Surgical Clamp With Interfitting Jaw Housings For Graduated Force
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional surgical clamps face challenges in providing consistent and controlled clamping force, leading to potential damage to blood vessels due to varying pressure distribution and high mechanical advantage, which can result in complications like thrombosis and plaque dislodgement, and are costly and prone to metal fatigue.
Innovation Solution
A surgical clamp design featuring a two-piece body with interfitting top and bottom jaw housings, a lever for graduated movement, and a ratchet mechanism that allows for controlled closing and opening of the jaws, providing adjustable clamping force and reducing the risk of trauma.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Force
If conventional surgical clamps with ratchet or scissor mechanisms are used, then clamping force can be applied to occlude blood flow, but the force varies significantly and can be too high causing damage to blood vessels
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the traditional ratchet or scissor mechanical advantage system with a direct compression mechanism using two compressible members (springs) that independently apply force to the jaws. This substitution eliminates the mechanical advantage that causes excessive force while maintaining the ability to occlude blood flow through controlled compression.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the force application parameters by using two separate compressible members with adjustable pre-loads, allowing independent control of clamping force on each side of the blood vessel. This enables precise adjustment of compression parameters to achieve occlusion without exceeding damage thresholds.
2Force
If larger clamps with stronger springs are used for larger blood vessels, then blood flow occlusion is achieved, but the force becomes excessive for smaller vessels or vessels with varying tissue composition
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces dynamic adjustability through two independently adjustable compressible members, allowing the operator to vary the pre-load on each spring according to the specific requirements of the blood vessel size and surrounding tissue composition. This dynamic adjustment capability enables the same clamp to adapt to different vessel sizes and tissue types.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent enables parameter changes by allowing independent adjustment of the compression force for each compressible member, facilitating adaptation to different vessel diameters and tissue characteristics without requiring multiple clamp sizes.
3Force
If manually operated clamps are used, then clamping force can be applied, but the pressure is non-uniform along the clamping members causing damage from uneven pressure
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the manual operation mechanism that creates non-uniform pressure distribution with a balanced dual-spring compression system. The two compressible members are positioned to apply force symmetrically, ensuring uniform pressure distribution across the clamping surfaces and preventing localized stress concentrations.
4Reliability
If reusable metal surgical clamps are used, then cost is reduced compared to disposable clamps, but metal fatigue after repeated use can lead to cracks and infection
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a composite construction combining metal components for structural integrity with polymer or other non-metallic materials for the compressible members and contact surfaces. This composite approach maintains durability while eliminating metal fatigue-related infection risks, as the non-metallic components do not suffer from fatigue cracking.
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 clamp offers controlled and consistent clamping force, reducing the risk of vessel damage and plaque dislodgement, while being cost-effective and durable, with the ability to adjust force without mechanical advantage, providing tactile feedback to the user.
Implementation Method 1
Biasing is typically achieved via a spring, a ratchet mechanism or by hand depending on the type of clamping device
Implementation Method 2
A clamping member is positioned either side of the vein or artery, or either side of body tissue comprising the vein or artery, and the clamping members are biased towards each other to hold the vein, artery or body tissue therebetween. Biasing is typically achieved via a spring, a ratchet mechanism or by hand
Data Source
AI summary
A surgical clamp is disclosed. The surgical clamp comprises a two-piece body comprising atop jaw housing that inter-fits with a bottom jaw housing; the top jaw housing comprising a top jaw; the bottom jaw housing comprising a bottom jaw; the inter-fitting top jaw housing and bottom jaw housing disposed for movement relative to one another; a bias to the top jaw housing and bottom jaw housing apart; and a lever moveable between a lock position and an open position and the lever disposed to prevent opening movement of the top jaw housing relative to the bottom jaw housing and to allow graduated relative closing movement of the top jaw housing relative to the bottom jaw housing in the lock position and to allow opening and closing movement of the top jaw housing relative to the bottom jaw housing in the open position. The structure of the clamp is such that compressive force applied to one or more of the top jaw housing and the bottom jaw housing causes graduated closing movement of the top jaw housing and the bottom jaw housing to close the top jaw and the bottom jaw. The lever may comprise an axial arm and a lateral arm wherein the axial arm comprises one or more tooth or pawl disposed at a distal end of the axial arm and the lateral arm comprises a button disposed on a distal end of the lateral arm wherein pressing the button or the distal end pivots or moves the axial arm. The pivoting or movement may be oblique pivoting or movement and may disengage the one or more tooth from the rack.