Surgical instrument with separate tool head and method of use

• US 9,408,659 B2
• Filed: 03/16/2012
• Issued: 08/09/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 04/02/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Atricure, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Atricure, Inc.
• Inventors: Privitera, Salvatore, Winkler, Matthew J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Anderson, Gregory
• Assistant Examiner(s): LAUER, CHRISTINA C
• Application Number:
  US13/422,208
• Publication Number:
  US 20120179153A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,607 Days
• Field of Search: 606/139, 606/142, 606/144, 606/145, 606/147, 606/151, 606205-211
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 17/32 Surgical cutting instruments A61B18/042 takes precedence; suture cutters A61B17/0467; instruments for ligaturing or cutting A61B17/128; instruments for rupturing the amniotic membrane A61B17/4208; specially adapted knives for eye surgery A61F9/0133
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1442 Probes having pivoting end effectors, e.g. forceps
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1445 at the distal end of a shaft, e.g. forceps or scissors at the end of a rigid rod
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1447 wherein sliding surfaces cause opening/closing of the end effectors
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00243 cardiac
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/320044 Blunt dissectors blunt suture needles A61B2017/06085
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00577 Ablation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/145 wherein the effectors remain parallel during closing and opening
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2034/305 Details of wrist mechanisms at distal ends of robotic arms
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 34/30 Surgical robots
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 34/70 Manipulators specially adapted for use in surgery

Abstract

Surgical instruments are disclosed in which an elongated shaft is used in conjunction with a separate, remotely actuable tool head for performing a procedure on a target tissue. The shaft has a tool engagement member carried at its distal end that is remotely actuable through the shaft to engage and release the tool head.

Claims

1. A tool head for use with a medical occlusion procedure configured for use in combination with a surgical device having a shaft and a pair of jaws on the distal end of the shaft, the tool head comprising a deployment frame removably coupled to an occlusion clip and devoid of an elongated shaft and handle, the occlusion clip having at least two legs that are repositionable with respect to one another and configured to occlude tissue therebetween, the occlusion clip being attached to a tether line that is separate from the surgical device and that extends through the deployment frame and configured to be repositioned with respect to the deployment frame in order to reposition the occlusion clip with respect to the deployment frame.

2. The surgical instrument of claim 1 wherein the deployment frame comprises a closed frame circumscribing the occlusion clip.

3. The tool head of claim 1, wherein:

the occlusion clip is covered with a fabric.

4. The tool head of claim 3, wherein:

the occlusion clip comprises a left atrial appendage clamp.

5. The tool head of claim 1, wherein:

a tether line includes a length sufficient for remote actuation outside of a patient'"'"'s body.

6. The tool head of claim 1, wherein the tether line comprises a suture.