Rotatable and deflectable biopsy forceps

• US 6,569,105 B1
• Filed: 09/14/2000
• Issued: 05/27/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 09/14/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Is LLC
• Original Assignee: Syntheon LLC
• Inventors: Gottlieb, Saul, Kortenbach, Juergen A., Slater, Charles R., Smith, Kevin W., Bales, Thomas O.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hindenburg, Max F.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Wingood, Pamela Lynn
• Application Number:
  US09/661,593
• Time in Patent Office: 985 Days
• Field of Search: 600/562, 600/564-567, 606/167, 606/170
• US Class Current: 600/562
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 10/06 Biopsy forceps , e.g. with cup-shaped jaws
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/003 Steerable
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2927 the angular position of the head being adjustable with respect to the shaft
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2938 Independently actuatable jaw members, e.g. two actuating rods

Abstract

An endoscopic or laparoscopic biopsy forceps instrument is provided which includes a flexible tubular member having proximal and distal ends, a biopsy jaw assembly at the distal end of the tubular member, an actuation assembly to operate the jaw assembly between open and closed positions, and a control assembly to deflect the biopsy jaw assembly relative to a lumen through which the instrument extends and to rotate the jaw assembly about the longitudinal axis of the instrument.

Claims

1. A biopsy forceps instrument having a longitudinal axis, comprising:

a) a flexible tubular member having proximal and distal ends;

b) a biopsy jaw assembly including at least two jaws at said distal end of said tubular member;

c) an actuation means to operate the jaw assembly between open and closed positions, said actuation means including an actuation handle and an actuation wire coupled to said actuation handle and extending through said tubular member, and being coupled to said jaw assembly, wherein operation of said actuation handle causes said actuation wire to move longitudinally within said tubular member to effectuate opening and closing of said jaws; and

d) control means for rotating said biopsy jaw assembly about and for deflecting said biopsy jaw assembly relative to the longitudinal axis of said instrument.

2. A biopsy forceps instrument according to claim 1, wherein:

said actuation handle includes a stationary member, and a movable member movable relative to said stationary member, said stationary member including a distal bore in communication with an interior of said tubular member, and said actuation wire being coupled to said movable member.

3. A biopsy forceps instrument according to claim 2, wherein:

said actuation wire includes a distal end which is adapted to swivel relative to said movable member.

4. A biopsy forceps instrument according to claim 1, wherein:

said control means includes a socket, a ball rotatable within and relative to said socket, and at least one control element coupled to said jaw assembly, said socket coupled to said stationary member, and said ball fixedly coupled to said at least one control element,

wherein said ball is rotatable relative to said socket about the longitudinal axis, and also in a direction other than about the longitudinal axis.

5. A biopsy forceps instrument according to claim 1, wherein:

said tubular member is a coil.

6. A biopsy forceps instrument according to claim 1, wherein:

said jaw assembly includes a clevis, first and second jaws coupled to said clevis, at least one of said first and second jaws being rotatable relative to the other, and said clevis being coupled to said distal end of said tubular member.

7. A biopsy forceps instrument according to claim 6, wherein:

each of said jaws rotatable relative to the other includes a tang, and said actuation means comprises an actuation wire coupled to said tang.

8. A biopsy forceps instrument according to claim 1, wherein:

said jaw assembly includes a plurality of jaws made from a shape memory material, and a tubular sleeve extending over at least a proximal portion of said jaws,

at least one of said jaws and said tubular sleeve being movable relative to the other such that when said tubular sleeve is positioned over said jaws at a first location, said jaws are forced into a closed position, and when said tubular member is at least partially withdrawn relative to said jaws, said jaws are permitted to attain an open position.

9. A biopsy forceps instrument according to claim 1, further comprising:

e) a second tubular member extending between said actuation means and said control means.

10. A biopsy forceps instrument according to claim 1, wherein:

said actuation means and said control means are provided in a common handle assembly.

12. A biopsy forceps instrument according to claim 1, wherein:

said second tubular portion is a shape memory tube.

13. A biopsy forceps instrument according to claim 12, wherein:

said second tubular portion is a nickel-titanium tube.

14. A biopsy forceps instrument according to claim 12, wherein:

said slots in said second tubular portion a substantially sector shaped.

15. A biopsy forceps instrument according to claim 12, wherein:

said second tubular portion assumes a substantially linear configuration when said compressive force is released.

16. A biopsy forceps instrument according to claim 12, wherein:

said deflection means includes a deflection wire having proximal and distal ends, said distal end coupled to one of distal portion of said second tubular member and said jaw assembly, and said proximal end coupled to a mechanism which releasably secures said proximal end of said deflection wire at a number of discrete longitudinal locations relative to the longitudinal axis of said instrument.

17. A biopsy forceps instrument according to claim 16, wherein:

said deflection wire extends outside a portion of said second tubular portion.

18. A biopsy forceps instrument according to claim 16, wherein:

said mechanism includes a rack and a pawl spool, said rack provided on said stationary member, and said pawl spool being releasably lockable relative to said rack.

11. A biopsy forceps instrument having a longitudinal axis, comprising:

a) an actuation handle having a stationary member and a movable member movable relative to said stationary member, said stationary member having a distal end;

b) a first tubular portion having a proximal end and a distal end, said proximal end rotatably coupled to said distal end of said actuation handle;

c) a second tubular portion provided with a plurality of axially transverse slots permitting said tubular portion to be bent about said slots into a curved configuration when subject to a compressive force;

d) a jaw assembly including two jaws, at least one of said jaws being rotatable relative to said other, said jaw assembly coupled to said distal end of said second tubular portion;

e) a jaw actuation wire coupled between said movable member and said jaw assembly, wherein movement of said movable member relative to said stationary member causes said actuation wire to move longitudinally within said tubular member and cause said jaws to move between open and closed positions;

f) a deflection means for bending said second tubular portion about said slots such that the jaw assembly at the distal end of said second tubular portion is deflected relative to the longitudinal axis of said instrument; and

g) means for rotating said jaw assembly axially about the longitudinal axis.