U.S. patent number RE38,445 [Application Number 09/305,416] was granted by the patent office on 2004-02-24 for pistols for setting surgical clamps.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Tyco Healthcare Group, LP. Invention is credited to Petra Bohme, Gerald Pistl.
United States Patent |
RE38,445 |
Pistl , et al. |
February 24, 2004 |
Pistols for setting surgical clamps
Abstract
A pistol for setting surgical clamps has a clamp magazine
disposed at the distal end of a tubular endoscopic shaft, a feeding
mechanism for the clamps, and forceps with an associated forceps
closing mechanism for setting the clamps. The feeding mechanism and
the forceps closing mechanism are operated using a hand grip of the
pistol. The clamp magazine has a lower magazine part and an upper
magazine part permanently disposed on the lower magazine part. The
clamp magazine is insertable over guiding elements into the
endoscopic shaft with the feeding mechanism and the clamps are
contained in the clamp magazine. The forceps and the forceps
closing mechanism are disposed below the clamp magazine with the
forceps being exchangeable. The clamp magazine is open at an end
facing the grip for introducing a push rod for a feeding slide with
the feeding slide having a connecting piece into which the push rod
is disposed and locked. An elastic latch locks the clamp magazine
in the endoscopic shaft. The forceps closing mechanism has a
leading incline engageable with a leading incline on the elastic
latch to permit release of the elastic latch simultaneous with
displacement of a filler piece on said forceps closing mechanism to
permit release of the forceps.
Inventors: |
Pistl; Gerald (Braunsdorf,
DE), Bohme; Petra (Chemnitz, DE) |
Assignee: |
Tyco Healthcare Group, LP
(Norwalk, CT)
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Family
ID: |
31498887 |
Appl.
No.: |
09/305,416 |
Filed: |
May 5, 1999 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
Issue Date |
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Reissue of: |
410172 |
Mar 24, 1995 |
05626586 |
May 6, 1997 |
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Foreign Application Priority Data
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May 5, 1994 [DE] |
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44 15 891 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
606/143; 227/901;
606/139; 606/142 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A61B
17/1285 (20130101); A61B 2017/0046 (20130101); A61B
2017/2925 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
A61B
17/12 (20060101); A61B 17/128 (20060101); A61B
17/28 (20060101); A61B 17/00 (20060101); A61B
017/00 () |
Field of
Search: |
;606/143,142,139
;227/901 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
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4303544 |
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Sep 1993 |
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DE |
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4415891.2 |
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Feb 1995 |
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DE |
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WOA9314701 |
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May 1993 |
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WO |
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Primary Examiner: Woo; Julian W.
Claims
What is claimed is: .[.
1. A clamping apparatus for applying surgical clamps, comprising: a
pistol grip actuator having an operating grip movable from an
intermediate position in a first direction for setting one of said
surgical clamps and in a second direction for disassembly of said
clamping apparatus; a hollow shaft having a first end removably
connected to said pistol grip actuator; a removable magazine for
holding said surgical clamps; slide means for slidably receiving
said removable magazine in said hollow shaft through an open second
end of said hollow shaft; said removable magazine having a channel
containing said surgical clamps; a forceps closing member slidably
disposed in said hollow shaft beneath said removable magazine and
responsive to movement of said operating grip; said removable
magazine having an elastic catch biased downward for engaging a
catch member of said hollow shaft extending through said forceps
closing member; forceps means, slidably disposed in said forceps
closing member, for receiving and compressing one of said surgical
clamps by a cam action movement of said forceps closing member in
response to actuation of said operating grip in said first
direction; said forceps means having a catch hook engageable with a
stop member extending from said hollow shaft and through said
forceps closing means to maintain said forceps means fixed relative
to said hollow shaft permitting said cam action movement of said
forceps closing means to compress said one of said surgical clamps;
said forceps closing means having a filler member disposed to
maintain engagement of said catch hook with said stop member during
said cam action movement of said forceps closing means; said
magazine having a feeding slide for advancing said surgical clamps
toward said second end of said hollow shaft; a push rod means
extending from said pistol grip actuator into said hollow shaft
responsive to movement of said operating grip in said first
direction; means for disengagably connecting said feeding slide
with said push rod means to permit advancement of said surgical
clamps in response to movement of said operating grip; and said
forceps closing means being responsive to movement of said
operating grip in said second direction to effect displacement of
said filler member from said catch hook to permit removal of said
forceps means and displacement of said elastic latch from said
catch member to allow removal of said magazine..]. .Iadd.
