Surgical Ligation Clip with Oblique Flank and Sharpened Hook

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current surgical ligation clips are inefficient in piercing soft connective tissue and often cause tissue damage due to exposed sharpened edges, making them difficult to apply and remove during surgery, and may be left behind in patients.

Innovation Solution

A polymeric surgical ligation clip with a concave lower and upper leg, protruding teeth, a sharpened hook section for incising tissue, and an oblique flank to prevent damage, along with stress cavities and bosses for easy application, designed to efficiently penetrate and secure blood vessels while minimizing tissue irritation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If traditional blunt ligation clips are used, then tissue damage is reduced during application, but they fail to efficiently pierce soft connective tissue surrounding the blood vessel

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetissue piercing efficiencyVSAvoidtissue damage

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The clip incorporates a sharpened leading edge at the hook section for efficient tissue piercing, while the oblique flank provides a smooth, rounded surface that contacts the tissue to prevent damage. This local differentiation of surface properties allows the same device to both penetrate and protect tissue.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The sharpened leading edge, which could potentially cause tissue damage, is covered by the oblique flank during normal operation. The sharp edge is only exposed momentarily during insertion to enable penetration, then immediately protected. The potential harm of the sharp edge is converted into beneficial piercing capability that is controlled and temporary.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

2Productivity

If traditional ligation clips with exposed sharpened edges are used, then tissue piercing efficiency is improved, but the exposed edges cut, damage and irritate tissue during surgery

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetissue piercing efficiencyVSAvoidtissue irritation from exposed edges

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The sharp leading edge is temporarily exposed only during the insertion phase to enable efficient piercing, then immediately covered by the oblique flank during the ligation phase. This converts the potentially harmful sharp edge into a beneficial temporary piercing tool that is then protected from continued contact with tissue.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

Solution Approach 2:

The piercing action is performed preliminarily during insertion before the oblique flank engages with the tissue. The sharp edge does its work of penetration in advance, then the oblique flank takes over to provide a protective surface during the sustained ligation period.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Ease of operation

If traditional ligation clips are used, then ligation function is achieved, but removal is cumbersome and may result in clips being left in soft tissue or causing collateral damage

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveclip removal easeVSAvoidcollateral soft tissue damage during removal

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The hinge connection between legs allows the clip to dynamically open and close. During removal, the legs can be pried apart by inserting a tool into the gap between the oblique flank and the blood vessel, allowing controlled opening without forcing the clip off the vessel, reducing the risk of leaving the clip behind or causing collateral damage.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

4Reliability

If polymeric ligation clips are used instead of metal, then interference with imaging devices is prevented, but tissue piercing efficiency is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveimaging compatibilityVSAvoidtissue piercing efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The polymeric clip incorporates a localized sharpened leading edge on the hook section to provide efficient tissue piercing capability, while the rest of the clip body maintains polymeric material properties for imaging compatibility. This local differentiation allows the polymeric material to achieve metal-like piercing efficiency where needed while maintaining overall radiolucency and MRI safety.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentUS10258345B2Surgical ligation clip

Publication Date: 2019.04.16 BROWN GEOFF

AI summary

A polymeric, surgical clip is provided for clamping a blood vessel between two legs. A hook section of the clip comprises, in some embodiments, a sharpened forward edge and/or a sharpened rearward edge for penetrating connective tissue adjacent a vessel before closing the surgical about a blood vessel. The upper leg of the surgical clip may comprise an oblique flank for disposing over the one or more edge of the hook section, preventing damage to soft connective tissue surrounding the surgical clip postoperatively.