Device for grasping and/or severing

• US 20050021079A1
• Filed: 06/21/2004
• Published: 01/27/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 06/20/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Take 5 Endotech, Co.
• Original Assignee: Interventional & Surgical Innovations, LLC
• Inventors: Moll, Franciscus Laurens, Kalmann, Menno
• Granted Patent: US 7,410,494 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/205
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/29 Forceps for use in minimally invasive surgery
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/295 combined with cutting implements
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/320016 Endoscopic cutting instruments, e.g. arthroscopes, resectoscopes A61B10/0233, A61B17/29, A61B17/3207 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/3201 Scissors for biopsy A61B10/02
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00353 one mechanical instrument performing multiple functions, e.g. cutting and grasping
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2933 camming or guiding means
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2943 Toothed members, e.g. rack and pinion

Abstract

A surgical device (101) for grasping and severing body tissue comprises a housing (140) which defines a proximal end (102) and a distal end (104), a user operating handle (160) at the proximal end (102), and two blade elements (110, 120) at the distal end (104). The user operating handle (160) may be activated to pivot the blade elements (110, 120) about two parallel grasping pivot axes to grasp a piece of body tissue which is located between the blade elements (110, 120). The user operating handle (160) may also be activated to pivot the blade elements (110, 120) about a severing pivot axis to sever a piece of body tissue which is located between the blade elements (110, 120).

Claims

1. A device for grasping and/or severing, the device comprising:

a first operative element and a second operative element;

at least one of the operative elements being pivotable about a grasping pivot axis for grasping an object located between the operative elements; and

at least one of the operative elements being pivotable about a severing pivot axis for severing an object located between the operative elements;

the grasping pivot axis intersecting the severing pivot axis.

2. A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the point of intersection of the grasping pivot axis with the severing pivot axis is in the region of the proximal end of each operative element.

3. A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the device comprises a housing defining a proximal end and a distal end, and the first operative element and the second operative element are provided at the distal end of the housing.

4. A device as claimed in claim 3 wherein the operative element is pivotable relative to the housing about the grasping pivot axis.

5. A device as claimed in claim 3 wherein the operative element is pivotable relative to the housing about the severing pivot axis.

6. A device as claimed in claim 3 wherein the first operative element is pivotable relative to the housing about a first grasping pivot axis, and the first operative element is pivotable relative to the housing about a first severing pivot axis.

7. A device as claimed in claim 6 wherein the second operative element is pivotable relative to the housing about a second grasping pivot axis, and the second operative element is pivotable relative to the housing about a second severing pivot axis.

8. A device as claimed in claim 7 wherein the first grasping pivot axis is parallel to the second grasping pivot axis.

9. A device as claimed in claim 7 wherein the first grasping pivot axis is spaced apart from the second grasping pivot axis.

10. A device as claimed in claim 7 wherein the first severing pivot axis is parallel to the second severing pivot axis.

11. A device as claimed in claim 7 wherein the first severing pivot axis is co-axial with the second severing pivot axis.

12. A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the device comprises at least one actuating element for controlling pivoting of the operative element from a proximal end of the device.

13. A device as claimed in claim 12 wherein the actuating element is translatable to control pivoting of the operative element.

14. A device as claimed in claim 12 wherein the device comprises a first actuating element connected to the operative element for controlling pivoting of the operative element relative to the housing about the grasping pivot axis.

15. A device as claimed in claim 14 wherein the first actuating element is connected to the first operative element for controlling pivoting of the first operative element relative to the housing about the first grasping pivot axis, and the first actuating element is connected to the second operative element for controlling pivoting of the second operative element relative to the housing about the second grasping pivot axis.

16. A device as claimed in claim 12 wherein the device comprises a second actuating element connected to the operative element for controlling pivoting of the operative element relative to the housing about the severing pivot axis.

17. A device as claimed in claim 16 wherein the second actuating element is connected to the first operative element for controlling pivoting of the first operative element relative to the housing about the first severing pivot axis, and the second actuating element is connected to the second operative element for controlling pivoting of the second operative element relative to the housing about the second severing pivot axis.

18. A device as claimed in claim 12 wherein the device comprises a third actuating element connected to the operative element for controlling pivoting of the operative element relative to the housing about the severing pivot axis.