2. A clamping apparatus for applying surgical clamps, comprising: a
pistol grip actuator having an operating grip moveable from an
intermediate position in a first direction for setting a surgical
clamp; a hollow shaft with a first end connected to said pistol
grip actuator and having guiding elements and a catch member; a
magazine having a channel for containing surgical clamps and
slidably received within said hollow shaft by said guiding elements
through an open second end of said hollow shaft, said magazine
having a feeding slide for advancing said surgical clamps toward
said second end of said hollow shaft; an elastic latch extending
from said magazine and engaging said catch member for securing said
magazine within said hollow shaft; a forceps closing member
slidably disposed within said hollow shaft and responsive to
movement of said operating grip; a push rod extending from said
pistol grip actuator and received by said hollow shaft, said rod
responsive to movement of said operating grip in said first
direction and in operative connection with said feeding slide and
said forceps closing member, and a forceps means, slidably disposed
in said forceps closing member for receiving and compressing one of
said surgical clamps exterior of said hollow shaft by a cam action
movement of said forceps closing member within said hollow shaft in
response to actuation of said operating grip in said first
direction..Iaddend..Iadd.
3. The clamping apparatus of claim 2 wherein said pistol grip
actuator is movable from an intermediate position in a second
direction for disassembly of said clamping
apparatus..Iaddend..Iadd.
4. The clamping apparatus of claim 2 wherein said forceps means
further comprises forceps, said forceps being
removable..Iaddend..Iadd.
5. The clamping apparatus of claim 2 wherein said hollow shaft is
removable..Iaddend..Iadd.
6. The clamping apparatus of claim 2 wherein said magazine is
removable..Iaddend..Iadd.
7. The clamping apparatus of claim 4 wherein said forceps further
comprise a catch hook engageable with a stop member extending from
said hollow shaft, said forceps means further comprising a filler
member disposed to maintain engagement of said catch hook with said
stop member, said stop member maintaining said forceps means fixed
relative to said hollow shaft during cam action movement of said
forceps closing member..Iaddend..Iadd.
8. The clamping apparatus of claim 7 wherein said forceps closing
means is responsive to movement of said operating grip from an
intermediate position in a second direction to effect displacement
of said filler member relative to said catch hook to permit removal
of said forceps and displacement of said elastic latch from said
catch member to allow removal of said magazine..Iaddend..Iadd.
9. The clamping apparatus of claim 8 further comprising a knob
member attached to said pistol grip whereby depression of said knob
allows movement of said operating grip in a second
direction..Iaddend..Iadd.
10. The clamping apparatus of claim 4 whereby said forceps are
rotatably adjustable by a twisting member of said first end of said
hollow shaft..Iaddend..Iadd.
11. The clamping apparatus of claim 2 wherein said pistol grip is
equipped with a rinsing connection for disinfection and
cleaning..Iaddend..Iadd.
12. The clamping apparatus of claim 6 whereby said magazine is
equipped with a grip element at its surface to facilitate handling
and replacement of said magazine..Iaddend..Iadd.
13. The clamping apparatus of claim 2 wherein said magazine further
comprises spring catches to prevent clamp movement in a direction
toward said first end..Iaddend..Iadd.
14. The clamping apparatus of claim 2 wherein said magazine further
comprises a guiding link to avoid undesired clamp movement in a
direction toward said second end..Iaddend..Iadd.
15. A clamping apparatus for applying surgical clamps, comprising:
a pistol grip actuator having an operating grip movable from an
intermediate position in a first direction for setting one of said
surgical clamps and in a second direction for disassembly of said
clamping apparatus; a hollow shaft having a first end removably
connected to said pistol grip actuator; a removable magazine having
a channel for containing said surgical clamps; a forceps closing
member slidably disposed in said hollow shaft beneath said
removable magazine and responsive to movement of said operating
grip; said magazine operatively engaging said hollow shaft; forceps
means, slidably disposed in said forceps closing member, for
receiving and compressing one of said surgical clamps by a cam
action movement of said forceps closing member in response to
actuation of said operating grip in said first direction; said
forceps means having a catch hook engageable with a stop member
extending from said hollow shaft and through said forceps closing
means to maintain said forceps means fixed relative to said hollow
shaft permitting said cam action movement of said forceps closing
means to compress said one of said surgical clamps; said forceps
closing means having a filler member disposed to maintain
engagement of said catch hook with said stop member during said cam
action movement of said forceps closing means; said magazine having
a feeding slide for advancing said surgical clamps toward said
second end of said hollow shaft; a push rod means extending from
said pistol grip actuator into said hollow shaft responsive to
movement of said operating grip in said first direction; means for
disengagably connecting said feeding slide with said push rod means
to permit advancement of said surgical clamps in response to
movement of said operating grip; and said forceps closing means
being responsive to movement of said operating grip in said second
direction to effect displacement of said filler member from said
catch hook to permit removal of said forceps means and to effect
disengagement of said magazine from said hollow
shaft..Iaddend..Iadd.
