Two-Part Hemostasis Clip Arms for Tight-Space GI Deployment

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current hemostatic clips are large and difficult to navigate through tight areas, making it challenging to deploy additional clips near already treated sites within the gastrointestinal tract.

Innovation Solution

A two-part arm design with a capsule that allows the proximal portions of the clip arms to be disengaged from the distal portions after deployment, reducing the clip size and enabling easier navigation, and a smaller capsule design to maintain the distal portions in the clipped configuration.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Stability of the object's composition

If current hemostatic clips use a capsule design long enough to contain the full length of tissue gripping arms, then the clips can maintain proper arm configuration during deployment, but the clips become large and difficult to navigate in tight areas

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveclip arm configuration stabilityVSAvoidclip size
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSLength of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The clip arm is divided into two separate parts: a proximal part that remains outside the body after deployment and a distal part that is retained within the capsule. This segmentation allows the capsule to be shorter while still maintaining the functional length of the clip arms during deployment, resolving the contradiction between configuration stability and navigable size.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The proximal part of the clip arm is extracted from the capsule after deployment. This extraction allows the capsule to be shortened for better navigation while the full-length clip arms are still available during the deployment process, addressing both the need for proper arm configuration and reduced clip size for navigation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

2Area of moving object

If current clips are made large to contain full-length gripping arms, then the arms can effectively close larger injured areas, but it becomes difficult to place additional clips near already treated sites

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetissue coverage areaVSAvoidclip placement difficulty
Core Design Contradiction:
Area of moving objectVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

By segmenting the clip arm into proximal and distal parts with only the distal part retained in the capsule, the overall clip size is reduced. This allows multiple clips to be placed in close proximity to each other along the gastrointestinal tract, enabling treatment of multiple bleeding sites without the clips interfering with each other.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Length of moving object

If the capsule is shortened to improve navigation, then the device can access tight areas more easily, but the mechanism to maintain arm configuration during deployment becomes more complex

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecapsule lengthVSAvoiddeployment mechanism complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Length of moving objectVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The segmentation of the clip arm into proximal and distal parts simplifies the capsule design, allowing it to be shorter while still containing the necessary distal portion for tissue engagement. The proximal part is released and removed after deployment, eliminating the need for a long capsule to accommodate the entire arm length.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The proximal part of the clip arm is discarded after serving its purpose during deployment. This allows the capsule to be shorter since it only needs to retain the distal part that remains in the body, reducing the complexity of the deployment mechanism while maintaining proper arm configuration.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #34Discarding and recovering

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 design facilitates easier deployment of hemostatic clips in tight spaces, allowing for efficient treatment of multiple bleeding sites within the gastrointestinal tract.

Implementation Method 1

The capsule includes a cam extending into the channel, the cam being sized and shaped to extend through a first longitudinal slot of the proximal part to releasably couple the clip arms to the capsule

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCam mechanism: Cam

Implementation Method 2

the first longitudinal slot defining a first pair of opposing portions biased toward one another

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElastic biasing: Elasticity

Implementation Method 3

the coupling mechanism includes a hook extending distally from an outer surface of the distal portion, the hook being removably received within a hook receiving space of the proximal part

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectMechanical fastening: Mechanical Fastener

Data Source

PatentEP3745966B1Hemostasis clip
Publication Date: 2025.09.10 BOSTON SCIENTIFIC SCIMED INC
  • EP3745966B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3745966B1 patent drawingFigure 3~5
  • EP3745966B1 patent drawingFigure 6~8

AI summary

A device (100) for treating tissue includes a capsule (108) defining a channel (106) extending therethrough and clip arms (104). Each of the arms (104) includes a proximal part (120) releasably coupled to a distal part (122), a proximal portion of the distal part (122) configured to be received within the channel (106) of the capsule (108) so that the arms (104) move proximally and distally relative to the capsule (108) between a tissue receiving configuration, in which distal ends (110) of the arms (104) are separated from one another, and a tissue clipping configuration, in which the distal ends (110) of the arms (104) are moved toward one another. The proximal part (120) of each of the arms (104) is configured to release from the corresponding distal part (122) to lock the distal part (122) of each of the arms (104) over a portion of target tissue to be clipped while the proximal parts (120) of the arms (104) are removed from the body.