U.S. patent application number 09/745180 was filed with the patent office on 2001-07-05 for medical device.
Invention is credited to Leopold, Andrew R., Lippitt, Raymond F., Lippitt, Robert G..
Application Number | 20010007057 09/745180 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 27580807 |
Filed Date | 2001-07-05 |
United States Patent
Application |
20010007057 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Lippitt, Raymond F. ; et
al. |
July 5, 2001 |
Medical device
Abstract
A medical device comprising a canula assembly having a movable
medical instrument assembly on the distal end thereof and a moving
assembly on the proximal end thereof. The medical instrument
assembly comprises a plurality of cooperating medical instrument
structures having proximal ends confined peripherally at a position
of confinement and distal ends movable toward and away from each
other. Each cooperating medical instrument structure include a
longitudinally stable tubular portion at the proximal confined end
thereof having an open end spaced from the position of confinement.
Each tubular portion has a movable elongated flexure element
extending therethrough having a distal end disposed outwardly of
the open end of the tubular portion and fixed with respect to a
cooperating medical instrument structure at a position thereon
spaced from the confined proximal end thereof. The moving assembly
includes fixed structure having moving structure movably mounted
thereon positioned and configured to be manually moved to effect
movement of the distal ends of the movable medical instrument
structure by the movement of the movable flexible elements.
Inventors: |
Lippitt, Raymond F.;
(Bethesda, MD) ; Lippitt, Robert G.; (Smithfield,
NC) ; Leopold, Andrew R.; (Lake Zurich, IL) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Raymond F. Lippitt
8601 Burning Tree Road
Bethesda
MD
20817
US
|
Family ID: |
27580807 |
Appl. No.: |
09/745180 |
Filed: |
December 22, 2000 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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09745180 |
Dec 22, 2000 |
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09429950 |
Oct 29, 1999 |
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09429950 |
Oct 29, 1999 |
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09317131 |
May 24, 1999 |
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09317131 |
May 24, 1999 |
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09069159 |
Apr 29, 1998 |
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5906622 |
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60045068 |
Apr 29, 1997 |
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60045322 |
May 1, 1997 |
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60056507 |
Aug 21, 1997 |
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60056533 |
Aug 21, 1997 |
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60056527 |
Aug 21, 1997 |
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60056509 |
Aug 21, 1997 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
600/564 ;
606/205 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A61B 10/06 20130101;
A61B 2017/2215 20130101; A61B 17/221 20130101; B25B 9/00 20130101;
A61B 2018/1407 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
600/564 ;
606/205 |
International
Class: |
A61B 017/32 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A medical device comprising an elongated canula assembly having
a movable medical instrument assembly on a distal end thereof
constructed and arranged to enter the human body to perform a
specific procedure, and a moving assembly on a proximal end thereof
constructed and arranged to be manually operated outside the human
body to move the movable medical instrument assembly during the
performance of the procedure, said medical instrument assembly
comprising a plurality of cooperating medical instrument structures
having proximal ends confined peripherally at a position of
confinement and distal ends movable toward and away from each
other, at least one of said cooperating medical instrument
structures including a longitudinally stable tubular portion at the
proximal confined end thereof having an open end spaced from said
position of confinement, said tubular portions having a movable
elongated flexure element extending therethrough having a distal
end disposed outwardly of the open end of said tubular portion and
fixed with respect to a cooperating medical instrument structure at
a position thereon spaced from the confined proximal end thereof,
said moving assembly including fixed structure having moving
structure movably mounted thereon positioned and configured to be
manually moved, said canula assembly including an elongated
longitudinally stable transversely flexible guide structure
extending between the fixed structure of said moving assembly and
the proximal end of said tubular portion and an elongated flexible
moving structure disposed in movably guided relation to said
elongated longitudinally fixed transversely flexible guide
structure connected between the movable structure of said moving
assembly and said movable flexure element so that when said moving
structure is manually moved in one direction the distal ends of
said cooperating medical instrument structures are moved away from
one another and when said moving structure is manually moved in an
opposite direction the distal ends of said cooperating medical
instrument structures are moved toward one another.
