Laparoscopic tool

• US 5,658,298 A
• Filed: 06/07/1995
• Issued: 08/19/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 11/09/1993
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Apollo Endosurgery, Inc. (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Inamed Development Company
• Inventors: Coe, Frederick L., Vincent, Vernon L.
• Primary Examiner(s): SCHMIDT, JEFFREY
• Application Number:
  US08/479,624
• Time in Patent Office: 804 Days
• Field of Search: 606/1, 606/139, 606/144, 606/145, 606/148, 606/151, 606/157, 289/17, 112/80.03, 112/169, 600/201, 600/204, 600/210, 600/214, 600/215, 600/217, 600/219, 600/237, 600/239, 600/242, 600/243
• US Class Current: 606/139
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/12013 for use in minimally invasive surgery, e.g. endoscopic surgery

Abstract

A tool is described which is useful for tightening a band or ligature having a buckle end and a free end during laparoscopic surgery. The tool comprises outer and inner elongate, slidably mounted cylindrical members. The outer member, which is slotted, has mounted on the distal end thereof a member for grasping the buckle end of a ligature. The inner member has a grasping portion mounted thereon and projecting through a slot in the outer member which is suitable for releasably engaging the free end of the ligature. In practice, the free end of the ligature is brought around to encircle a tissue and passed through a conduit within the buckle portion of the ligature, much as one threads a belt end through a buckle prior to cinching tight and fastening. The buckle portion preferably has a tab projecting therefrom with a hole therein which accommodates the buckle grasping member on the end of the outer member. The buckle grasping member is preferably a post or stationary pin which is inserted into the hole in the tab on the buckle portion. The free end of the end of the ligature has a special site for receiving and releasably engaging the free end grasping portion (fork) of the tool. A manually induced sliding motion of the inner member with respect to the outer member pulls the free end of the ligature a fixed distance through the buckle until a locking member engages the ligature within the buckle preventing removal of the free end therefrom. The buckle grasping member and the free end grasping member can be in opposite positions on the tool if anatomical circumstances are better suited by the arrangement.

Claims

1. A device operable for tightening a ligature through a laparoscopic cannula wherein the ligature is an elongate strap which has a buckle end and a distal end, the distal end having a protuberance projecting laterally therefrom, and a body portion therebetween and wherein the buckle end has a post receiving hole thereon and an aperture therethrough wherein the aperture is adapted to slidingly and lockingly engage the distal end of the ligature, the device comprising:

(a) an outer elongate tubular member with a cylindrical channel formed therethrough, wherein at least a portion of said outer elongate tubular member is dimensioned to enter one end, pass through and extend beyond the other end of the laparoscopic cannula, said outer elongate tubular member having a distal end with a fork projecting therefrom and wherein said fork is adapted to engage the protuberance in the distal end of the ligature; and

(b) an inner cylindrical member having a distal end with a blunt post projecting therefrom, said post being dimensioned to engage with the blunt post receiving hole in the buckle end of the ligature, said inner cylindrical member being concentrically, slidingly, and substantially air-tightly mounted within said cylindrical channel of said outer tube such that said distal end with said blunt post extends distally through and substantially beyond said fork of said outer elongate tubular member.

2. The device of claim 1 further comprising means operable for slidingly manipulating said inner cylindrical member with respect to said outer elongate tubular member through a preset travel distance.

3. The device of claim 1 wherein an O-ring is used to provide substantial air-tight sealing between said outer elongate tubular member and said inner cylindrical member.

4. The device of claim 1 further comprising a spring means to bias said inner cylindrical member forwardly with respect to said outer elongate tubular member.