Surgical Clip With Lateral Protrusions for Torsional Rigidity
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current surgical clips lack sufficient tissue-retaining capacity and torsional rigidity, making them less effective in certain surgical procedures, especially in endoscopic surgeries where space and visibility are limited.
Innovation Solution
The design of a surgical clip with elongated leg members featuring lateral protrusions and a hinge member, which increases the aspect ratio and stiffness, along with improved teeth configuration for enhanced tissue retention and a latching mechanism for secure closure, is introduced. The clip is made from a one-piece polymeric body, optimizing its structure for improved performance and ease of use.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If surgical clips use traditional simple leg member design, then the device complexity is low, but the tissue-retaining capacity and torsional rigidity are insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by adding lateral protrusions specifically at certain positions on the leg members rather than uniformly throughout. These protrusions create localized areas of increased width that enhance torsional rigidity where needed most, while keeping other portions of the structure simpler. The first leg member has lateral protrusions extending from its sides, creating regions where the width exceeds the thickness, providing targeted structural reinforcement without unnecessarily complicating the entire device.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs dimensionality change by adding lateral protrusions that extend in the lateral direction from the leg members. This transforms the basic linear structure into a three-dimensional form with varying cross-sectional dimensions. The protrusions create regions where width > thickness, adding dimensional complexity that directly increases torsional rigidity. This dimensional enhancement allows the clip to resist twisting forces more effectively while maintaining overall structural efficiency.
2Reliability
If surgical clips use traditional simple leg member design, then the device complexity is low, but the tissue-retaining capacity is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by adding lateral protrusions specifically at certain positions on the leg members rather than uniformly throughout. These protrusions create localized areas of increased width that enhance torsional rigidity where needed most, while keeping other portions of the structure simpler. The first leg member has lateral protrusions extending from its sides, creating regions where the width exceeds the thickness, providing targeted structural reinforcement without unnecessarily complicating the entire device.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs dimensionality change by adding lateral protrusions that extend in the lateral direction from the leg members. This transforms the basic linear structure into a three-dimensional form with varying cross-sectional dimensions. The protrusions create regions where width > thickness, adding dimensional complexity that directly increases torsional rigidity. This dimensional enhancement allows the clip to resist twisting forces more effectively while maintaining overall structural efficiency.
3Strength
If surgical clips are designed with wider leg members to increase stiffness, then the torsional rigidity is improved, but the compatibility with existing clip appliers may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by adding lateral protrusions specifically at certain positions on the leg members rather than uniformly throughout. These protrusions create localized areas of increased width that enhance torsional rigidity where needed most, while keeping other portions of the structure simpler. The first leg member has lateral protrusions extending from its sides, creating regions where the width exceeds the thickness, providing targeted structural reinforcement without unnecessarily complicating the entire device.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs partial action by adding lateral protrusions that extend only partially along the length of the leg members rather than for the entire length. The protrusions extend for at least half of the first length, which is sufficient to provide the needed torsional rigidity enhancement, but do not extend the entire length to maintain compatibility with existing applier devices. This partial enhancement achieves the desired mechanical improvement without excessive structural modification.
Data Source
AI summary
A surgical clip may include a first leg member having a first inner surface with a curvature, the first leg member having a first thickness in a vertical direction, a first width in a lateral direction, and a first length in a longitudinal direction, where the first width is greater than the first thickness along at least half of the first length. The surgical clip may also include a second leg member having a second inner surface with a curvature, the second leg member having a plurality of teeth. The first width may be defined by first and second lateral protrusion extending from opposing side surfaces of the first leg member. The first width may be greater than a second width of an inner portion of the first leg member and a third width of an outer portion of the first leg member.