16. The clamping apparatus according to claim 15, wherein said
hollow shaft includes a catch member and wherein said magazine
includes an elastic latch biased downward for engaging said catch
member of said hollow shaft..Iaddend..Iadd.
17. The clamping apparatus according to claim 16, wherein said
forceps closing means is responsive to a movement of said operating
grip in said second direction to effect a displacement of said
elastic latch from said catch member to allow for removal of said
magazine from said hollow shaft..Iaddend.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a pistol for setting surgical
clamps having a pistol grip for operating a forceps closing
mechanism and a removable staple magazine.
For hygienic reasons, only disposable pistols are used at the
present time for setting surgical clamps which results in high
costs. From the German patent 4303544 A1, a reloading magazine is
known, which is fastened to the distal end of an endoscopic shaft
in order to transfer clamps from the reloading magazine into a
magazine of the pistol. With the reloading magazine, the disposable
pistol is kept in use during the period of the surgical
intervention by the reloading of clamps. However it is a
disadvantage that a complicated reloading mechanism is necessary
that the reloading mechanism requires special dexterity for
reloading and does not preclude mechanical malfunctions, such as
jamming of the clamps during their transfer, as well as defects in
the reloading magazine and in the forceps-closing device.
Furthermore, the pistol is disposed of at the end of the surgical
intervention because sterilization of the pistol is not practical
since the pistol consists of several individual parts, which must
be disinfected and cleaned individually. Additionally, special
tools and knowledge are required for disassembling and assembling
the pistol and there are individual parts, such as springs, which
can be cleaned only with great difficulty.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, it is an object of the invention to provide a pistol
for setting surgical clamps which can be disassembled and assembled
without mechanical aids and consists of a few, simple individual
parts, which can easily be disinfected and cleaned, as well as
sterilized in the assembled state.
Pursuant to the invention, a pistol for setting surgical clamps is
provided comprising a clamp magazine disposed at the distal end of
a tubular endoscopic shaft, a feeding mechanism for the clamps, and
forceps with an associated forceps closing mechanism for setting
the clamps. The feeding mechanism and the forceps closing mechanism
are operated using a hand grip of the pistol. The clamp magazine
has a lower magazine part and an upper magazine part permanently
disposed on the lower magazine pan. The clamp magazine is
insertable over guiding elements into the endoscopic shaft with the
feeding mechanism and the clamps are contained in the clamp
magazine. The forceps and the forceps closing mechanism are
disposed below the clamp magazine with the forceps being
exchangeable. The clamp magazine is open at an end facing the grip
for introducing a push rod for a feeding slide with the feeding
slide having a connecting piece into which the push rod is disposed
and locked. An elastic latch locks the clamp magazine in the
endoscopic shaft. The forceps closing mechanism has a leading
incline engageable with a leading incline on the elastic latch to
permit release of the elastic latch simultaneous with displacement
of a filler piece on said forceps closing mechanism to permit
release of the forceps.
A particular advantage of the invention lies in that the pistol,
with the exception of the exchangeable clamp magazine, can be taken
apart into a few individual parts in order to disinfect and clean
the individual parts. It is very easy for medical personnel to
prepare and sterilize the clamp pistol for an operation and to add
a new and sterile clamp magazine. The costs associated with surgery
and waste are largely decreased by this repeated use.
