Wire Section Holding Mechanism for Surgical Clamp Production

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing devices for producing surgical clips from wire sections face issues with dimensional inaccuracies and excessive scrap material due to wire shifting or twisting during the bending and cutting process.

Innovation Solution

A device with a holding mechanism that grips the wire section between two cutting punches, ensuring precise cutting and bending without material loss, utilizing a bending device with adjustable pressure rollers and an anvil to form clips with repeat accuracy of 1/100 millimeter, and a feed system with straightening rollers to align the wire.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If the wire section is held in a clamped manner during bending, then position shifts are reduced, but the free ends must be shortened resulting in large scrap material

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveposition accuracyVSAvoidscrap material
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSLoss of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The holding device grips the wire section at the cutting location before the cut is made. This preliminary positioning ensures the wire section is accurately located at the bending position from the start, eliminating the need for subsequent shortening operations and preventing material waste while maintaining manufacturing precision.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The holding device is integrated into the cutting device, allowing the wire section to be gripped and held at the exact cutting location. This extraction of the holding function from a separate clamping mechanism enables precise positioning without requiring additional material removal or shortening operations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

2Productivity

If the wire section is cut off from a longer piece of wire, then continuous wire feeding is achieved, but position shifts and twisting occur during cutting

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontinuous feedingVSAvoidposition accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The holding device grips the wire section at the cutting location before the cut is made. This preliminary positioning ensures the wire section is accurately located at the bending position from the start, eliminating position shifts during the cutting operation while maintaining continuous wire feeding capability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The holding device acts as an intermediary between the cutting punches and the wire section. It provides a stable reference point that prevents twisting and position shifts during cutting, ensuring manufacturing precision is maintained even as wire sections are continuously cut and fed through the system.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Manufacturing precision

If the wire section is held permanently during cutting and bending, then repeat accuracy of 1/100 millimeter is achieved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improverepeat accuracyVSAvoidholding mechanism
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The holding device is merged with the cutting device, allowing the same mechanism to perform both holding and cutting functions. This integration reduces overall device complexity while achieving repeat accuracy of 1/100 millimeter through permanent holding during cutting and bending operations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The holding device serves multiple functions: it grips the wire section before cutting, holds it during cutting, positions it for bending, and maintains holding until the bent clip is fed to the insertion device. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate mechanisms while achieving high repeat accuracy.

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

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 achieves precise cutting and bending with minimal scrap material, ensuring repeat accuracy and preventing wire twisting, thereby reducing production tolerances and material waste.

Implementation Method 1

By acting on the free ends of the wire section that protrude on both sides, these are bent over by the pressure rollers and pressed against the longitudinal sides of the anvil.

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElastic deformation: Elasticity

Implementation Method 2

the holding device is designed in the manner of tongs and has a holding area that can be brought from a holding position into an open position against a restoring force

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectSpring force: Spring

Implementation Method 3

these are bent over by the pressure rollers and pressed against the longitudinal sides of the anvil

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectMechanical pressure: Compression

Data Source

PatentEP2969295B1Device and method for producing clamps bent from wire sections
Publication Date: 2017.03.29 ETHICON ENDO SURGERY INC
  • EP2969295B1 patent drawingFigure 1~3
  • EP2969295B1 patent drawingFigure 4~5
  • EP2969295B1 patent drawingFigure 6~9

AI summary

The invention relates to a device (1) for producing clamps (3) bent from wire sections (2), in particular surgical clamps, having a bending device (22) for bending a wire section (2), having a feed device (4) for a wire (5) having a cutting device (6) for separating a wire section (2) from the fed wire (5). The cutting device (6) has two cutting stamps (11) for cutting the wire (5). A holding device (14) is provided for gripping and holding the wire section (2) between the two cutting stamps (11) before separating the wire section (2) and for positioning the separated wire section (2) on a bending device (22) and for feeding the wire section (2) bent into the clamp to a device (33) for inserting the clamp (3) into a cartridge (34) or a clamp storage (35).