2. A medical device as defined in claim 1 wherein said movable
flexure element is a movable wire section fixed with respect to a
cooperating medical instrument structure by a fixed wire section
integrally connected with the distal end thereof by a kink which
determines the fixed position of the distal end of said movable
wire section.
3. A medical device as defined in claim 2 wherein said movable and
fixed wire sections are made of nitinol with said kink being formed
in memory.
4. A medical device as defined in claim 3 wherein said medical
instrument structures are opposed biopsy taking members.
5. A medical device comprising an elongated canula assembly having
a movable medical instrument assembly on a distal end thereof
constructed and arranged to enter the human body to perform a
specific procedure, and a moving assembly on a proximal end thereof
constructed and arranged to be manually operated outside the human
body to move the movable medical instrument assembly during the
performance of the procedure, said medical instrument assembly
comprising a plurality of cooperating medical instrument structures
having proximal ends confined peripherally at a position of
confinement and distal ends movable toward and away from each
other, each of said cooperating medical instrument structures
including a longitudinally stable tubular portion at the proximal
confined end thereof having an open end spaced from said position
of confinement, each of said tubular portions having a movable
elongated flexure element extending therethrough having a distal
end disposed outwardly of the open end of said tubular portion and
fixed with respect to a cooperating medical instrument structure at
a position thereon spaced from the confined proximal end thereof,
said moving assembly including fixed structure having moving
structure movably mounted thereon positioned and configured to be
manually moved, said canula assembly including an elongated
longitudinally stable transversely flexible guide structure
extending between the fixed structure of said moving assembly and
the proximal end of said tubular portion and an elongated flexible
moving structure disposed in movably guided relation to said
elongated longitudinally fixed transversely flexible guide
structure connected between the movable structure of said moving
assembly and said movable flexure element so that when said moving
structure is manually moved in one direction the distal ends of
said cooperating medical instrument structures are moved away from
one another and when said moving structure is manually moved in an
opposite direction the distal ends of said cooperating medical
instrument structures are moved toward one another.
6. A medical device as defined in claim 5 wherein each of said
movable flexure elements is a movable wire section fixed with
respect to a cooperating medical instrument structure by a fixed
wire section integrally connected with the distal end thereof by a
kink which determines the fixed position of the distal end of said
movable wire section.
7. A medical device as defined in claim 6 wherein said tubular
portion includes a distal end portion of an elongated plastic tube
having a proximal portion which extends completely through said
canula assembly.
8. A medical device as defined in claim 7 wherein each medical
instrument structure includes a distal end portion of a short
plastic tube disposed in parallel relation to the distal end
portion of said elongated plastic tube, each short plastic tube
including a proximal end portion extending into said canula
assembly, each fixed wire section extending through an associated
short plastic tube and having a proximal end portion extending into
said canula assembly, said canula assembly including an elongated
body of thermoplastic material adhered to the exterior wire section
and the peripheries of the proximal end portions of said fixed
peripheries of the proximal end portions of said plastic tubes so
as to leave short portions thereof extending between proximal ends
of said medical instrument structures and a distal end of said body
of thermoplastic material which together with the wire extents
therein serve as confining hinges for said medical instrument
structures.
9. A medical device as defined in claim 8 wherein said movable and
fixed wire sections are made of nitinol with said kink being formed
in memory.
10. A medical device as defined in claim 9 wherein said plastic
tubes are formed of polyimide.
11. A medical device as defined in claim 10 wherein said body of
thermoplastic material is polyethylene.
12. A medical device as defined in claim 11 wherein said medical
instrument structures are opposed biopsy taking members.
13. A medical device as defined in claim 6 wherein said movable and
fixed wire sections are made of nitinol with said kink being formed
in memory.
14. A medical device as defined in claim 5 wherein said medical
instrument structures are opposed biopsy taking members.
