgical clamp assembly 100 for use in keyhole surgery is disclosed. The assembly includes: a surgical clamp 10 for forming a clamping loop around a bodily lumen 8. The clamp includes: a strap 20, the strap including an elongate grippable portion 23; and a head 30 including a gripper 40, the gripper having an open mouth, the open mouth shaped to allow lateral entry of the strap into the gripper so as to form the clamping loop. The assembly further includes: a deployment tube 60 for deploying the clamp through a keyhole; and a manipulator 70 for manipulating the clamp through the deployment tube. The elongate body is biased to move from a constrained generally straight condition within the deployment tube to an unrestrained curled condition within a patient. A surgical clamp assembly, that includes a surgical clamp is also disclosed.