Aesculap

SQ.line® Laparoscopic clip applicators

The ^Aesculap® SQ.^line® clip applicators are designed for precise and reliable laparoscopic vascular closure. Ergonomically designed instruments with reduced pressure points and integrated overload protection offer the surgeon safe, comfortable and low-fatigue handling.

Surgical procedures require a high degree of precision - and the demands placed on laparoscopic instruments such as the SQ.^line® clip applicators are correspondingly high. Surgeons rely on their instruments to achieve the best possible results for their patients. Their requirements reflect the high standards and great responsibility of their profession. That's why surgical instruments must be ergonomically designed and precisely balanced to ensure control, accuracy and tactility.

Design Award

Medical Design Process

Design for Manufacturing

Rapid Prototyping

Product Design

Medical Design

Task

Procedure

Result

The modular system reduces operational complexity.

A universal grip, suitable for hand sizes 6-9, can be combined with all stock variants. The clip magazines and the rotating star on the stocks are color-coded for clear, self-explanatory identification and assignment.

The clip applicator can be disassembled into three parts by simply pressing the disassembly button with the lock symbol. The shaft, the push rod inside and the handle can be cleaned separately. When the shaft is fitted in the working position, the metal locking elements produce a precise clicking sound. Not only does this feel very high quality, it also provides clear confirmation that everything has been fitted correctly. In order to create a particularly durable and reliable instrument, the handle elements are made from as few individual parts of PEEK and stainless steel as possible.

Generous contact surfaces and soft transitions reduce pressure points in all ergonomically relevant areas. Precisely defined distances also prevent the risk of pinching. The other areas have been designed as clearly and straightforwardly as possible to emphasize the precise and high-quality impression.

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Red Dot Best of the Best

The Reddot jury was also impressed and awarded the best of the best award 2025 with 98 out of a possible 100 points. Quote: "The clip applicators of the Aesculap SQ.^line® inspire with perfection in materiality, ergonomics and functionality. Mechanical stability, tactile feedback and a reduced, functional design interlock in such a way that the instrument is experienced as a natural extension of the hand. The manufacturing quality, consistent ergonomics and depth of detail set high standards for surgical instruments." Perfect tools do not demand attention. They fulfill their purpose - precisely, reliably, naturally.

design process:

After an initial idea and sketch phase, very simple cardboard models were created to test and evaluate angles and hand sizes. The dimensions were then transferred to initial, editable CAD models, which were used to create 3D prints. This allowed increasingly precise adjustments to be made and made directly tangible. At the same time, the design was further detailed, markings developed and the free-form surfaces optimized. Finally, numerous users were surveyed using near-series models and the feedback was implemented and checked in several loops.