19. A device as claimed in claim 18 wherein the third actuating element is connected to the first operative element for controlling pivoting of the first operative element relative to the housing about the first severing pivot axis, and the third actuating element is connected to the second operative element for controlling pivoting of the second operative element relative to the housing about the second severing pivot axis.

20. A device as claimed in claim 12 wherein one of the operative element or the actuating element comprises at least one male projection configured to be received in at least one corresponding female recess in the other of the actuating element or the operative element to connect the actuating element to the operative element.

21. A device as claimed in claim 20 wherein the operative element comprises the at least one male projection and the actuating element comprises the at least one corresponding female recess.

22. A device as claimed in claim 20 wherein the male projection is rotatably received in the corresponding female recess.

23. A device as claimed in claim 22 wherein the pivot axis extends through the male projection.

24. A device as claimed in claim 12 wherein the actuating element comprises a generally cylindrical part extending distally from a proximal end of the housing.

25. A device as claimed in claim 24 wherein the actuating element comprises one or more arms extending distally from a distal end of the cylindrical part to the distal end of the housing.

26. A device as claimed in claim 25 wherein the or each actuating element comprises two diametrically opposed arms.

27. A device as claimed in claim 25 wherein the actuating element is connected to the operative element at the one or more arms.

28. A device as claimed in claim 25 wherein the one or more arms of the first actuating element and the one or more arms of the second actuating element and the one or more arms of the third actuating element are configured to facilitate connection of each of the actuating elements to both the first operative element and the second operative element.

29. A device as claimed in claim 28 wherein the one or more arms of the actuating elements are staggered radially around the circumference of the operative elements.

30. A device as claimed in claim 12 wherein the device comprises two or more actuating elements and the actuating elements extend co-axially.

31. A device as claimed in claim 30 wherein the first actuating element is located radially outwardly of the second actuating element.

32. A device as claimed in claim 30 wherein the second actuating element is located radially outwardly of the third actuating element.

33. A device as claimed in claim 12 wherein the or each actuating element comprises a user control element at the proximal end of the device.

34. A device as claimed in claim 33 wherein the user control element comprises a handle.

35. A device as claimed in claim 12 wherein the housing comprises the first actuating element and the second actuating element and the third actuating element.

36. A device as claimed in claim 3 wherein the operative element comprises a support element pivotably connected to the distal end of the housing.

37. A device as claimed in claim 36 wherein the support element of the first operative element contacts the support element of the second operative element.

38. A device as claimed in claim 37 wherein the support element of the first operative element contacts the support element of the second operative element along a plane substantially parallel to the grasping pivot axis.

39. A device as claimed in claim 37 wherein the first operative element is pivotable relative to the housing about the first grasping pivot axis between a closed configuration and an open configuration for grasping an object:

in the closed configuration, the support element of the first operative element contacting the support element of the second operative element along a first base surface of the support element of the first operative element;

in the open configuration, the support element of the first operative element contacting the support element of the second operative element along a second base surface of the support element of the first operative element.

40. A device as claimed in claim 39 wherein the plane of the or each base surface is substantially parallel to the grasping pivot axis.

41. A device as claimed in claim 39 wherein the angle defined between the first base surface and the second base surface is less than 180 degrees.

42. A device as claimed in claim 39 wherein the angle defined between the first base surface and the second base surface is greater than 90 degrees.

43. A device as claimed in claim 39 wherein the support element comprises the first base surface, the second base surface and a curved surface.

44. A device as claimed in claim 36 wherein the support element is substantially hemi-spherical in shape.

45. A device as claimed in claim 36 wherein the support element comprises an apex projection projecting from an apex of the support element, a first side projection projecting from a first side of the support element, and a second side projection projecting from a second side of the support element.

46. A device as claimed in claim 45 wherein a first side projection and the second side projection protrude in opposite directions from an external surface of the support element.

47. A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the operative element comprises a blade element for grasping and/or severing an object.

48. A device as claimed in claim 47 wherein the blade element is formed integrally with the support element.

49. A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the grasping pivot axis is arranged substantially perpendicular to the severing pivot axis.

