Sterilization devices

• US 5,193,554 A
• Filed: 05/13/1991
• Issued: 03/16/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 05/12/1990
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: American Video Jukebox Corp., Femcare Limited (Utah Medical Products Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Femcare Limited (Utah Medical Products Incorporated)
• Inventors: McQuilkin, Peter H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hafer, Robert A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): RIMELL, SAMUEL G
• Application Number:
  US07/699,482
• Time in Patent Office: 673 Days
• Field of Search: 128/831, 128/843, 606/120, 606/135, 606/136, 606/151, 606/157, 606/158
• US Class Current: 128/831
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 6/206 Clamps ligaturing clamps or clips A61B17/122

Abstract

A sexual sterilization clip comprises an upper and lower jaw of plastics material with capture means for capturing the fallopian tube or vas deferens the capture means being provided with a soft lining.

Claims

1. A sexual sterilisation clip having a lower jaw member and an upper jaw member hingedly connected at one end to the lower jaw member, both jaw members being of plastics material, the upper and lower jaw members being provided, at an opposite end thereof in relation to the hinge, with co-operating latch means to secure the clip in a closed position, the clip being provided in an open position with projection means to provide initial capture of a fallopian tube or vas deferens in which both the upper and lower jaw members are provided with a rubber lining, in which the rubber lining of the upper jaw is shaped to provide a bulge at the latch means end of the upper jaw, said bulge being formed by an area of increased thickness in the rubber lining of the upper jaw and projecting towards the bottom jaw and in which the rubber lining of the lower jaw is provided with a recessed area of reduced thickness at the latch means end of the lower jaw which is aligned with the bulge and co-operates therewith as the clip is closed to provide an area of initial contact between the lining of the upper jaw and the lining of the lower jaw without significantly increasing the compression forces required to close the clip.

2. A sterilisation clip as claimed in claim 1 in which the co-operating latch means comprises a detent on the upper jaw and a co-operating recessed portion on the lower jaw.

3. A sterilisation clip as claimed in claim 1 in which the co-operating latch means comprises co-operating interdigitating fingers provided respectively at the ends of the upper and lower jaws one of the fingers on one of the jaws being provided with a broadened portion which co-operates with a recessed portion on one of the fingers on the other jaw to provide a positive snap action latch for the clip.