Description
[0001] This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent
application Ser. No. 09/429,950, filed Oct. 29, 1999, which, in
turn, is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No.
09/317,131, filed May 24, 1999, which, in turn, is a
continuation-in-part of U.S. application Ser. No. 09/069,159, filed
Apr. 29, 1998, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,906,622, which claims priority
of Provisional Application No. 60/045,068, filed Apr. 29, 1997,
Provisional Application No. 60/045,322, filed May 1, 1997,
Provisional Application No. 60/056,507, filed Aug. 21, 1997, and
Provisional Application No. 60/056,533, filed Aug. 21, 1997. The
09/317,131 application is also a continuation-in-part of U.S.
patent application Ser. No. 09/069,160, filed Apr. 29, 1998, now
U.S. Pat. No. 5,924,175, which claims priority of Provisional
Application No. 60/045,068, filed Apr. 29, 1997, Provisional
Application No. 60/045,322, filed May 1, 1997, Provisional
Application No. 60/056,527, filed Aug. 21, 1997, and Provisional
Application No. 60/056,509, filed Aug. 21, 1997, the disclosure of
each of which is hereby incorporated by reference into the present
specification.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] This application relates to medical devices and more
particularly to medical devices which have dimensions small enough
to pass through the central passage of a scope.
[0003] The type of medical device herein contemplated includes an
elongated canula assembly having a distal end which carries a
medical instrument with movable parts constructed and arranged to
be inserted into a patient and a proximal end which carries a
moving assembly constructed and arranged to be retained exteriorly
of the patient.
[0004] Our issued U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,906,622 and 5,924,175 illustrate
medical instruments in the form of an annularly extending and
retracting gripping and releasing assembly, as, for example, a
kidney stone extractor instrument. The patents disclosed
embodiments of a miniature size sufficient to pass through a three
French central passage of a scope. The mechanism of the of the
instrument includes a plurality of operative elements which are (1)
longitudinally fixed and of generally tubular configuration and (2)
longitudinally movable and of elongated configuration suitable to
move within the tubular configuration of element (1). Each
longitudinally fixed tubular element forms a part of one of a
plurality of cooperating medical instrument structures which extend
from the confined proximal end thereof to a distal end spaced
longitudinally outwardly of the proximal end. Each longitudinally
movable elongated element is movably disposed within a
longitudinally fixed tubular element forming a part of one of the
cooperating medical instrument structures and has a distal end
disposed (1) outwardly of the distal end of the one longitudinally
fixed tubular element and (2) fixed relative to an adjacent one of
the plurality of medical instrument structures at a position spaced
longitudinally outwardly of the confined proximal end thereof. In
the embodiments disclosed in the patents, the cooperating medicate
instrument structures constituted three (or more than three)
annularly arranged fixed tubular elements so that the movement of
the movable elongated elements within the tubular members and their
fixture with respect to the adjacent tubular elements resulted in
the annular expansion and contraction of the distal ends of the
fixed tubular members. A distinct advantage of the arrangement is
that both expansion and contraction are effected positively by the
movable elongated elements. While all of the illustrated
embodiments in the patents include three or more annularly arranged
cooperating medical instrument structures, the principle of
operation and the advantages of positive expansion and retraction
are applicable to medical instruments which simply have two opposed
cooperating medical instrument structures.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to
provide a medical device comprising an elongated canula assembly
having a distal end constructed and arranged to be inserted into a
patient and a proximal end constructed and arranged to be retained
exteriorly of the patient. The canula assembly has a medical
instrument assembly on the distal end thereof and a moving assembly
on the proximal end thereof. The medical instrument assembly
comprises a plurality of cooperating medical instrument structures
having proximal ends confined peripherally at a position of
confinement and distal ends movable toward and away from each
other. At least one of the cooperating medical instrument
structures includes a longitudinally fixed tubular elements fixed
at the proximal confined end thereof having a free end spaced from
the position of confinement. The tubular element has a movable