59. A surgical device for grasping and/or severing an object during a surgical procedure as claimed in claim 1.

50. A device for grasping and/or severing, the device comprising:

a housing defining a proximal end and a distal end; and

a first operative element and a second operative element at the distal end of the housing;

at least one of the operative elements being pivotable relative to the housing about a grasping pivot axis for grasping an object located between the operative elements; and

at least one of the operative elements being pivotable relative to the housing about a severing pivot axis for severing an object located between the operative elements;

the housing comprising a first actuating element, a second actuating element and a third actuating element;

the first actuating element being connected to the operative element, the severing pivot axis being defined by the connection of the first actuating element to the operative element; and

the second actuating element being connected to the operative element and the third actuating element being connected to the operative element, the grasping pivot axis being defined by the connections of the second actuating element and the third actuating element to the operative element.

51. A device as claimed in claim 50 wherein the actuating element is connected to the operative element by a pivot member.

52. A device as claimed in claim 51 wherein the operative element comprises a male projecting pivot member configured to be received in a corresponding female recess in the actuating element.

53. A device as claimed in claim 51 wherein the pivot axis extends through the pivot member.

54. A device for grasping and/or severing, the device comprising:

a housing defining a proximal end and a distal end; and

a first operative element and a second operative element at the distal end of the housing;

each operative element comprising a support block connected to the housing, and an elongate blade element extending distally from the support block;

at least one of the blade elements being movable relative to the housing in a grasping action to grasp an object located between the operative elements; and

at least one of the blade elements being movable relative to the housing in a severing action to sever an object located between the operative elements.

55. A device as claimed in claim 54 wherein the support block of the first operative element contacts the support block of the second operative element.

56. A device as claimed in claim 54 wherein the housing defines an inner lumen, and the two support blocks are at least partially located within the inner lumen in a snug fit.

57. A device as claimed in claim 56 wherein the two support blocks together have a combined cross-sectional area substantially equal to the cross sectional area of the inner lumen.

58. A device as claimed in claim 54 wherein the support block is substantially hemi-spherical in shape.

60. A surgical device comprising a first distal blade element and a second distal blade element for severing and/or grasping, and a proximal user operating part;

wherein the first blade element and the second blade element are movable relative to each other in a first direction in a grasping action, and in a second direction in a severing action;

wherein the first blade element extends from a first support element, and the second blade element extends from a second support element; and

wherein the support elements are movably coupled, and axes, about which said support elements are movable, intersect substantially at a centroid of a coupling defined by the support elements.

61. A surgical device comprising first and second distal operable elements and a proximal user operating part,

wherein the operable elements extend from first and second support elements;

wherein the operable elements are movable relative to each other in a plurality of directions; and

wherein the support elements are movably coupled, and axes, about which the support elements are movable, intersect substantially at a centroid of a coupling defined by the support elements.

62. A coupling comprising first and second support elements, which are movable relative to one another in a first direction in a grasping action and in a second direction in a severing action, and axes, about which the support elements are movable, intersect substantially at a centroid of the coupling.

63. A coupling as claimed in claim 62 wherein the coupling is generally spherical.

64. A coupling as claimed in claim 62 wherein each support element is generally hemispherical.

65. A method of grasping and/or severing, the method comprising the steps of:

providing a first operative element and a second operative element;

providing a first actuating element, a second actuating element and a third actuating element;

moving the first actuating element relative to the second actuating element and the third actuating element to pivot at least one of the operative elements to grasp an object located between the operative elements; and

moving the second actuating element relative to the first actuating element in a first direction and moving the third actuating element relative to the first actuating element in a second direction opposite to the first direction to pivot at least one of the operative elements to sever an object located between the operative elements.

66. A method as claimed in claim 65 wherein moving the first actuating element relative to the second actuating element and the third actuating element pivots the first operative element and the second operative element in opposite directions to grasp an object located between the operative elements.

67. A method as claimed in claim 65 wherein moving the second actuating element relative to the first actuating element in the first direction and moving the third actuating element relative to the first actuating element in the second direction pivots the first operative element and the second operative element in opposite directions to sever an object located between the operative elements.

68. A method as claimed in claim 65 wherein the actuating element is moved by translating the actuating element.

69. A surgical method of grasping and/or severing an object during a surgical procedure as claimed in claim 65.