Surgical clamp

• US 20060084974A1
• Filed: 10/19/2005
• Published: 04/20/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 10/20/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Atricure, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Atricure, Inc.
• Inventors: Privitera, Salvatore, Hughett, James David Sr., Miller, Kenneth Lance Sr.
• Granted Patent: US 7,582,086 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/50
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/29 Forceps for use in minimally invasive surgery
• 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 18/1447 wherein sliding surfaces cause opening/closing of the end effectors
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2924 Translation movement of handle without rotating movement
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2927 the angular position of the head being adjustable with respect to the shaft
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2944 Translation of jaw members
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2945 Curved jaws
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00577 Ablation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1432 curved

Abstract

A novel surgical clamp having a pair of jaws, which may be used to ablate or create leisons in tissue. In embodiment, the jaws have an articulated position wherein the jaws are separated and not parallel to one another, an opened position wherein the jaws are separated and substantially parallel to one another, and a closed position wherein the jaws are adjacent and substantially parallel to one another. One or more of the jaws can articulate independent of the other jaw. Other embodiments are described in the attached specification.

Claims

1. A surgical clamp comprising:

a) a shaft having a proximal end and a distal end;

b) a proximal jaw and a distal jaw connected to the shaft for effecting a surgical procedure, the jaws comprising;

(i) an articulated position wherein the jaws are separated and not parallel to one another;

(ii) an opened position wherein the jaws are separated and substantially parallel to one another; and

(iii) a closed position wherein the jaws are adjacent and substantially parallel to one another.

2. The surgical device of claim 1, further comprising an actuator attached to the proximal end of the shaft operable to move the jaws between the closed, opened, and articulated positions.

3. The surgical device of claim 1, wherein the jaws effect tissue ablation.

4. The surgical device of claim 3, further comprising electrodes on the jaws.

5. The surgical device of claim 4, wherein tissue ablation is effected by bi-polar energy.

6. The surgical device of claim 1, wherein in the closed position the jaws extend laterally from the shaft.

7. The surgical device of claim 1, wherein in the articulated position the distal jaw extends distally relative the shaft.

8. The surgical device of claim 1, further comprising means to articulate, open, and close the jaws.

9. The surgical device of claim 1, wherein the at least one of the jaws are curved.

10. The surgical device of claim 1, wherein at least one of the jaws close by moving axially along the shaft.

11. The surgical device of claim 1, wherein the distal jaw articulates relative the shaft independent of the proximal jaw.

12. The surgical device of claim 11, wherein the proximal jaw articulates relative the shaft independent of the distal jaw.

13. A surgical clamp for ablating tissue, comprising

a) a shaft having a proximal end and a distal end;

b) a proximal jaw and a distal jaw extending from the shaft, the jaws comprising an opened position wherein the jaws are separated and substantially parallel to one another and a closed position wherein the jaws are adjacent and substantially parallel to one another;

c) an electrode on each jaw operable to transmit RF energy to effect tissue ablation;

d) an actuator operatively linked to at least one of the jaws such that the jaws will moved between the opened and closed positions in a 1;

1 ratio relative the motion of the actuator.

14. The surgical clamp of claim 13, wherein the actuator is aligned with the shaft.

15. The surgical clamp of claim 13, wherein the jaw clamping load has a 1:

1 ratio relative the actuator load.

16. A surgical ablation clamp, comprising:

a) a first clamp member comprising a proximal end, a distal end, a handle on the proximal end, and a jaw on the distal end, the jaw having a surface to effect tissue ablation;

b) a second clamp member positioned in crossed relation to the first clamp member, the second clamp member comprising a proximal end, a distal end, a handle on the proximal end, and a jaw on the distal end, the jaw having a surface to effect tissue ablation;

c) a joint connecting the first and second clamp members, the joint comprising;

(i) a first degree of freedom allowing the relative rotation of the first and second clamp members about the joint;

(ii) a second degree of freedom allowing transverse movement between the first and second clamp members; and

d) a spring connected to joint, the spring being configured to bias the first and second members along the second degree of freedom.

17. The surgical ablation clamp of claim 16, wherein the surface to effect tissue ablation is an electrode operable to deliver RF energy to tissue.

18. The surgical ablation clamp of claim 16, wherein the spring is U-shaped.

19. The surgical ablation clamp of claim 16, wherein the jaws are curved.

20. A surgical ablation clamp, comprising:

a) a shaft having a proximal end and a distal end; and

b) a pair of jaws pivotally moveable relative one another between an opened position and a closed position, the jaws being connected to the distal end of the shaft and articulately moveable relative the shaft independent of the jaw pivotal motion; and

c) clamping surfaces on the jaws operable to effect tissue ablation.