elongated flexure element extending therethrough having a distal
end disposed outwardly of the free end of the fixed tubular element
and fixed with respect to a cooperating medical instrument
structure at a position thereon spaced from the confined proximal
end thereof. The moving assembly includes fixed structure having
moving structure movably mounted thereon spaced from the confined
proximal end thereof. The moving assembly includes fixed structure
having moving structure movably mounted thereon positioned and
configured to be manually moved. The canula assembly includes an
elongated longitudinally fixed transversely flexible guide
structure extending between the fixed structure of the moving
assembly and the proximal end of the fixed tubular element and an
elongated flexible moving member disposed in movably guided
relation to the elongated longitudinally fixed transversely
flexible guide structure connected between the movable structure of
the moving assembly and the movable flexure element so that when
the moving structure is manually moved in one direction the distal
ends of the cooperating medical instrument structures are moved
away from one another and when the moving structure is manually
moved in an opposite direction the distal ends of the cooperating
medical instrument structures are moved toward one another.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0006] FIG. 1 is a fragmentary side elevational view of a medical
device embodying the principles of the present invention, showing
the movable medical instrument assembly at the distal end thereof
in a fully retracted condition and certain parts in section for
purposes of clearer illustration;
[0007] FIG. 2 is a view similar to FIG. 1, showing the movable
medical instrument assembly in an expanded condition;
[0008] FIG. 3 is an enlarged sectional view taken along the line
3-3 of FIG. 1;
[0009] FIG. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along the line
4-4 of FIG. 1;
[0010] FIG. 5 is an enlarged sectional view taken along the line
5-5 of FIG. 1;
[0011] FIG. 6 is a sectional view of the medical device depicted in
FIGS. 1-5 showing the moving assembly at the proximal end
thereof;
[0012] FIG. 7 is an enlarged sectional view taken along the line
7-7 of FIG. 6; and
[0013] FIG. 8 is a fragmentary side elevational view of another
form of medical device embodying the principles of the present
invention, showing the movable medical instrument assembly in a
fully retracted condition in solid lines and in a fully expanded
condition in broken lines.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0014] Referring now more particularly to FIGS. 1-7 of the
drawings, there is shown therein a medical device, generally
indicated at 10, embodying the principles of the present invention.
The medical device 10 includes an elongated canula assembly,
generally indicated at 12, having a movable medical instrument
assembly, generally indicated at 14, at a distal end thereof and a
moving assembly, generally indicated at 16, at a proximal end
thereof. The distal end portion of the canula assembly 12 including
the movable medical instrument assembly 14 is constructed and
arranged to enter a patient while the proximal end portion of the
canula assembly 12 including the moving assembly 16 is constructed
and arranged to be retained exteriorly of the patient.
[0015] The movable medical instrument assembly 14, as shown, is an
endoscopic movable medical instrument assembly, specifically, a
biopsy sample taker of the type previously disclosed in U.S. Pat.
No. 5,840,143, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated into
the present specification.
[0016] The movable medical instrument assembly 14 comprises a
plurality of cooperating medical instrument structures, generally
indicated at 18, having proximal ends confined peripheral and
having distal ends movable toward and away from one another. The
medical instrument structures 18 embody a plurality of operating
elements. In this embodiment, each of the two medical instrument
structures 18 embodies two operating elements now to be described.
Each medical instrument structure 18, in the form of a biopsy jaw
member, has a tubular portion 20 which forms a part of the
operating elements.
[0017] Each tubular portion 20 is formed at a proximal end section
thereof and has molded therein a short plastic tube 22 which
extends outwardly thereof a short distance and an end portion of a
relatively long plastic tube 24. Each of the tubes 22 and 24, as
shown in FIG. 3, are disposed in abutting relation with respect to
one another within the associated tubular portion 20 and are
adhered therein by a thermoplastic molding material 26, such as
polyethylene or the like. Each of the tubes 22 and 24 are
preferably made of polyimide, although each can be formed of
polytetrafluoroethylene (e.g., Teflon.RTM. or other suitable
material).
