LIGATING CLIP APPLICATOR ANALYSIS

Boston Engineering | Mechanical Engineer 1 | Jan - Feb 2022

OBJECTIVE

Analyze the construction and operation of the handheld ligating clip applicator to inform the feasibility effort determining how or whether the system could be adapted for use on a robotic platform.

Note: Images and descriptions are generalized to maintain client confidentiality.

SKILLS SNAPSHOT

PATENT RESEARCH

COMPETITIVE PRODUCT RESEARCH

REVERSE ENGINEERING

TEARDOWN

TEST FIXTURE DESIGN

DATA ANALYSIS

DESIGN STEPS

Patent landscape research to learn about the construction of the device before a destructive tear-down
Tearing down and documenting the design and assembly of the handheld ligating clip applicator
Designing and rapid prototyping a a fixture using a Mark-10 force gauge to measure the depression force necessary to fully deploy a ligating clip
- Plotting depression force applied over distance deployed
- Performing lever arm calculations to account for the geometry of the trigger in depression force measurements
- Calculated and plotted work done to fully deploy a ligating clip
Brainstormed approaches and requirements for adapting the ligating clip applicator, given the robotic platform's actuation specifications
Presented findings to project management, technical leadership, and clients

RESULTS

A well-documented and thorough understanding of the system's specifications and assembly
Force and work analysis proving feasibility of the system's adaptation to a robotic platform
Recommendations for technical approaches to adapt the system to a robotic platform, along with preliminary risk analyses
Presentation to leadership and clients

SKILLS DEMONSTRATED

Patent and competitive product research
Reverse-engineering and hands-on teardown
Test fixture design and data analysis
Presenting to technical and non-technical audiences

A similar handheld ligating clip applicator
(Image Credit: ConMed)

Mark-10 Force Gauge Used in Depression Force Test Fixture (Image Credit: US20110218554A1)