Two-Part Surgical Clip Applier for Variable Vessel Crimping
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing surgical clip appliers struggle to deploy partially-formed clips that can crimp vessels without occluding them, or to securely retain catheters in vessels during procedures like cholangiograms.
Innovation Solution
A surgical clip applier with an elongated portion, drive shaft, and end effector, featuring a collar and distal housing that supports a two-part fastener, allowing for precise deployment and fixation of a two-part fastener to secure a catheter to a vessel without occluding it, using a C-shaped portion and apertures for leg support and movement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a traditional surgical clip is used to crimp a vessel, then the vessel is occluded, but the ability to allow fluid flow (e.g., during cholangiograms) is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The surgical clip is divided into two separate parts: a C-shaped clip portion and a base portion. The C-shaped portion can be selectively engaged with the base portion to provide variable crimping. When engaged, it secures the vessel; when disengaged or partially engaged, it allows fluid flow. This segmentation enables the clip to adapt between occlusion and non-occlusion states based on procedural needs.
2Ease of operation
If a surgical clip applier is designed to deploy standard clips, then deployment is straightforward, but it cannot securely retain catheters in vessels without occluding them
Solution Approach 1:
The applier is designed with movable components including a movable collar and a movable distal housing that can slide relative to each other along the longitudinal axis. This dynamic structure allows the applier to securely hold both the C-shaped clip portion and the base portion during deployment, then release them in a controlled manner to enable variable crimping and catheter retention without permanent occlusion.
3Adaptability or versatility
If a two-part fastener system is implemented to allow variable crimping, then adaptability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The two-part fastener system integrates the C-shaped clip portion and the base portion with the applier's movable collar and distal housing. The collar supports the base portion while the distal housing supports the C-shaped portion, and their relative movement enables engagement and disengagement of the fastener parts. This merging of the fastener components with the applier's existing movable structures achieves variable crimping capability without proportionally increasing overall device complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
A surgical clip applier includes an elongated portion, a drive shaft, and an end effector. The drive shaft extends at least partially through the elongated portion. The end effector is disposed adjacent a distal end of the elongated portion, and includes a collar and a distal housing. The collar is coupled to the drive shaft and is movable relative to the distal housing. The collar is configured to support a base of a two-part fastener. The distal housing includes a leg and a C-shaped portion extending from a distal end of the leg. The C-shaped portion is configured to support a clip of the two-part fastener.