[0018] The molded in end portion of each long plastic tube 24 forms
another part of one of the operating elements. . Slidably mounted
within each long plastic tube 24 is an elongated wire section 28
constituting a second operating element. Each biopsy taking jaw
member 18 is preferably formed from tubular metal stock, as, for
example, medical grade stainless steel so that the tubular portion
10 is defined by the stock itself.
[0019] Each medical instrument structure 18 also includes a biopsy
taking portion 30 at its distal end extending outwardly of the
tubular portion 20. As shown, the outer biopsy taking portion 30 is
cut along a saw tooth shaped line and then bent outwardly to form
spaced side and end biopsy taking surfaces 26.
[0020] Each elongated movable wire section 28 has its distal end
integrally interconnected, as by a kink 32, with a short fixed wire
section 34. As best shown in FIG. 3, each tubular portion 20 is
bent inwardly into a generally oval configuration. Each fixed wire
section is extended through the short plastic tube 22 in the
opposite tubular portion 20 to the one that carries the long
plastic tube 24 within which the integral movable wire section 28
extends.
[0021] As best shown in FIG. 1, the kinks 32 of the wire sections
28 are disposed outwardly of an adjacent to the distal end of the
associated long plastic tube 24 and associated tubular portion 20.
Each fixed wire section 30 is long enough so that a free end
portion extends somewhat beyond the proximal end of the associated
short plastic tube 22 which, in turn, extends somewhat beyond the
proximal end of the associated tubular portion 20. Each movable
wire section 24 is long enough so that a free end portion thereof
extends somewhat beyond the proximal ends of the associated long
plastic tube 24 within which it is slidably mounted.
[0022] The extending portions of the plastic tubes 22 and 24 and
the extending portions of the fixed wire sections 34 form parts of
the canula assembly 12. The remainder of the canula assembly 12 is
made up of an elongated molded thermoplastic body 36 within which
the other parts are embedded. The plastic body 36 is molded by
first surrounding the other parts with one or more thermoplastic
tubes, as for example a pair of full length plastic tubes
surrounding the extensions of each pair of tubes 22 and 24. A
single tube surrounding all of the parts or four separate tubes
surrounding each of the tubes 22 and 24 could be used. The
surrounding tubes are preferably made of low density polyethylene.
After the surrounding polyethylene tube or tubes are in place, a
full length shrink wrap tube is fed over the surrounding
polyethylene tubes. A preferred material for the shrink wrap tube
is polytetrafluoroethylene (e.g. Teflon.RTM.). Once the shrink wrap
tube is in place, the exterior thereof is heated as by a flow of
hot air progressively along the entire periphery.
[0023] The temperature of the hot air serves to shrink the shrink
wrap tube into contact with the polyethylene tubes and to heat the
polyethylene to a softening condition so that it flows between any
spaces between the polyethylene tubes and the exterior of the
polyimide tubes 22 and 24. In this molding process, the softened
polyethylene adheres to the extensions of the fixed wire sections
34. Removable spacers may be used in the molding process at the
proximal ends of the tubular portions 20 so that short portions 38
and 40 respectively of the tubes 22 and 24 are left between the
proximal ends of the tubular portions 20 and the distal end of the
polyethylene body 36, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. After the
longitudinally progressive heating of the exterior of the shrink
wrap tube is completed, the shrink wrap tube is longitudinally
scored and removed along with the removable spacers.
[0024] The resultant canula assembly 12 is thus connected with the
cooperating medical instrument structures 18 by the tube portions
38 and 40 and the wire extents therein acting as confining hinges
for the proximal end structures 18 and permitting the distal ends
thereof to be moved or angularly flexed transversely away from one
another into a spaced open position, as shown in FIG. 2.
[0025] It is within the broadest aspects of the present invention
to fix the fixed wire sections 34 directly to their associated
tubular portions 20, as by soldering, brazing or laser welding, so
that only two polyimide tube portions 40 and the contained wire
extent would form the confining hinge. The use of the short tube
portions 38 and contained wire extents are preferred since they
provide with the portions 40 and the wire extents confined therein
a much more balanced confining hinge effect.
