Suture Clips With Stepped Slots For Rail Alignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Suture clip deployment during surgical procedures is time-consuming and prone to errors due to misalignment on the rail, leading to inconsistent tensioning and potential device jamming, especially in endoscopic surgeries where knot-tying is complex and requires multiple surgeons.
Innovation Solution
The introduction of suture clips with stepped slots that align properly on a rail, preventing tilting or shifting, combined with rounded edges to reduce particulate matter risks, and a resilient design for secure suture engagement, ensuring consistent and reliable deployment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If suture clips are deployed individually during surgical procedures, then each clip can be secured to sutures, but the process becomes time-consuming and prone to inconsistent tensioning
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple suture clips are combined into a single integrated deployment device with a common rail, allowing multiple clips to be deployed simultaneously or in rapid succession without reloading, thereby improving both consistency and speed of deployment
2Productivity
If suture clips are mounted on a rail for multi-clip deployment, then deployment speed increases, but clips can become misaligned causing malfunction and device jamming
Solution Approach 1:
The clips are pre-aligned on the rail during assembly before deployment, with alignment features such as slots and protrusions that ensure proper positioning is established in advance, preventing misalignment during the deployment process
3Reliability
If clips are secured tightly to sutures, then securement is reliable, but particulate matter can come loose from the clips and harm the patient
Solution Approach 1:
The engagement edges of the clips are rounded instead of sharp, which maintains secure grip on the sutures while eliminating stress concentration points that could cause particulate matter to break loose and harm the patient
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 solution enhances the reliability and speed of suture securement by maintaining clip alignment, reducing the risk of misalignment and particulate damage, thereby improving surgical efficiency and safety.
Implementation Method 1
The stepped portions can define bracketing surfaces that interface with the surfaces of a rail on which the clips are mounted, such that the bracketing surfaces prevent or limit the freedom of the clips from tilting or rotating or shifting relative to the rail
Implementation Method 2
Disclosed suture clips also include rounded, smooth suture engagement edges that reduce the risk of particulate matter coming loose from the clips and harming a patient
Implementation Method 3
As each clip is deployed off of the rail and onto a suture, the tabs resiliently flex closed and pinch the suture, securing the suture from pulling back through the tissue
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed suture clips include a generally disk-shaped body having an annular outer body, first and second tabs extending radially inwardly from opposing sides of the annular outer body, first and second slots passing through a thickness of the suture clip and separating the annular outer body from lateral sides of the first and second tabs, and the first and second slots include stepped portions configured to align the suture clip on a rail of a clip deployment device. The stepped slots create bracketing surfaces that interface with the rail on which the clips are mounted, such that the bracketing surfaces prevent or limit the freedom of the clips from tilting or shifting relative to the rail. The disclosed clips can also include rounded edges on engagement surfaces of the tabs to minimize particulate formation.