Tissue Clip Deployment via Control Wire Actuation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current medical procedures for deploying multiple surgical clips are time-consuming and costly due to the need to repeatedly introduce and remove a clipping device to deploy each clip individually.

Innovation Solution

A clipping device with a flexible insertion member that houses multiple clips, where each clip has jaws coupled by a collapsible member and a control wire, allowing for sequential deployment of clips through a tortuous path within the body, with the control wire actuating the jaws to lockingly engage tissue and release the clips.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If a single clipping device is used to deploy multiple clips, then the productivity and efficiency of the procedure is improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveclip deployment efficiencyVSAvoidinsertion member structure
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The insertion member is segmented into multiple independent clip deployment units, each capable of deploying a clip individually. This segmentation allows multiple clips to be deployed through a single insertion member while maintaining operational simplicity for each individual clip deployment.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Multiple clips are nested within the insertion member in a compact arrangement, allowing them to be transported and deployed through a single access point. The clips are positioned in sequence within the insertion member, enabling sequential deployment without requiring device removal and reinsertion.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

2Device complexity

If clips are deployed sequentially through repeated insertion and removal of the device, then the device complexity is reduced, but the loss of time increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveclipping system structureVSAvoidprocedural time
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The insertion member enables continuous deployment of multiple clips without requiring removal from the body. The operator can sequentially actuate each clip's jaws by manipulating the control element, maintaining continuous useful action and eliminating repeated insertion/removal cycles that waste time.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #20Continuity of useful action

Solution Approach 2:

Multiple clips are pre-positioned within the insertion member before insertion into the body. This preliminary arrangement of multiple clips within the single insertion member allows sequential deployment without repeated device manipulation, thereby reducing procedural time while maintaining manageable device complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Ease of operation

If multiple clips are deployed using separate clipping devices, then the ease of operation is improved, but the loss of time and procedural complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveindividual clip deploymentVSAvoidtotal procedure time
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The insertion member is designed as a universal platform that can deploy multiple clips through a single device structure. Each clip within the insertion member can be independently actuated using the same control mechanism, providing multi-functionality that maintains ease of operation for each clip while reducing total procedure time by eliminating repeated device insertions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentEP3116413B1Apparatus for clipping tissue
Publication Date: 2018.06.06 BOSTON SCIENTIFIC SCIMED INC
  • EP3116413B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3116413B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3116413B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4

AI summary

A system for clipping tissue includes a clip (106) having first (110) and second (112) jaws. Each of the first and second jaws defines an opening (114) through which a control wire (104) passes. A collapsible member (116) is coupled between the first and second jaws. The member is biased to urge the first and second jaws away from one another along an axis of the control wire to a first expanded configuration. The first and second jaws are movable against the bias of the member via the control wire to a second contracted configuration in which the first and second jaws are moved along the axis of the control wire toward one another to lockingly engage tissue received therebetween. The movement of control wire causes a corresponding movement of the first jaw relative to the second jaw to move the first and second jaws from the first expanded configuration to the second contracted configuration.