[0026] The construction wherein the distal end portions of the
tubes 22 and 24 are fixed by molded material to each medical
instrument structure 18 provides a longitudinally stable tubular
portion in the form of a plastic tube portion 24 at the proximal
end portion of each medical instrument structure 18. The provision
of the parallel plastic tube portion 42 at the proximal end portion
of each medical instrument structure 18 facilitates assembly by
enabling each wire to be installed by feeding the long movable wire
section 28 through one of the tubes 44 until the integral fixed
wire section 34 is reached which can then be fed through the tube
42 of the other structure 18 simultaneously with the completion of
the movable wire section 28 feed. The fixed securement of each
fixed wire section 34 to its associated medical instrument
structure 18 is conveniently accomplished during the molding of the
plastic material 36 o the canula assembly 12. The fixing of each
fixed wire section 34 establishes the position of the associated
kink 32 which determines the fixed position of the distal end of
each movable wire section 28. The long plastic tubes 24 which are
molded to become fixed parts of both the medical instrument
structures 18 and the canula assembly provide slidable control of
the movable wire sections 28 substantially throughout their length
in addition to providing parts of the hinge connection as
aforesaid.
[0027] The moving assembly 16, as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, is
constructed in accordance with the disclosure of our aforesaid
patents to which reference may be made for a detailed operating
description. For present purposes, it is sufficient to note that
the moving assembly 16 includes fixed structure 42 constructed and
arranged to be manually gripped by the user and moving structure 44
mounted in the fixed structure 42 for manual thumb movement in
opposite directions. As shown, the proximal end of the canula
assembly 12 has a flexible tubular protector 46 fixed to the
exterior of the plastic body 36 which is fixedly secured in the
forward end of the fixed structure 42 and serves to fix the
proximal ends of the plastic body 36 to the fixed structure 42 of
the moving assembly 16.
[0028] The proximal ends of the movable wire sections 28 extend
rearwardly of the tubes 24 and are anchored within a thin-walled
tube 48 fixedly carried by the movable structure 44 of the moving
assembly 16.
[0029] It can be seen that, by moving the movable structure 44
forwardly, the movable wire sections 28 will be moved forwardly
within the tubes 24 which are held stationary so that the distal
portions of the wire sections 28 will move out of the distal ends
of the tubes 24 and the tubular portions 20 to cause the biopsy
surfaces 30 to positively move apart. When the movable structure 42
is moved rearwardly, the movable wire sections 28 will be retracted
to move the biopsy surfaces 30 positively together. The manner in
which the biopsy surfaces 30 are utilized to take a biopsy in a
biopsy taking procedure is the same as described in the aforesaid
'043 patent.
[0030] In this embodiment, the peripheral confinement and pivot for
the pair of cooperating movable biopsy taking instrument structures
18 is provided by the tube portions 38 and 40 and the wire extents
contained therein. Providing the pivot for the cooperating movable
instrument structures 18 by the wire sections themselves and the
tubes which receive them is a desirable feature enabling size to be
minimized. Where space permits, it is within the contemplation of
the invention that the peripheral confinement and pivoting
functions can be provided by separate structure designed to
accomplish these functions above. Examples of confining and
pivoting structures of this type are disclosed in the following
U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,752,973, 5,782,747, 5,908,437, 5,947,984, and
5,954,720, the disclosure of each of which is hereby incorporated
by reference into the specification of the present application.
These patents also disclose various types of surgical instruments
which can be utilized in lieu of the biopsy-taking instrument
described above.
[0031] Referring now more particularly to FIG. 8, there is shown
therein another embodiment of a medical device, generally indicated
at 110, embodying the principles of the present invention. As
before, the medical device 110 includes an elongated canula
assembly 112 having a movable medical instrument assembly 114 at
its distal end and a moving mechanism such as the moving mechanism
16 previously described at its proximal end.
