Surgical Clip Spreading Device for Minimally Invasive Removal
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing surgical instruments face challenges in efficiently and safely removing incorrectly positioned surgical clips from hollow organs, especially in endoscopic procedures, due to their small size and lack of undercuts or protruding components for grasping.
Innovation Solution
A surgical instrument with a spreading device that transitions from a minimal cross-sectional insertion position to a clip receiving position and then to a spreading position, allowing for secure grip and removal of clips through a minimally invasive access, utilizing movable clip receiving stops to spread and hold the clips open, and optionally close them for removal.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Length of moving object
If a surgical instrument is designed with a compact structure for minimally invasive access, then it can be inserted through small access points, but it becomes difficult to grasp and spread small surgical clips without additional instruments
Solution Approach 1:
The surgical clip is nested within the spreading device's clip receptacle, allowing the instrument to maintain a compact profile for minimally invasive access while containing the functionality to grasp and spread clips. The receptacle opens to receive the clip and then closes to contain it during the spreading operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The spreading device features movable distal clip receiving stops that can be positioned at different distances from the proximal stop, allowing dynamic adjustment of the clip receiving space. This enables the device to adapt to different clip sizes and spreading requirements while maintaining a compact insertion profile.
2Ease of operation
If the clip receptacle is kept open to receive and spread clips, then clips can be easily grasped and spread, but the cross-sectional area increases making minimally invasive access difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The spreading device is segmented into movable components, particularly the distal clip receiving stops that can be positioned independently. This segmentation allows the device to open sufficiently to receive and spread clips while maintaining a compact overall structure that can pass through small access points.
Solution Approach 2:
The device transitions dynamically between a closed compact state for insertion and an open state for clip reception and spreading. The movable distal stops allow the device to open only when needed, minimizing the cross-sectional area during insertion while providing full functionality during the spreading operation.
3Reliability
If fixed clip receiving stops are used to secure clips, then clips are held securely, but the instrument cannot adapt to different clip sizes or spreading requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The distal clip receiving stops are made movable relative to the proximal stop, allowing the device to adapt to different clip sizes by adjusting the distance between stops. This dynamic adjustment capability provides versatility for different clip types while maintaining secure holding through the stop mechanism.
Solution Approach 2:
The spreading device is designed with adjustable parameters to handle multiple clip sizes and types universally. The movable distal stops allow the same device to accommodate various clip configurations, making the instrument versatile for different surgical applications while maintaining reliable clip securing.
4Adaptability or versatility
If the spreading device is designed with movable components for adaptability, then it can accommodate different clip sizes, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The device incorporates minimal movable components - specifically the distal clip receiving stops that can be positioned at different distances. This dynamic element provides adaptability for different clip sizes without requiring complex mechanisms, maintaining relative simplicity while achieving versatility.
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a surgical instrument for removing a surgical clip applied to a hollow organ, said clip comprising two clamping arms having two free ends and two ends connected to each other and defining a connection region, said instrument comprising a proximal and a distal end. In order to improve said surgical instrument such that surgical clips can be removed again in a simple manner after application, according to the invention a spreading device for capturing and spreading open an applied clip from an applied position to a released position is disposed at the distal end.