SURGICAL INSTRUMENT WITH SEPARATE TOOL HEAD AND METHOD OF USE

• US 20120179153A1
• Filed: 03/16/2012
• Published: 07/12/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 04/02/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Atricure, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Atricure, Inc.
• Inventors: Privitera, Salvatore, Winkler, Matthew J.
• Granted Patent: US 9,408,659 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/33
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/10 for applying or removing wound clamps, e.g. containing only one clamp or staple A61B17/076 takes precedence; containing multiple wound clamps A61B17/068; Wound clamp magazines containers, packaging elements or packages specially adapted for particular articles or with special means for dispensing contents B65D83/00, B65D85/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/32 Surgical cutting instruments A61B18/042 takes precedence; suture cutters A61B17/0467; instruments for ligaturing or cutting A61B17/128; instruments for rupturing the amniotic membrane A61B17/4208; specially adapted knives for eye surgery A61F9/0133
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1442 Probes having pivoting end effectors, e.g. forceps
• 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 2017/00243 cardiac
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/320044 Blunt dissectors blunt suture needles A61B2017/06085
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00577 Ablation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/145 wherein the effectors remain parallel during closing and opening
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2034/305 Details of wrist mechanisms at distal ends of robotic arms
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 34/30 Surgical robots
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 34/70 Manipulators specially adapted for use in surgery

Abstract

Surgical instruments are disclosed in which an elongated shaft is used in conjunction with a separate, remotely actuable tool head for performing a procedure on a target tissue. The shaft has a tool engagement member carried at its distal end that is remotely actuable through the shaft to engage and release the tool head.

Claims

1-9. -9. (canceled)

10. A tool head for performing a medical procedure for use in combination with a surgical device having a shaft and a pair of jaws on the distal end of the shaft, the tool head comprising a clamping surface for releasable engagement by the jaws of the surgical device and a tether extending from the tool head and separate from the surgical device for actuating the tool head.

11. The tool head of claim 10 wherein the clamping surface has at least one of a protrusion or relieved area shaped to engage the other of a protrusion or a relieved area on at least one of the jaws.

12. The tool head of claim 11 wherein the clamping surface has opposed protrusions or relieved areas shaped to engage complementary protrusions or relieved areas of the jaws.

13. The tool head of claim 10 wherein the clamping surface is compressible.

14. The tool head of claim 10 wherein the tool head has a second clamping surface extending therefrom adapted to be held by the jaws.

15. The tool head of claim 10 wherein the clamping surface is adapted to be held by open jaws.

16. The tool head of claim 10 wherein the clamping surface is adapted to be held between the jaws.

17-22. -22. (canceled)

23. A surgical instrument comprising a tool head;

a tether directly coupled to the tool head for actuating the tool head, and at least one engagement surface adapted to removably couple with a separate control arm.

24. The surgical instrument of claim 23 wherein the tool head is selected from the group consisting of an RF ablation clamp, an RF ablation pen, a blunt dissector and a clip applicator.