Surgical instrument for grasping and cutting tissue

• US 20090209991A1
• Filed: 02/06/2009
• Published: 08/20/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 02/15/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Take 5 Endotech, Co.
• Original Assignee: Take 5 Endotech, Co.
• Inventors: Helme, Daniel, Jankowski, Norbert Thomas, Lehman, Adam I., Hinchliffe, Peter W.J., Helfer, Joel N.
• Granted Patent: US 8,398,673 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/170
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/00 Surgical instruments, devices or methods, e.g. tourniquets A61B18/00 takes precedence; contraceptive devices, pessaries, or applicators therefor A61F6/00; eye surgery A61F9/007; ear surgery A61F11/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/1608 the two jaw elements being linked to two elongated shaft elements moving longitudinally relative to each other
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/2816 Pivots
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/282 Jaws
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/285 combined with cutting implements
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/295 combined with cutting implements
• 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 channel for multiple instruments A61B2017/3445; instrument channel A61B2017/22072; replaceable heads A61B2017/2931; suction A61M1/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00367 Details of actuation of instruments, e.g. relations between pushing buttons, or the like, and activation of the tool, working tip, or the like
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2902 characterized by features of the actuating rod
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2922 toggle linkages
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2925 Pistol grips
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2933 camming or guiding means
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2938 Independently actuatable jaw members, e.g. two actuating rods
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2939 Details of linkages or pivot points
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2945 Curved jaws
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2947 Pivots

Abstract

A surgical instrument for cutting and grasping tissue comprising a handle assembly, an elongated member and first and second jaws. A first movable member moves the second jaw in a first direction about a first pivot axis in a grasping action and a second movable member moves the second jaw in a second direction different than the first direction and about a second pivot axis in a cutting action. A switch is positioned at the proximal portion of the instrument and a selecting member is actuated by movement of the switch, the selecting member movable between a first position to enable movement of the second jaw in the first direction and prohibit movement in the second direction and a second position to enable movement of the second jaw in the second direction and prohibit movement in the first direction.

Claims

1. A surgical instrument for cutting and grasping tissue comprising:

a handle assembly disposed at a proximal portion of the instrument;

an elongated member extending from the handle assembly;

a first jaw positioned adjacent a distal portion of the elongated member;

a second jaw positioned adjacent the distal portion of the elongated member and mounted for movement with respect to the first jaw;

a first movable member operably associated with the second jaw, the first movable member movable between first and second positions to move the second jaw in a first direction about a first pivot axis in a grasping action;

a second movable member operably associated with the second jaw, the second movable member movable between first and second positions to move the second jaw in a second direction different than the first direction and about a second pivot axis in a cutting action;

a switch positioned at the proximal portion of the instrument; and

a selecting member actuated by movement of the switch, the selecting member movable between a first position to enable movement of the second jaw in the first direction and prohibit movement in the second direction and a second position to enable movement of the second jaw in the second direction and prohibit movement in the first direction.

2. The instrument of claim 1, further comprising first and second locking mechanisms, wherein the selecting member comprises a rotatable linking member movable for selective engagement of one of the first and second locking mechanisms.

3. The instrument of claim 1, further comprising a first gear operably associated with the first movable member and a second gear operably associated with the second movable member, and wherein the selecting member includes a first locking member engagable with the first gear and a second locking member engagable with the second gear, the selecting member selectively moves one of the first and second locking members into engagement with its respective gear.

4. The instrument of claim 1, wherein the first jaw has a first upper surface with a first edge and a second edge and the second jaw has a second lower surface with a third edge and a fourth edge, wherein in the cutting action, the first and third edges pass each other in substantially parallel planes and in a grasping action the first and third edges pivot away from each other in transverse planes.

5. The instrument of claim 1, wherein the first pivot axis and the second pivot axis intersect and are substantially perpendicular

6. The instrument of claim 3, further comprising a linkage mechanism linking the switch to the selecting member, the linkage mechanism comprising multiple links.

7. The instrument of claim 1, further comprising a safety mechanism, the safety mechanism operably associated with the switch to prevent movement of the switch if the jaws are not in a closed position.

8. The instrument of claim 1, wherein the first jaw is movable with respect to the second jaw.

9. The instrument of claim 1, further comprising a first handle operably associated with the first movable member and a second handle operably associated with the second movable member.

10. The instrument of claim 9, wherein the first movable member comprises a first tubular member and the second movable member comprises a second tubular member, the first and second tubular members being coaxially positioned.

11. A surgical instrument for cutting and grasping tissue comprising:

an elongated member;

a first jaw positioned adjacent a distal portion of the elongated member;

a second jaw positioned adjacent the distal portion of the elongated member and mounted for movement with respect to the first jaw;

a first movable member operably associated with the second jaw, the first movable member movable between first and second positions to move the second jaw in a first direction in a grasping action;

a second movable member operably associated with the second jaw, the second movable member movable between first and second positions to move the second jaw in a second direction different than the first direction in a cutting action;

a switch positioned at a proximal portion of the instrument; and

a handle assembly including a stationary grip, a first actuator and a second actuator, the first actuator operably associated with the first movable member to move the second jaw in a grasping action, and the second actuator operably associated with the second movable element to effect movement of the second jaw in the cutting action.

