Fingertip Surgical Instrument

• US 20080167680A1
• Filed: 01/10/2007
• Published: 07/10/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 01/10/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Cilag Gmbh International (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Cilag Gmbh International (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Voegele, James W., Gill, Robert P., Poll, Wayne L.
• Application Number:
  US11/621,702
• Publication Number:
  US 20080167680A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/206
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/00491 Surgical glue applicators surgical adhesives A61L24/00; two-component delivery syringes A61M5/19
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/062 Needle manipulators
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/29 Forceps for use in minimally invasive surgery
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00265 Hand assisted surgery, i.e. minimally invasive surgery with at least part of an assisting hand inside the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00438 connectable to a finger
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00495 for two-component glue
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2923 Toothed members, e.g. rack and pinion
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/395 with marking agent for marking skin or other tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/39 Markers, e.g. radio-opaque or breast lesions markers

Abstract

Disclosed is a minimally invasive surgical instrument that may be used in hand-assisted laparoscopic surgeries. The device is a multifunctional surgical instrument that may be mounted directly on a surgeon'"'"'s fingertip and inserted through an incision to allow the surgeon to manipulate tissue during a surgical procedure. Versions show a self-righting suture needle holder and a version with a dual pivoting jaw (e.g., grasper, cutter) that has an elongate neck to enhance the reach of the instrument. In addition, an elongate neck of an actuated fingertip instrument enhances the range reachable through a single incision.

Claims

1. A fingertip-mounted minimally invasive surgical instrument comprising:

a first jaw comprising a concave contacting surface;

a second jaw comprising a convex contacting surface;

a finger mounting portion supporting the first and second jaws; and

a finger actuated member supported for movement by the finger mounting portion and connected to a selected one of a group consisting of the first and second jaw to effect closure to a spacing sufficient to orient and grip a suture needle.

2. The fingertip-mounted minimally invasive surgical instrument of claim 1, wherein the finger actuated member comprises a pivotally attached lever connected via a link to a proximal pivot portion of the selected one of the first and second jaw, the other one of the first and second jaw attached to the finger mounting portion.

3. The fingertip-mounted minimally invasive surgical instrument of claim 2, further comprising a locking member attached for movement to a selected one of a group consisting of the finger mounting portion and the lever to selectively engage the other one to maintain the jaws in a closed state.

4. The fingertip-mounted minimally invasive surgical instrument of claim 3, wherein the locking member comprises a thumb slide having a slide portion positioned to slide along a selected surface of the lever and having a locking tip connected to the slide portion positioned to reciprocate within a recess in the finger mounting portion that terminates in a locking recess.

5. A fingertip-mounted minimally invasive surgical instrument comprising:

a finger mounting portion;

pair of pivotally attached jaws;

an elongate neck spacing the pair of pivotally attached jaws from the finger mounting portion; and

a finger actuated member coupled for movement to the finger mounting portion and to the pair of pivotally attached jaws to effect opening and closing of the pair.

6. The fingertip-mounted minimally invasive surgical instrument of claim 5, further comprising:

a clip spring attached to the pair of pivotally attachment jaws imparting an opening bias; and

an elongate outer sheath attached to the finger mounting portion and encompassing the elongate neck that is connected between the pivotal attachment between the jaws and the finger actuated member;

wherein the finger actuated member is positionable distally to extend the pair of jaws out of the sheath for opening and proximally to draw a portion of the jaws into the sheath for closing.

7. A fingertip-mounted minimally invasive surgical instrument comprising:

a pair of grasping jaws;

a finger mounting portion supporting the first and second jaws;

a finger actuated member supported for movement by the finger mounting portion operable to open and to close the jaws; and

a locking member positionable to maintain the finger actuated member in a selected one of a group consisting of a jaws open state and a jaws closed state.

8. The fingertip-mounted minimally invasive surgical instrument of claim 7, wherein the locking member comprises a thumb slide having a slide portion positioned to slide along a selected surface of the lever and having a locking tip connected to the slide portion positioned to reciprocate within a recess in the finger mounting portion that terminates in a locking recess.

9. The fingertip-mounted minimally invasive surgical instrument of claim 8, wherein the finger actuated member is attached for pivotal movement toward the finger actuated member to effect the selected state, the locking recess holding the lever proximate to the finger actuated member when engaged.