Annularly expanding and retracting gripping and releasing mechanism

• US 5,924,175 A
• Filed: 04/29/1998
• Issued: 07/20/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 04/29/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Cook Medical Incorporated (Cook Group Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Raymond F. Lippitt, Robert G. Lippitt
• Inventors: Lippitt, Raymond F., Lippitt, Robert G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Brittain, James R.
• Assistant Examiner(s): SANDY, ROBERT JOHN
• Application Number:
  US09/069,160
• Time in Patent Office: 447 Days
• Field of Search: 24/537, 24/536, 24/535, 24/530, 606/113, 606/127, 56/333, 294/19.2, 81/53.1, 81/53.11
• US Class Current: 24/537
• 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 2017/2212 having a closed distal end, e.g. a loop
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2215 having an open distal end
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1407 Loop
• 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: Y10T 24/44701 Encircling sleeve type element

Abstract

An annularly expanding and retracting gripping and releasing mechanism comprises an annular array of longitudinally fixed flexure elements and a corresponding number of longitudinally movable flexure elements. The arrangement is such that a longitudinally outward movement of the longitudinally movable flexure elements within the annular array of longitudinally fixed tubular flexure elements causes the fixed flexure elements to flex transversely outwardly and creates an annularly expanded condition defined by an annular series of transversely outwardly flexed fixed flexure elements interconnected at their flexure points by an annular series of arcuately outwardly flexed portions of the movable flexure elements. A manual movement in the opposite direction effects a longitudinally inward movement of the movable flexure elements to cause the expanded condition to progressively retract during which the outwardly flexed fixed flexure elements are progressively less flexed transversely outwardly and the arcuately flexed portions of the movable flexure elements have a progressively less arcuate extent.

Claims

1. An annularly expanding and retracting gripping and releasing mechanism comprising

an annular series of longitudinally fixed flexure elements and a corresponding series of longitudinally movable flexure elements;

said fixed flexure elements being fixed relatively together in an annular array at a confining fixed position and having a flexure position spaced longitudinally outwardly therefrom;

each of said fixed flexure elements being constructed and arranged to flex at the flexure position thereof transversely outwardly and inwardly about the confined fixed position thereof;

each of said movable flexure elements having an end fixed with respect to the flexure position of one of said fixed flexure elements and extending therefrom in longitudinally movable and generally transversely confined relation to a receiving portion of an adjacent fixed flexure element the outer end of which is adjacent the flexure position thereof;

said movable flexure elements being constructed and arranged to be moved longitudinally in an outward direction with respect to the receiving portions associated therewith to extend in an arcuately flexed condition generally beyond the flexure positions of said fixed flexure elements to cause the latter to flex transversely outwardly and create an expanded condition defined by an annular series of transversely outwardly flexed fixed flexure elements interconnected by an annular series of arcuately flexed portions of said movable flexure elements;

said movable flexure elements being constructed and arranged to be moved when in said expanded condition in a direction inwardly with respect to the receiving portions associated therewith to cause said expanded condition to progressively retract during which the annular series of transversely outwardly flexed fixed flexure elements are progressively less flexed transversely outwardly and the annular series of arcuately flexed portions of said movable flexure elements have a progressively less arcuate extent.

2. An annularly expanding and retracting gripping and releasing mechanism as defined in claim 1 including an elongated tubular canula structure having a distal end fixedly connected with said series of fixed flexure elements, and a moving assembly including a body member fixed to a proximal end of said tubular canula structure and a moving member mounted on said body member for movement in one direction and in an opposite direction, an elongated motion transmitting canula structure within said tubular canula structure connected at a distal end with said movable flexible elements and at a proximal end with said moving member, said moving member and said motion transmitting canula structure being constructed and arranged so that movement of said moving member in the one direction creates said expanded condition of said flexure elements and movement of said moving member in the opposite direction causes the expanded condition of said flexure elements to progressively retract said motion-transmitting canula structure and certain of said movable flexure elements being constructed and arranged to be connected within an electrical circuit operable to pass an electrical current therethrough so that during a progressive retraction of said flexure elements from the expanded condition thereof electrical current passing through said movable flexure elements can be sequentially used to cut coagulate tissue around which the retraction of said flexure elements is taking place.

