Clamp having bendable shaft

• US 6,676,676 B2
• Filed: 05/01/2002
• Issued: 01/13/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 05/02/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Vitalitec International Inc. (Groupe Peters Surgical SAS)
• Original Assignee: Novare Surgical Systems, Inc. (Groupe Peters Surgical SAS)
• Inventors: Gold, Adam C., Danitz, David J., Hegeman, David E.
• Primary Examiner(s): WEHNER, CARY ELLEN
• Application Number:
  US10/136,983
• Publication Number:
  US 20020165565A1
• Time in Patent Office: 622 Days
• Field of Search: 606/205, 606/206, 606/208, 606/151, 606/157, 606/158, 600/123, 600/124, 600/125, 600/139, 600/141, 600/142, 600/40, 604/523, 604/524, 604/525, 604/535
• US Class Current: 606/157
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/122 Clamps or clips , e.g. for the umbilical cord for the vas deferens A61F6/206
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00292 mounted on or guided by flexible, e.g. catheter-like, means
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00314 Separate linked members
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2837 with a locking ratchet
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2901 Details of shaft
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2905 flexible
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2946 Locking means
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/50 Supports for surgical instruments, e.g. articulated arms

Abstract

A clamp has a handle assembly, a gripping assembly having a pair of jaws that can be opened and closed to grip an element, and a shaft assembly. The shaft assembly has a flexible shaft having a proximal end that is operatively coupled to the handle assembly and a distal end that is operatively coupled to the gripping assembly. The shaft assembly also has a rigid element that can be placed in a first position where the rigid element supports the shaft in a manner where the shaft cannot be bent, and in a second position where the shaft can be bent.

Claims

1. A clamp comprising:

a gripping assembly having a pair of jaws that can be opened and closed to grip an element;

a handle assembly having means for locking the pair of jaws in a closed position, the locking means having means for adjusting the locking force of the jaws; and

a shaft assembly having;

a flexible shaft having a proximal end that is operatively coupled to the handle assembly and a distal end that is operatively coupled to the gripping assembly; and

a rigid element that can be placed in a first position where the rigid element supports the shaft in a manner where the shaft cannot be bent, and in a second position where the shaft can be bent.

2. The clamp of claim 1, wherein the handle assembly includes a first handle piece and a second handle piece, and the locking means includes:

a ratchet rack pivotally coupled to the first and second handle pieces, the ratchet rack having a tooth; and

a ratchet that is normally biased towards the ratchet rack, and having means for engaging the tooth on the ratchet rack.

3. The clamp of claim 2, wherein the ratchet is pivotally coupled to the second handle piece.

4. The clamp of claim 2, wherein the ratchet has a portion that is pushed to pivot the ratchet away from the ratchet rack to release the engagement of the engaging means with the tooth on the ratchet rack.

5. The clamp of claim 4, wherein the ratchet assembly further includes at least one release button that is coupled to the ratchet to pivot the ratchet away from the ratchet rack to release the engagement of the tooth of the ratchet rack with the engaging means.

6. The clamp of claim 4, wherein the portion is a dial that is provided at one end of the ratchet.

7. The clamp of claim 2, wherein the ratchet assembly further includes at least one release button that is coupled to the ratchet to pivot the ratchet away from the ratchet rack to release the engagement of the tooth of the ratchet rack with the engaging means.

8. The clamp of claim 7, wherein the ratchet assembly further includes a rod which is coupled to the ratchet and the at least one release button, and wherein pivoting of the at least one release button causes the rod to experience longitudinal motion which pivots the ratchet.

9. The clamp of claim 7, wherein the at least one release button comprises two release buttons.

10. The clamp of claim 7, wherein the at least one release button is pivotally coupled to the second handle piece.

11. The clamp of claim 2, wherein the ratchet assembly further includes a spring that biases the ratchet towards the ratchet rack.

12. The clamp of claim 2, wherein the adjusting means includes the engaging means, with the engaging means having an elongate member that has a helical groove that also defines a continuous path that includes a plurality of teeth, with the tooth of the ratchet rack adapted to engage the groove and to travel along the continuous path.

13. The clamp of claim 1, further including a first release mechanism and a second release mechanism, wherein the first and second release mechanisms are coupled to the ratchet assembly, and wherein the ratchet assembly can be disengaged by actuating:

(i) the first release mechanism, or (ii) the second release mechanism, or (iii) both the first and second release mechanisms.

14. A clamp comprising:

a handle assembly;

a gripping assembly having a pair of jaws that can be opened and closed to grip an element;

a shaft assembly having a flexible shaft having a proximal end that is operatively coupled to the handle assembly and a distal end that is operatively coupled to the gripping assembly; and

a rigid element that can be removably coupled to the shaft in a manner so that when the rigid element is coupled to the shaft, the shaft cannot be bent, and when the rigid element is not coupled to the shaft, the shaft can be bent.

15. The clamp of claim 14, wherein the rigid element is a tubular element having a longitudinal slit through which the shaft can pass.

16. The clamp of claim 14, wherein the rigid element has a distal end that is removably attached to the gripping assembly.

17. The clamp of claim 14, wherein the rigid element has a proximal end that is removably attached to the handle assembly.

18. A clamp comprising:

a handle assembly;

a gripping assembly having a pair of jaws that can be opened and closed to grip an element;

a shaft assembly having a flexible shaft having a proximal end that is operatively coupled to the handle assembly and a distal end that is operatively coupled to the gripping assembly; and

a rigid element that can be placed in a first position where the rigid element extends parallel to the shaft along the length of the shaft so that the shaft cannot be bent, and in a second position where the rigid element extends parallel to the shaft along a portion of the shaft so that portions of the shaft can be bent.

