CLAMP FOR OCCLUDING TUBULAR CONDUITS IN THE HUMAN BODY

• US 3,840,018 A
• Filed: 01/31/1973
• Issued: 10/08/1974
• Est. Priority Date: 01/31/1973
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Milton D. Heifetz
• Original Assignee: Milton D. Heifetz
• Inventors: Heifetz, Milton D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Medbery, Aldrich F.
• Application Number:
  US05/328,444
• Time in Patent Office: 615 Days
• Field of Search: 128/325,346,327,334R,92R 24/73HS,274R,243B,16PB
• US Class Current: 606/158
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/12009 Implements for ligaturing other than by clamps or clips, e.g. using a loop with a slip knot
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/14 Bale and package ties, hose clamps
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/1427 Worm and tooth
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/1498 Plastic band

Abstract

A clamp for occluding the lumen of a tubular conduit in the human body, such as an artery, a vein, or an intestine. The clamp includes a clamp body, grip means mounted to the clamp body, and a flexible band having an axis of length and of width. The band is attached to the body at a first point along its axis of length, and is gripped by the grip means at a second point along its axis of length. A loop is formed that bounds an opening having an axis, around which axis at least 270* of the peripheral boundary of the opening is formed by the flexible band. In use, the loop is formed around the tubular conduit to be occluded, and the band is drawn tightly against it by shortening the length of the band so that the cross-sectional area of the lumen is gradually closed. The band is preferably stiffly flexible so as to be shape-retaining. A worm screw can be engaged to the band to serve as means for driving the band to lessen the cross-section of the opening.

Claims

1. A clamp for occluding the lumen of a tubular conduit in the human body, such as an artery, a vein, or an intestine, comprising:

a clamp body;

grip means mounted to the clamp body; and

a flexible band having an axis of length and of width, said band being attached to th body at a first point along its axis of length, and being gripped by the grip means at a second point along its axis of length which is spaced from the first point, so as to form a loop that bounds an opening to receive the tubular conduit, said opening having an axis, around which at least 270* of the peripheral boundary of the opening is formed by the flexible band, said grip means having combined therewith drive means for moving the band through the aperture, said combined grip and drive means comprising a rotatable worm screw bearing a worm thread which is engageable with the band, rotation of the worm driving the band through the aperture, the pitch of the worm thread being such as to prevent rotation of the worm screw as the consequence of a lengthwise pull on the band, said clamp body further including a means for receiving and storing an excess portion of said part of the band spaced from said second point in an area removed from said human tubular conduit, comprising a chamber adjacent said griPping means, said chamber having two walls defining a tangential entrance aperture and a contiguous wall portion for forming said excess band portion into a tubular encapsulated curled loop portion.

2. A clamp according to claim 1 in which the boundary wall of the opening is a bent plane.

3. A clamp according to claim 1 in which the band is stiffly flexible, whereby to form a shape-retaining tubular loop.

4. A clamp according to claim 3 in which the boundary wall of the opening is a bent plane.

5. A clamp according to claim 1 in which drive means is mounted to the clamp body to draw the material of the band along its axis of length, thereby to reduce the cross-section of the opening of the loop.

6. A clamp according to claim 1 in which the attachment of the band at the first point is by means of a hinge pin joining the band to the body.

7. A clamp according to claim 6 in which the band is stiffly flexible, whereby to form a shape-retaining tubular loop.

8. A clamp according to claim 1 in which said worm thread is so proportioned relative to the material forming the band as to indent the same to engage the band and draw it through the aperture.

9. A clamp according to claim 1 in which indentations are formed in the band for engagement by the worm thread.

10. A clamp according to claim 1 in which the attachment of the band at the first point is by means of a self-hinge, the flexible band and the body being made as an integral structure.

11. A clamp according to claim 10 in which the band is stiffly flexible, whereby to form a shape-retaining tubular loop.

12. A clamp according to claim 1 in which a support tube is removably attached to said clamp body, said tube having a central passage coaxial with the axis of rotation of the worm screw and giving access to the end of said worm screw, the support tube thereby providing means to support the clamp body at a distance from the clamp body and to give access to the end of the worm screw, also at a distance from the clamp body.

13. A clamp according to claim 12 in which an attachment thread is formed on the clamp body and on the support tube, whereby to provide for their joinder, and in which a torque-tool engagement means is formed on the clamp body at a location accessible through the passage in the support tube when the said attachment threads are engaged to one another, whereby a torque-tool can be engaged to the clamp body to hold it against rotation while the support tube is being unthreaded from the clamp body.

14. A clamp according to claim 13 in which the torque-tool engagement means is a slot.

15. A clamp according to claim 13 in which the band is stiffly flexible, whereby to form a shape-retaining tubular loop.

16. A clamp according to claim 12 in which torque-tool engagement means is provided on the end of the worm screw for engagement by a torque-tool which is inserted into the passage of the support tube.

17. A clamp according to claim 16 in which an attachment thread is formed on the clamp body and on the support tube, whereby to provide for their joinder, and in which a torque-tool engagement means is formed on the clamp body at a location accessible through the passage in the support tube when the said attachment threads are engaged to one another, whereby a torque-tool can be engaged to the clamp body to hold it against rotation while the support tube is being unthreaded from the clamp body.