Atraumatic Surgical Clamp

Abstract

A vascular clamp includes a plurality of elongated jaws operatively connected together for movement from an open position to a clamping position. At least one of the jaws is provided with a resilient gripping member. A plurality of pin members are imbedded into the resilient gripping member and extend generally in the direction of the clamping motion of the jaw on which the resilient gripping member is provided. The inner end of the pin members is fixedly positioned with respect to the jaw on which the resilient member is provided. The length of the pin members is such that their outer ends lie beneath the outer surface of the resilient clamping member when the jaws are in their open position and extend beyond the outer surface of the resilient member when the jaws are in their clamping position. When the jaws are in their clamping position, the object being clamped compresses the resilient member and the pins extend beyond the outer surface of the compressed resilient member and thus grippingly engage the object clamped between the jaws.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to vascular clamps. More specifically, the invention relates to atraumatic surgical clamps.

The first clamp really designed for vascular surgery was the Potts clamp which was made with many fine, sharp teeth specifically for use in infants for a patent ductus or a coarctation of the aorta. The aorta of an infant is very spongy and it can be occluded by the Potts clamp very effectively. This was, for many years, the only vascular clamp, but unfortunately, it came to be used in peripheral vessels where there is arteriosclerosis. These rigid vessels walls are filled with calcium. The use of this clamp is well known to be associated with trauma to the vessel, actually disrupting the vessel wall at the site where it is applied. The surgical literature is now filled with case reports of subsequent disruption or aneurysm formation at the site of the clamp rather than at the site of the previous vascular surgery. Recognizing the need for a better clamp, other instruments were developed such as the DeBakey clamp, which is probably the most widely used. However, it too is well known for its trauma to peripheral vessels. Studies designed specifically to compare many vascular clamps now made have shown that all except for the Fogarty hydragrip clamp are traumatic to vessels and cause disruption. The Fogarty clamp is not traumatic since it utilizes a cushioned plastic resilient gripping member rather than a serrated metal closure. The jaws of this clamp have on one side a water-filled soft plastic which is pliable and on the other side a slightly serrated plastic. While this clamp most closely approximates the atraumatic occlusion that can be achieved at present only by the experienced surgeon's fingers, the clamp, too, has a very serious defect since it slips very easily. For this reason, this clamp has not gained wide acceptance. It is easy to visualize that because a clamp is smooth, the pulsations of a normal artery tend to force it off the vessel causing the surgeon's field to be obscured by much bleeding.

It is an object of the invention to provide an improved vascular clamp. It is a further object to provide an improved atraumatic vascular clamp which avoids the disadvantages previously associated with atraumatic clamps known heretofore.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The foregoing and other objects which will be apparent to those having ordinary skill in the art are achieved according to the present invention by providing a surgical clamp comprising a pair of elongated jaws operatively connected together for movement from an open position to a clamping position, at least one of said jaws comprising a resilient gripping member, said resilient gripping member having imbedded therein a plurality of elongate pin members extending generally in the direction of the clamping motion of the jaw on which the resilient member is provided, the inner end of said pin members being fixedly positioned with respect to said jaw, said pin members having a length such that their outer ends lie under the outer surface of said resilient gripping member when the jaws are in their open position and extend beyond the outer surface of said resilient gripping member when the jaws are in their clamping position with said resilient member being compressed by an object being clamped, whereby the outer ends of said pin members grippingly engage an object clamped between said jaws.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

There follows a detailed description of a preferred embodiment of the invention, together with accompanying drawings. However, it is to be understood that the detailed description and accompanying drawings are provided solely for the purpose of illustrating a preferred embodiment and that the invention is capable of numerous modifications and variations apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a surgical clamp embodying the features of the present invention;

FIG 2 is a sectional view of the jaws of the clamp of FIG. 1 and shown in an open position; and

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the jaws of the clamp of FIG. 1 and shown in a clamping position.

With reference to FIG. 1, a surgical clamp has a pair of straight elongated jaw members 1 and 2 which are pivotally interconnected at 3 for movement from an open position as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 into a clamping position as shown in FIG. 3. The clamp is generally conventional in configuration including handle portions 4 and 5 in the general arrangement of a pair of pliers. Preferably, the jaws are bent at 6 at a considerable angle to the hinge and handle portions. The fffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffkkkk222ffffffffff ffffmmmm The extremity of each handle portion carries a finger loop 7 and the handle portions are equipped with conventional locking lugs 8 having interengageable ratchet teeth.

