Device or apparatus for manipulating matter having a elastic ring clip

• US 5,601,572 A
• Filed: 06/07/1995
• Issued: 02/11/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 08/16/1989
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Raychem Limited (TE Connectivity Limited)
• Inventors: Jervis, James E., Van Dyk, Karl, Pyka, Walter R., Poncet, Philippe, Buhler, Michael, Middleman, Lee M., Zadno, Reza
• Primary Examiner(s): Hilten, John S.
• Application Number:
  US08/486,550
• Time in Patent Office: 615 Days
• Field of Search: 606/139, 606/140, 606/141, 606/142, 606/143, 606/144, 606/148, 606/149, 606/150, 606/78
• US Class Current: 606/139
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 10/02 Instruments for taking cell samples or for biopsy A61B10/0038 and A61B10/0045 take precedence; needle locating or guiding means A61B17/3403; samplers for enzymology or microbiology C12M1/26; sampling or preparing biological specimens G01N33/48
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 10/06 Biopsy forceps , e.g. with cup-shaped jaws
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/00234 for minimally invasive surgery A61B17/0218, A61B17/0469, A61B17/12013, A61B17/1285, A61B17/29, A61B17/320016 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/0218 for minimally invasive surgery A61B17/0281, A61B17/0469, A61B17/12013, A61B17/1285, A61B17/29, A61B17/320016 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/0469 Suturing instruments for use in minimally invasive surgery, e.g. endoscopic surgery
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/0625 the needle being specially adapted to interact with the manipulator, e.g. being ridged to snap fit in a hole of the manipulator A61B17/06109 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/08 Wound clamps or clips, i.e. not or only partly penetrating the tissue suture bridges A61B17/0466; Devices for bringing together the edges of a wound
• 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 17/12013 for use in minimally invasive surgery, e.g. endoscopic surgery
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/221 Gripping devices in the form of loops or baskets for gripping calculi or similar types of obstructions surgical snare instruments A61B17/32056
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/29 Forceps for use in minimally invasive surgery
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/295 combined with cutting implements
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/30 Surgical pincettes without pivotal connectionsfor holding suture needles or materials A61B17/0483; wound clamps A61B17/08 ; hand-held gripping tools without pivotal connections in general B25B9/02
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/320016 Endoscopic cutting instruments, e.g. arthroscopes, resectoscopes A61B10/0233, A61B17/29, A61B17/3207 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/3201 Scissors for biopsy A61B10/02
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/32056 Surgical snare instruments for removing or smashing calculi A61B2017/2212; tonsillotomes A61B17/26
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/3421 Cannulas
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/082 Probes or electrodes therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/10 Power sources therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00287 Bags for minimally invasive surgery
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00349 : Needle-like instruments having hook or barb-like gripping means, e.g. for grasping suture or tissue A61B17/06066 takes precedence
• 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 2017/0038 : Simultaneous actuation of two tools by pushing one button or the like
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00455 : Orientation indicators, e.g. recess on the handle
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00867 : shape memory effect for prostheses A61F2210/0014
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0409 : Instruments for applying suture anchors for applying suture clamps, clips or locks A61B2017/0488
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/06052 : Needle-suture combinations in which a suture is extending inside a hollow tubular needle, e.g. over the entire length of the needle hollow suture needles A61B2017/061
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/06171 : helically or spirally coiled for needles A61B2017/06076
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/22072 : with an instrument channel, e.g. for replacing one instrument by the other in cannulas A61B17/3417
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2905 : flexible
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2927 : the angular position of the head being adjustable with respect to the shaft
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2936 : Pins in guiding slots
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2937 : with flexible part
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2943 : Toothed members, e.g. rack and pinion
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/303 : with four or more legs
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/320064 : with tissue or sample retaining means
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/32113 : with extendable or retractable guard or blade
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00642 : with feedback, i.e. closed loop control
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00791 : Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1407 : Loop
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30092 : using shape memory or superelastic materials, e.g. nitinol
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2210/0019 : operated at only one temperature whilst inside or touching the human body, e.g. constrained in a non-operative shape during surgery, another temperature only occurring before the operation
• CPC Class Codes: B25B 9/00 : Hand-held gripping tools other than those covered by group B25B7/00 wrenches B25B13/00; specially adapted for watchmakers' or like use G04D
• CPC Class Codes: B26B 13/26 : with intermediate links between the grips and the blades, e.g. for remote actuation

