Transparent Over-the-Scope Clip Holder for Multi-Clip Deployment
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current endoscopic closure devices, such as over-the-scope clips, are difficult to use, time-consuming, and insufficient for certain perforations and anatomies, requiring multiple insertions and reloads to apply multiple clips due to lack of visibility during deployment.
Innovation Solution
A clipping system with a holder mounted over an endoscope's distal end, featuring a transparent clip holder with multiple clips in an open configuration, allowing visual alignment, and a pusher element for independent deployment of each clip, enabling multiple clips to be applied without reinsertion.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If current over-the-scope clips are used, then tissue closure can be achieved, but the operator cannot see the clip during deployment and must rely on target tissue visualization only
Solution Approach 1:
The holder is made transparent or translucent, allowing the operator to visually detect the position and status of clips during deployment. This transparency enables continuous visual feedback without obstructing the view of target tissue, resolving the contradiction between clip visibility and ease of operation.
2Reliability
If multiple clips are needed to treat tissue defects, then better closure can be achieved, but current devices require removing the endoscope, reloading, and reinserting for each additional clip
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments multiple clips onto a single holder that remains attached to the endoscope. Each clip can be independently deployed by advancing the pusher element, allowing sequential application of multiple clips without removing or reloading the endoscope. This segmentation resolves the contradiction between effective tissue closure requiring multiple clips and procedural time loss from repeated insertions.
Solution Approach 2:
Multiple clips are pre-loaded onto the holder before insertion. The clips are positioned in advance on the holder in a ready-to-deploy state, eliminating the need for time-consuming reloading operations during the procedure. This preliminary preparation enables efficient sequential deployment while maintaining reliable tissue closure.
3Productivity
If clips are deployed without visual confirmation of clip position, then deployment speed may be maintained, but precision and accuracy of clip placement are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The transparent holder allows real-time visual confirmation of clip position relative to target tissue during deployment. The operator can see both the clip on the holder and the target tissue simultaneously, enabling precise positioning while maintaining deployment speed through continuous visual feedback rather than requiring separate visualization steps.
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
Facilitates efficient and precise application of multiple clips to tissue defects with improved visibility and reduced procedural time, enhancing the effectiveness of endoscopic procedures.
Implementation Method 1
each clip being independently deployable from the holder so that, upon release of the clip from the holder, the clip is permitted to revert to a biased closed configuration
Data Source
AI summary
A clipping system includes a pusher element, a holder mounted over an insertion device and clips stacked along a length of the holder. The holder includes a longitudinally channel. Each clip extends along a curvature defining a tissue-receiving space therewithin and extends about the holder with an exterior surface of the holder holding the clip open with the first and second ends of the clip separated from one another to receive a tissue therein. Each clip is independently deployable from the holder so that, upon release of the clip from the holder, the clip reverts to a closed configuration. In the closed configuration, the first and second ends are moved toward one another to reduce a size of the tissue-receiving space so that tissue is gripped therewithin. The element is mounted over the holder and moved distally along the holder to independently deploy each clips.