[0032] As shown, the movable medical instrument assembly 14 is in
the form of an alligator-type gripping and releasing mechanism
which includes two cooperating medical instrument structures,
generally indicated at 118. The medical instrument structures 118,
as shown in this embodiment, constitutes a pair of cooperating
alligator jaw members peripherally confined at a proximal
confinement position and having distal portions which are movable
toward and away from one another. As before, the medical instrument
structures 118 embody a plurality of operating elements. In this
embodiment, rather than having two medical instrument structures
which embody four operating elements, there are two medical
instrument structures 118 which embody essentially only two
operating elements. One of the medical instrument structures 118 in
the form of an alligator jaw member has a tubular portion 120 at
the proximal end section thereof within which an elongated wire
section 122 constituting a second operating element is mounted for
longitudinal movements in opposite directions. The one alligator
jaw member 118 is preferably formed from tubular metal stock, as
for example medical grade stainless steel, so that the tubular
portion thereof is defined by the stock itself. The medical
instrument includes a gripping portion 124 extending outwardly of
the tubular portion 120. As shown, the outer gripping portion is
cut along a blunt sinusoidal line and then bent outwardly to form
spaced side and end grippers 126. Preferably, the other instrument
structure 118 is of similar construction simply as a matter of
manufacturing convenience. However, the tubular portion 120 of the
other instrument structure does not perform the same function of
receiving a movable operating element such as the elongated wire
section.
[0033] The canula assembly 12 between the movable medical
instrument assembly 14 at its distal end and the moving assembly 16
at its proximal end includes an elongated longitudinally stable and
transversely flexible guide structure in the form of an elongated
biluminal plastic tube 128 having its distal end disposed in
abutting relation to the proximal ends of the tubular portions of
the medical instrument structures 118 and its proximal end fixed to
the fixed structure of the moving assembly 16. The movable wire
section 122 extends from the proximal end of the tubular portion
120 into and through one lumen of the biluminal tube 128 and having
its proximal end fixed to the movable structure 44 of the moving
assembly 16.
[0034] The distal end of the movable wire section 122 is arranged
to be fixed to the other medical instrument structure 18 at a
position outwardly of the position of confinement thereof.
Preferably, this securement is effected by a fixed wire section 130
integrally interconnected at its distal end with the distal end of
the wire section 122, as by a 140.degree. kink 132. The fixed wire
section 130 extends within the tubular portion 120 of the other
medical instrument structure 118 and beyond into and through the
other lumen of the biluminal tube and have its proximal end fixed
to the fixed structure 42 of the moving assembly 16.
[0035] Preferably, the oppositely facing surfaces of the abutting
ends of the biluminal tube 128 and tubular portions 120 are sprayed
with an adhesive to provide an additional hinge or pivotal effect
to the main pivot for the instrument structures 118 provided by the
wire sections extending therebetween one fixed (130) and one
movable (122). The alligator jaw members 118 are moved in the same
fashion as the biopsy taking jaw members 18.
[0036] In the construction of the components thus far described, it
is preferable to utilize nitinol as the material for the wire
sections with the kink 34 being formed in memory. The tubes are
preferably of a medically approved plastic material such as
polyethylene, polypropylene, polyester, polyvinyl chloride,
polyimide or the like. The adhesive is preferably a medical grade
silicone. The other types of medical instrument assemblies that can
be utilized as described in the aforesaid patents include surgical
clamps, cutters, grippers and the like.
[0037] Any U.S. patents or patent applications mentioned or cited
hereinabove are hereby incorporated by reference into the present
application.
[0038] It will thus be seen that the objects of this invention have
been fully and effectively accomplished. It will be realized,
however, that the foregoing preferred specific embodiments have
been shown and described for the purpose of illustrating the
functional and structural principles of this invention and are
subject to change without departure from such principles.
Therefore, this invention includes all modifications encompassed
within the spirit and scope of the following claims.
* * * * *