3. An annularly expanding and retracting gripping and releasing mechanism as defined in claim 2 wherein said fixed flexure elements are formed of plastic tubular members and said movable flexure elements are formed of wire sections, said tubular canula structure including plastic tubular members forming a continuation of the plastic tubular members forming said fixed flexure elements, said motion-transmitting canula structure including motion-transmitting wire sections forming continuations of the wire sections forming said movable flexure elements.

4. An annularly expanding and retracting gripping and releasing mechanism as defined in claim 3 wherein the wire sections forming said movable flexure elements have fixed wire sections forming continuations thereof, said fixed wire sections being fixed within said plastic tubular members.

5. An annularly expanding and retracting gripping and releasing mechanism as defined in claim 4 wherein there are four fixed flexure elements, each being formed of a plastic tubular member defining two parallel passages within which the motion transmitting wire section of the movable wire section thereof is mounted and within the other one of which the fixed wire section of the adjacent movable wire section is fixed.

6. An annularly expanding and retracting gripping and releasing mechanism as defined in claim 5 wherein opposite movable wire sections and the associated motion transmitting and fixed wire sections thereof are constructed and arranged to be connected within an electrical circuit operable to pass an electric current from one of said opposite movable wire sections through tissue surrounded by said flexure elements in an expanded condition to the other of said opposite movable wire sections so that during a progressive retraction of said flexure elements from the expanded condition thereof electrical current passing between said opposed movable wire sections can be sequentially used to cut and coagulate the tissue surrounded by said flexure elements.

7. An annularly expanding and retracting gripping and releasing mechanism as defined in claim 1 including an elongated tubular canula structure having a distal end fixedly connected with said series of fixed flexure elements and a moving assembly including a body member fixed to a proximal end of said tubular canula structure and a moving member mounted on said body member for movement in one direction and in an opposite direction, an elongated motion transmitting canula structure within said tubular canula structure connected at a distal end with said movable flexure elements and at a proximal end with said moving member, said moving member and said motion transmitting canula structure being constructed and arranged so that movement of said moving member in the one direction creates said expanded condition of said flexure elements and movement of said moving member in the opposite direction causes the expanded condition of said flexure elements to progressively retract, said fixed flexure elements being formed of plastic tubular members and said movable flexure element being formed of wire sections, said tubular canula structure including plastic tubular members forming a continuation of the plastic tubular members forming said fixed flexure elements, said motion transmitting canula structure including motion transmitting wire sections forming continuation of the wire sections forming said movable flexure elements, each movable wire section forming a movable flexure element extends from the continuing fixed wire section thereof through an opening in the central portion of the plastic tubular member within which the fixed wire section is fixed, said plastic tubular members having outer ends spaced form the openings thereof connected together.

8. An annularly expanding and retracting gripping and releasing mechanism as defined in claim 7 wherein the wire sections forming said movable flexure elements have fixed wire sections forming continuations thereof, said fixed wire sections being fixed within said plastic tubular members.

9. An annularly expanding and retracting gripping and releasing mechanism as defined in claim 1 wherein said fixed flexure elements are plastic tubular members.

10. An annularly expanding and retracting gripping and releasing mechanism as defined in claim 9 wherein said movable flexure elements are metal wire sections.

11. An annularly expanding and retracting gripping and releasing mechanism as defined in claim 10 wherein said metal wire sections are formed of stainless steel.

12. An annularly expanding and retracting gripping and releasing mechanism as defined in claim 1 wherein said movable flexure elements are metal wire sections.

13. An annularly expanding and retracting gripping and releasing mechanism as defined in claim 12 wherein said metal wire sections are formed of stainless steel.