Apparatus for securing an electrophysiology probe to a clamp

• US 20030158549A1
• Filed: 02/19/2002
• Published: 08/21/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 02/19/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Atricure, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Endoscopic Technologies Incorporated (Atricure, Inc.)
• Inventors: Swanson, David K.
• Granted Patent: US 7,753,908 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/41
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1445 at the distal end of a shaft, e.g. forceps or scissors at the end of a rigid rod
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1482 having a long rigid shaft for accessing the inner body transcutaneously in minimal invasive surgery, e.g. laparoscopy
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00296 mounted on an endoscope
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2829 with a removable cover
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2945 Curved jaws
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00125 with nanostructure
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00351 Heart
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00577 Ablation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1432 curved

Abstract

An apparatus for use with a clamp including a base member configured to be secured to the clamp and at least one energy transmission device carried by the base member. An apparatus for use with a clamp and a probe that carries at least one energy transmission device including a base member configured to be secured to the clamp and an engagement device associated with the base member and configured to engage the probe. A clamp including first and second clamp members, at least one of which is malleable, and a movement apparatus that moves at least one of the first and second clamp members relative to the other. A surgical system including a clamp with first and second clamp members and a device that removably mounts at least one electrode on at least one of the first and second clamp members.

Claims

1. An apparatus for use with a clamp including first and second clamp members and a probe including a probe body and at least one energy transmission device carried by the probe body, the apparatus comprising:

a base member configured to be removably secured to at least one of the first and second clamp members; and

an engagement device associated with the base member and configured to releasably engage the probe.

2. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the base member includes a longitudinally extending aperture configured to receive the first clamp member.

3. An apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein the first clamp member and the longitudinally extending aperture are respectively sized and shaped such that the base member will stretch when the first clamp member is inserted into the longitudinally extending aperture.

4. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the base member includes a longitudinally extending aperture configured to receive both of the first and second clamp members.

5. An apparatus as claimed in claim 4, wherein the first and second clamp members and the longitudinally extending aperture are respectively sized and shaped such that the base member will stretch when the first and second clamp members are inserted into the longitudinally extending aperture.

6. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the base member includes a base member mating structure configured to mate with the first clamp member.

7. An apparatus as claimed in claim 6, wherein the base member mating structure comprises a relatively narrow portion and a relatively wide portion.

8. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the base member includes first and second base member mating structures respectively configured to mate with the first and second clamp members.

9. An apparatus as claimed in claim 8, wherein the first and second base member mating structures each comprise a relatively narrow portion and a relatively wide portion.

10. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the base member comprises a substantially electrically insulating base member.

11. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the base member comprises a resilient base member.

12. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the engagement device comprises a slot defined by the base member.

13. An apparatus as claimed in claim 12, wherein the slot defines a partial circle.

14. An apparatus as claimed in claim 12, wherein the probe defines a probe perimeter and the slot defines an arc that is smaller than the probe perimeter.

15. An apparatus as claimed in claim 14, wherein the arc is greater than one-half of the probe perimeter.

16. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the base member defines a first base member configured to be removably secured to the first clamp member and the engagement device defines a first engagement device, the apparatus further comprising:

a second base member configured to be removably secured to the second clamp member; and

a second engagement device associated with the second base member and configured to releasably engage a second probe.

17. An apparatus for use with a clamp including first and second clamp members and a probe including a probe body and at least one energy transmission device carried by the probe body, the apparatus comprising:

a base member;

support means for removably securing the base member to at least one of the first and second clamp members; and

an engagement device associated with the base member and configured to releasably engage the probe.

18. An apparatus as claimed in claim 17, wherein the base member comprises a substantially electrically insulating base member.

19. An apparatus as claimed in claim 17, wherein the base member comprises a resilient base member.

20. An apparatus as claimed in claim 17, wherein the engagement device comprises a slot defined by the base member.

21. An apparatus as claimed in claim 20, wherein the slot defines a partial circle.

22. An apparatus as claimed in claim 20, wherein the probe defines a probe perimeter and the slot defines an arc that is smaller than the probe perimeter.

23. An apparatus as claimed in claim 22, wherein the arc is greater than one-half of the probe perimeter.