According to the present invention, at least one of the jaws 1 and 2 is provided with a resilient gripping member 9 having imbedded therein a plurality of elongate pin members 10 extending generally in the direction of the clamping motion of the jaws indicated as arrow 11 in FIG. 2. This direction will usually be substantially normal fffffffffffffffffffffffffffffooooooooooooooooobbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbnormal to a jaw surface. The inner end 12 of each pin member is fixed in position with respect to the jaw in which the pin member is located. For example, the pin members may be welded or screwed or otherwise secured directly to the jaw. The length of the pin members is such that their outer ends 13 lie under the outer surface 14 of resilient clamping member 9 when the jaws are in their open position as shown in FIG. 2.

When a vessel such as vessel 15 shown in FIG. 3 is clamped by the jaws, resilient members 9 compress as shown. The length of the pin members 10 is such that when the jaws are in their clamping position with the resilient member compressed as shown in FIG. 3, the outer ends 13 of the pin members grippingly engage the vessel clamped between the jaws. Thus, just as the resilient material becomes compressed, a fine row of metal teeth are bared. These teeth protrude only a very short distance to puncture only the outermost layer of the blood vessel and not the full thickness thereof. In this way, there would be no damage to the inner wall of the blood vessel. The teeth are preferably fine, no larger than a diameter of 10 mils, and preferably 5-0 or less in size. Thus, the clamp would simulate the atraumatic closure of the fingers on both sides of the vessel but the vessel would be held in place by the fine row of teeth. These teeth are limited in their exposure by their length so that in fully closed position of the clamp, the teeth penetrate only a suitable distance above the outer surface of the compressed resilient member 9. This distance is preferably not more than three mm. and still more preferably, not more than 1.5 mm.

The resilient members 9 can be any flexible plastic such as that disclosed in Fogarty U.S. Pat. No. 3,503,398. In that patent, the resilient plastic member includes a liquid filled cavity. When such a member is utilized according to the present invention, the pin members are provided in areas of the flexible plastic not occupied by the fluid-filled cavity. Alternatively, of course, any suitable flexible plastic material such as foam plastic, elastomeric material, and the like, can be utilized as the resilient member 9.

The pin members 10 according to the present invention are preferably pointed and needle-like. These are conveniently welded or otherwise secured to the metal jaws 1 and 2 and the resilient member is subsequently secured to the jaws such as by adhesives or the like. The number and arrangement of pins can vary widely. However, in general, it is preferred that the pin spacing is such that the space between adjacent pin members is from 0.03 to 0.25 inches. It is preferred that both jaws of the clamp are provided with resilient gripping members according to the invention. However, one of the jaws may be plain or provided with a conventional gripping member, preferably atraumatic.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A vascular clamp comprising a pair of elongated jaws operatively connected together for clamping movement from an open position in which the jaws are separated from one another to a clamping position in which the jaws are in adjacency, at least one of said jaws comprising a resilient gripping member positioned on said jaw at a surface thereof facing the other jaw, said resilient gripping member having imbedded therein a plurality of elongate pin members extending generally in the direction of the clamping motion of the jaw on which the resilient member is provided, one end of said pin members being fixedly connected to said jaw, said pin members having a length such that their other ends lie under the outer surface of said resilient gripping member facing the other jaw when the jaws are in their open position and extend beyond the said outer surface of said resilient gripping member when the jaws are in their clamping position with said resilient member being compressed by an object being clamped between said jaws, whereby the outer ends of said pin members grippingly engage an object clamped between said jaws.

2. A vascular clamp according to claim 1 wherein said pin members comprise pointed needles having a diameter of not more than 10 mils, the points being provided at the outer ends of said needles.

3. A vascular clamp according to claim 2 wherein the spacing between adjacent pin members is from 0.03 to 0.25 inches.

4. A vascular clamp according to claim 1 wherein the length of said pin members is such that they extend a distance of not more than 3 mm beyond the outer surface of said resilient gripping member when the jaws are in their clamping position with said resilient gripping member compressed by the object being clamped. 5. A vascular clamp according to claim 1 wherein each of said jaw members is provided with a resilient gripping

member. 6. A vascular clamp according to claim 5 wherein each of said resilient gripping members includes a plurality of said pin members.