19. The clamp of claim 18, wherein the rigid element is a rigid rod.

20. The clamp of claim 19, wherein the rigid element includes a distal block removably coupled to the gripping assembly and a proximal block secured to the handle assembly, with the rigid rod carried on the distal block and the proximal block.

21. The clamp of claim 18, wherein the rigid element comprises a plurality of parallel rigid rods.

22. The clamp of claim 21, wherein the rigid element includes a distal block removably coupled to the gripping assembly and a proximal block secured to the handle assembly, with the plurality of rigid rods having a distal rod carried on the distal block, and a proximal rod carried on the proximal block.

23. A clamp comprising:

a handle assembly;

a gripping assembly having a pair of jaws that can be opened and closed to grip an element;

a shaft assembly having;

a flexible shaft having a proximal end that is operatively coupled to the handle assembly and a distal end that is operatively coupled to the gripping assembly; and

a plurality of rigid telescoping tubes that can be oriented in a first position where the telescoping tubes are nested within each other adjacent to and external of the handle assembly, and in a second position where the telescoping tubes are fully deployed to completely cover the flexible shaft.

24. The clamp of claim 23, wherein the plurality of telescoping tubes has a distal telescoping tube that is locked to the gripping assembly when the telescoping tubes are oriented in the second position.

25. The clamp of claim 23, wherein the plurality of telescoping tubes has a proximal telescoping tube that is secured to the handle assembly.

26. The clamp of claim 23, wherein the plurality of telescoping tubes has a proximal telescoping tube and a distal telescoping tube, with proximal telescoping tube having a larger diameter than the distal telescoping tube.

27. The clamp of claim 23, wherein the plurality of telescoping tubes has a proximal telescoping tube and a distal telescoping tube, with proximal telescoping tube having a smaller diameter than the distal telescoping tube.

28. A clamp comprising:

a handle assembly;

a gripping assembly having a pair of jaws that can be opened and closed to grip an element;

a shaft assembly having;

a flexible shaft having a proximal end that is operatively coupled to the handle assembly and a distal end that is operatively coupled to the gripping assembly; and

a plurality of rigid telescoping tubes that can be oriented in a first position where the telescoping tubes are nested within each other adjacent the gripping assembly, and in a second position where the telescoping tubes are fully deployed to completely cover the flexible shaft.

29. The clamp of claim 28, wherein the plurality of telescoping tubes has a proximal telescoping tube that is releasably locked to the handle assembly when the telescoping tubes are oriented in the second position.

30. The clamp of claim 29, further including a knob that is attached to the proximal telescoping tube, and which is releasably locked with the handle assembly.

31. The clamp of claim 28, wherein the plurality of telescoping tubes has a distal telescoping tube that is secured to the gripping assembly.

32. The clamp of claim 28, wherein the plurality of telescoping tubes has a proximal telescoping tube and a distal telescoping tube, with the proximal telescoping tube having a larger diameter than the distal telescoping tube.

33. The clamp of claim 28, wherein the plurality of telescoping tubes has a proximal telescoping tube and a distal telescoping tube, with the proximal telescoping tube having a smaller diameter than the distal telescoping tube.

34. The clamp of claim 28, wherein the shaft is completely flexible when the plurality of telescoping tubes is in the first position.

35. The clamp of claim 28, wherein the plurality of telescoping tubes are non-rotational.

36. The clamp of claim 28, wherein the jaws are non-rotational and are capable of supporting axial loads, side loads, moments, and torques.

37. The clamp of claim 28, wherein the flexible shaft is capable of withstanding axial loads when the plurality of telescoping tubes is in the first position.

38. A method of using a clamp during a surgical procedure, comprising:

a. providing a clamp comprising;

a handle assembly;

a gripping assembly having a pair of jaws that can be opened and closed to grip an element; and

a shaft assembly having;

a flexible shaft having a proximal end that is operatively coupled to the handle assembly and a distal end that is operatively coupled to the gripping assembly;

a plurality of rigid telescoping tubes that can be oriented in a first position where the telescoping tubes are nested within each other adjacent the gripping assembly, the telescoping tubes including a proximal telescoping tube; and

a knob that is attached to the proximal telescoping tube, and which is releasably locked with the handle assembly;

b. fully deploying the telescoping tubes into a second position where the telescoping tubes completely cover the flexible shaft in a manner where the shaft cannot be bent;

c. introducing the jaws into a surgical site via an opening that has a size which is smaller than a surgeon'"'"'s hand; and

d. manipulating the jaws inside the surgical site solely by controlling the knob.

39. The method of claim 38, further including:

e. closing the jaws inside the surgical site solely by controlling the handle assembly that is positioned away from the surgical site.

40. A clamp comprising:

a gripping assembly having a pair of jaws that can be opened and closed to grip an element;

a shaft assembly having a shaft having a proximal end that is operatively coupled to the handle assembly and a distal end that is operatively coupled to the gripping assembly; and

a handle assembly having;

a first handle piece and a second handle piece;

a ratchet rack pivotally coupled to the first and second handle pieces, the ratchet rack having a tooth; and

means coupled to the second handle piece for releasably engaging the tooth on the ratchet rack, the engaging means having means for providing both discrete adjustment and continuous adjustment of the locking force of the jaws.

41. The clamp of claim 40, wherein the adjustment means includes an elongate member coupled to the second handle piece, the elongate member having a helical groove that also defines a continuous path that includes a plurality of teeth that allow for discrete adjustment, with the tooth of the ratchet rack adapted to engage the groove and to travel along the continuous path for continuous adjustment.

42. The clamp of claim 41, further including means for releasing the engagement between the tooth of the ratchet rack and the groove.