12. The instrument of claim 11, wherein the first actuator is positioned proximal of the stationary grip and the second actuator is positioned distal of the stationary grip.

13. The instrument of claim 12, wherein the first actuator is operably associated with a first gear mechanism and the second actuator is operably associated with a second gear mechanism.

14. The instrument of claim 11, wherein the switch is movable between first and second positions, in the first position the switch enabling movement of the second jaw in the first direction and prohibiting movement in the second direction and in the second position the switch enabling movement of the second jaw in the second direction and prohibiting movement in the first direction.

15. The instrument of claim 11, further comprising first and second locking elements operably associated with the switch to prohibit movement of the first or second actuator, depending on the position of the switch.

16. A surgical instrument for performing first and second different functions on tissue comprising:

an elongated member;

a first jaw positioned adjacent a distal portion of the elongated member;

a second jaw positioned adjacent the distal portion of the elongated member and mounted for movement with respect to the first jaw, the first and second jaws relatively movable between open and closed positions in a first orientation and further movable between open and closed positions in a second different orientation;

a first actuating mechanism for moving the jaws in the first orientation;

a second actuating mechanism for moving the jaws in the second orientation; and

a switch for choosing the first or second actuating mechanism, wherein the switch can be activated only when the jaws are in the closed position.

17. The instrument of claim 16, wherein the first jaw has a first upper surface with a first edge and a second edge and the second jaw has a second lower surface with a third edge and a fourth edge, wherein when the jaws move between open and closed positions in the first orientation to perform a cutting function, the first and third edges pass each other in substantially parallel planes and when the jaws move between open and closed positions in the second orientation in a grasping function, the first and third edges pivot away from each other in transverse planes.

18. The instrument of claim 16, wherein movement of the switch moves a link in a clockwise or counterclockwise direction to effect operative engagement of one of the actuating mechanisms to prevent movement thereof.

19. The instrument of claim 16, further comprising a safety member operably associated with the switch, the safety member movable between a first position to lock the switch against movement and a second position to allow movement of the switch, the safety automatically locking the switch when the jaws are in the open position.

20. The instrument of claim 16, wherein the safety member engages an aperture in the switch.

21. A surgical instrument for performing first and second different functions comprising:

a handle assembly disposed at a proximal portion of the instrument;

an elongated member extending from the handle assembly;

a first jaw positioned adjacent a distal portion of the elongated member;

a second jaw positioned adjacent the distal portion of the elongated member and mounted for movement with respect to the first jaw;

a first movable member operably associated with the second jaw, the first movable member movable between first and second positions to move the jaws in a first direction about a first pivot axis to perform a first function on tissue;

a second movable member operably associated with the second jaw, the second movable member movable between first and second positions to move the jaws in a second direction different than the first direction and about a second pivot axis to perform a second different function on tissue, the second movable member being positioned within the first movable member;

a switch positioned at the proximal portion of the instrument to switch between the first and second functions.

22. The instrument of claim 21, wherein the first jaw has a first projecting member extending in a first direction engageable by the first movable member and a second projecting member extending in a second different direction engageable by the second movable member.

23. The instrument of claim 22, wherein the second jaw has a third projecting member extending in a first direction engageable by the first movable member and a fourth projecting member extending in a second different direction engageable by the second movable member.

24. The instrument of claim 23, wherein the first and third projecting members lie substantially along the same axis and the second and fourth projecting members lie substantially along the same axis.

25. A handle assembly for a surgical instrument having first and second jaws, the handle assembly comprising a stationary handle, a first actuator, a second actuator and a switch, the first actuator having a first movable finger loop configured to receive a thumb of the user and operably associated with a first movable member to effect movement of at least one of instrument jaws in a grasping action, the second actuator having a second movable finger loop and operably associated with a second movable member to effect movement of at least one of the instrument jaws in a cutting action, the first and second actuators and the switch all operable by a single hand of a user, wherein the switch cannot be activated by the single hand of the user unless the user releases the thumb engagement of the first finger loop.

26. The handle assembly of claim 25, further comprising a stationary handle positioned between the first and second actuators and having a third stationary finger loop.

27. The handle assembly of claim 26, wherein the first actuator is proximal of the stationary handle and movable proximally to open the instrument jaws and the second actuator is positioned distally of the stationary handle and movable distally to open the instrument jaws.

28. A surgical method of grasping and cutting tissue with a single instrument comprising:

providing an instrument having first and second jaws movable in a first orientation to perform a grasping function and movable in a second orientation to perform a cutting function;

moving a first actuator of the instrument to move the jaws in the first orientation between closed and open positions to grasp tissue;

moving a second actuator of the instrument to move the jaws in a second orientation between closed and open positions to cut tissue; and

moving a switching mechanism between first and second positions to select the grasping or cutting function, wherein the switching mechanism can only be moved when the jaws are in the closed position.

29. The method of claim 28, wherein the step of moving the switching mechanism to a second position moves a first locking member into engagement with an advancing mechanism for moving the jaws in the first orientation.

30. The method of claim 29, wherein the step of moving the switching mechanism to the second position moves a second locking member into engagement with an advancing mechanism for moving the jaws in the second orientation.