Abstract

The present invention provides a device or apparatus for manipulating matter in a confined or inaccessible space, comprising manipulator means at least partly constructed of one or more bent or twisted elongate metallic members having pseudoelasticity at the intended manipulation temperature, and a hollow housing (preferably of elongate tubular form) or cannula capable of holding at least the metallic member(s) in a relatively straightened state, and actuating means for extending the metallic member(s) from the housing to manipulate matter within the said space and for withdrawing the metallic member(s) into the housing, the arrangement being such that the metallic member(s) bend(s) or twist(s) pseudoelastically in a lateral or helical sense to manipulate the matter on extending from the housing at the said manipulation temperature, and become(s) relatively straightened on withdrawal into the housing at the said temperature.

Preferably the invention provides such a device or apparatus which is of elongate form for surgical manipulation of matter within a living body, and which has the manipulator means at its distal end with the metallic member(s) having pseudoelasticity at the temperature to be encountered within that body, and wherein the actuating means is operable from the proximal end of the device.

Claims

1. A surgical instrument apparatus comprising a ring clip elastic member which, i) has a piercing end portion and a non-piercing end portion and a transverse wire dimension, ii) has a first shape when not subject to mechanical stress, iii) has a second shape when subject to mechanical stress, and iv) returns toward said first shape upon at least partial relief of said mechanical stress;

a cylinder which has, i) a proximal end portion and a distal end portion, and ii) an inside dimension not smaller than said transverse wire dimension of said ring clip, such that a substantially straightened ring clip may be disposed within said cylinder; and

a piston which has, i) a proximal end portion and a distal end portion, and ii) an outer dimension slightly smaller than the inside dimension of said cylinder, such that said piston may be disposed with said cylinder proximal to said ring clip and may be inserted through said cylinder to extrude said ring clip out of said cylinder.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising means for containing a plurality of rings clips and for allowing their extrusion one at a time.

3. Apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said means for containing either comprises said cylinder and piston being of sufficient length such that said plurality of ring clips may be disposed within said cylinder in a linear, coaxial manner for serial extrusion, or comprises a magazine, coupled to and extending into said cylinder, for holding said plurality of ring clips, said magazine including spring means for maintaining stress upon said ring clips to keep said ring clips substantially straight, and being adapted to introduce a next ring clip into said cylinder after a previous ring clip has been extruded and said piston retracted.

4. Apparatus according to claim 3, further comprising piston spring means for compressing upon insertion of said piston through said cylinder to expand upon release of said piston, to retract said piston from said cylinder far enough to remove said piston from said magazine in order to allow said magazine to introduce said next ring clip into said cylinder.

5. Apparatus according to claim 1, operable as a handheld instrument for inserting said elastic member into organic tissue said apparatus comprising a cylindrical second member, coaxially disposable within said cannula and rotatable therewithin, and having a spool around which said elastic member may be wound under stress to a reside within said first member, said spool being positioned near said distal end of said second member to align with said aperture when said second member is disposed within said first member;

and means for rotating said second member within said first member to unwind said elastic member from said spool through said aperture.

6. Apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said means for rotating said second member comprises a plunger which is coaxially disposable within said first member and within said second member is coaxially disposable;

one of said plunger and said second member having at least one longitudinal, spiral groove;

the other of said plunger and said second member having a groove engaging structure which extends radially between said plunger and said second member and into said at least one spiral groove; and

means for pressing said plunger distally onto said second member to impact coaxial rotation to said second member to turn said spool within said first member, to unwind said elastic member from said spool through said aperture.