Magnetic closure mechanism for hemostat

• US 20060089670A1
• Filed: 10/21/2005
• Published: 04/27/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 10/21/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Covidien AG (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Covidien AG (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Hushka, Dylan
• Granted Patent: US 7,686,827 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/205
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/2833 Locking means
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1442 Probes having pivoting end effectors, e.g. forceps
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2808 Clamp, e.g. towel clamp

Abstract

A hemostat includes a housing which has a shaft extending distally therefrom. The shaft has an end effector assembly distally attached thereto. The hemostat also includes a pair of first and second handles which are connected to the housing. The first and second handles are operatively connected to the end effector assembly. At least one of the first and second handles are moveable relative to the other handle to effectively actuate the end effector assembly. The hemostat further includes a magnetic closure mechanism which has a first magnet connected to the first handle and a second magnet connected to the second handle. The first and second magnets each have a magnetic potential and are securely engageable with one another when the handles are moved from a first spaced configuration to a second closer position.

Claims

1. A hemostat comprising:

a housing having a shaft extending distally therefrom, said shaft having an end effector assembly attached at a distal end thereof;

a pair of first and second handles connected to the housing and operatively connected to the end effector assembly, at least one of said handles moveable relative to the other said handles to effectively actuate the end effector assembly; and

a magnetic closure mechanism having a first magnet having a first magnetic potential connected to said first handle and a second magnet having a second magnetic potential connected to said second handle, wherein said first and second magnets are securely engageable with one another when said handles are moved from a first spaced configuration to a second closer configuration.

2. A hemostat according to claim 1 wherein said end effector assembly includes opposing first and second jaw members and said magnetic closure mechanism maintains a closure pressure between opposing jaw members within a predefined pressure range.

3. The hemostat according to claim 1 wherein said first handle and said second handle are moveable relative to one another in the same plane.

4. A hemostat according to claim 1 wherein at least one of said handles includes at least one ergonomically friendly feature to facilitate handling, said ergonomically friendly feature selected from the group consisting of raised protuberances, rubber inserts, scallops and gripping surfaces.

5. A hemostat according to claim 2 wherein at least one of said jaw members includes at least one stop member which controls the distance between opposing jaw members.

6. A hemostat according to claim 1 wherein the shape of said first magnet and said second magnet are selected from the group consisting of circular, square-like, rectangular, and polygonal.

7. A hemostat according to claim 1 wherein said first magnet and said second magnet are configured to include mechanically engaging teeth.

8. A hemostat according to claim 1 wherein the said first magnet and said second magnet are each covered by a polymeric covering.

9. A hemostat according to claim 8 wherein said polymeric covering is a natural polymer, synthetic polymer or combinations thereof.

10. A hemostat according to claim 1 wherein said first magnet and said second magnet include adjustable magnetic polarities.

11. A hemostat according to claim 1 wherein said first magnet and said second magnet are selectively removable and interchangeable.

12. A hemostat according to claim 11 wherein said first magnet and said second magnet are attached to said pair of first and second handles using at least one means selected from the group consisting of snaps, grooves, screws, pins, and combinations thereof.

13. A hemostat according to claim 1 wherein the magnets are electromagnets.

14. A hemostat according to claim 1 wherein said housing includes a mechanically assisting element to help generate a greater closure pressure.

15. A hemostat according to claim 14 wherein said mechanically assisting element includes at least one of gears, springs and combinations thereof.

16. A hemostat comprising:

a housing having a shaft extending distally therefrom, said shaft having an end effector assembly attached at a distal end thereof, wherein said end effector assembly includes opposing first and second jaw members, said jaw members adapted to connect to an electrical energy source such that said jaw members can selectively apply electrical energy through tissue held therebetween;

a pair of first and second handles connected to the housing and operatively connected to the end effector assembly, at least one of said handles moveable relative to the other of said handles to effectively actuate the end effector assembly; and

a magnetic closure mechanism having a first magnet having a first magnetic potential connected to said first handle and a second magnet having a second magnetic potential connected to said second handle, wherein said first and second magnets are securely engageable with one another when said handles are moved from a first spaced configuration to a second closer configuration and said magnetic closure mechanism maintains a closure pressure between the opposing jaw members within a predefined pressure range.

17. A hemostat according to claim 16 wherein at least one of said jaw members includes at least one stop member which controls the distance between opposing jaw members.

18. A hemostat according to claim 16 wherein said predefined pressure range ranges from about 3 kg/cm² to about 16 kg/cm².

19. A hemostat comprising:

first and second shafts pivotably engaged for movement relative to one another from a first spaced configuration to a second closer configuration, each of said first and second shafts including respective jaw members at a distal end thereof and respective handles at a proximal end thereof, said jaw members disposed in opposing relation relative to one another; and

a magnetic closure mechanism having a first magnet having a first magnetic potential connected to said first handle and a second magnet having a second magnetic potential connected to said second handle, wherein said first and second magnets are securely engageable with one another when said handles are moved from a first spaced configuration to a second closer configuration and said magnetic closure mechanism maintains a closure pressure between the opposing jaw members within a predefined pressure range.