It is a further advantage of the present invention that the forceps
locking mechanism and the clamp magazine locking mechanism can be
operated simultaneously.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The invention is described in greater detail in the following by
means of an embodiment shown in the drawings, wherein:
FIG. 1 shows an overall view of a pistol according to an embodiment
of the present invention;
FIG. 2 shows a side view of an endoscopic shaft with a clamp
magazine of the embodiment of FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 shows a plan view of the endoscopic shaft with the clamp
magazine of FIG. 2;
FIG. 4 shows a side view of the clamp magazine of FIG. 2;
FIG. 5 shows a transverse section through A--A of FIG. 2;
FIG. 6 shows a longitudinal section of the endoscopic shaft with
the clamp magazine of FIG. 2; and
FIG. 7 shows details of a forceps closing device.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Referring to FIG. 1, a pistol for setting surgical clamps has a
hand grip 11 and operating grip 12 connected to an endoscopic shaft
7, at the distal end of which a clamp magazine 9 and forceps 6 are
disposed. When the operating grip 12 is moved in the direction A,
the forceps 6 are closed and a clamp 3 is set. Depression of a knob
10 and movement of the operating grip 12 in direction B releases a
forceps locking mechanism and clamp magazine locking mechanism to
open them. The forceps 6 are adjustable circularly by means of
locking-twisting adjustment 13 and the endoscopic shaft 7 is
similarly detachable from the hand grip 11. The hand grip 11 is
equipped with a rinsing connection 14 for disinfecting and
cleaning.
Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, a front part of the endoscopic shaft 7
is shown with the clamp magazine 9 and forceps 6 installed. The
clamp magazine has a grip element 26 on a top surface thereof to
facilitate insertion and handling of the clamp magazine 9.
Referring to FIGS. 4 and 5, the clamp magazine 9 is shown as a
component part and also in cross section inserted in the endoscopic
shaft 7. The clamp magazine 9 has a slide member 27 which is an
offset in the width of a lower magazine part 4 of the clamp
magazine 9. The clamp magazine 9 is guided by the slide member 27
engaging two grooves 25 in the endoscopic shaft 7. The clamp
magazine 9 includes an upper magazine part 1 connected permanently
to the lower magazine part 4.
Referring to FIGS. 5 and 6, a feeding slide 2 is provided for
advancing clamps 3 and a spring catch 23 is biased against the
feeding slide 2. The forceps 6 and a forceps closing device 5 are
inserted below the clamp magazine 9. The clamp magazine 9 has an
elastic latch 18 extending from a bottom thereof to secure the
clamp magazine in the shaft 7 by engaging a catch member 29 of the
endoscopic shaft 7. A push rod 15 is over a leaf spring, which is
not shown, and is thereby biased up to a stop. When the clamp
magazine 9 is pushed into the endoscopic shaft 7, a connecting
piece 17 extending from the feeding slide 2 is pushed upward over a
leading incline 16 of the push rod 15 until it locks in place, the
push rod 15 simultaneously being depressed downward against the
bias of the leaf spring. The lift of the connecting piece 17 is
limited in the axial direction by stops, which are not shown.
Accordingly, the clamp magazine 9 is thus inserted in an operative
state in the endoscopic shaft 7. The clamps 3 are transported and
fed by way of cooperative motions of the feeding slide 2 and its
latches 20 and spring catches 21 protruding from the lower magazine
part 4. Each individual clamp 3 in the clamp magazine 9 is
prevented by the spring catches 21 from moving in a direction away
from the patient, that is, back into the endoscopic shaft 7 and
away from the forceps 6. The accidental movement of the clamps 3
from the clamp magazine 9 in the direction of the patient is
prevented by a guiding link 22 and, in addition, locking off the
clamp pistol is realized by locking a slide catch 24 in the guiding
link 22 when the clamp magazine 9 is empty.
To load the forceps 6 with a clamp 3, the feeding slide 2 is moved
in a direction away from the patient by a distance a little less
than twice the clamp spacing in the clamp magazine 9. The feeding
slide 2 is lifted by the leading inclines at the latches 20 against
the spring catches 23 and locks once again remote from the patient
behind all clamps 3. Finally, the slide catch 24 locks behind the
clamp 3 closest to the patient. The distance between two clamps 3
closest the patient is enlarged by a movement of the feeding slide
in the direction of the patient. The foremost clamp 3 is pushed
into the forceps 6. All other clamps 3 are transported in the
direction of the patient by one spacing in the clamp magazine
9.
FIG. 7 illustrates the simple construction of the forceps 6 and the
forceps closing mechanism 5. The forceps 6 are locked in place by a
forceps locking mechanism including a catch 30 engaging a stop 8,
extending from the inner bottom of the endoscopic shaft 7 as shown
in FIG. 6, with the catch 30 being held in an engagement position
with the stop 8 by a filler piece 19 on the forceps closing
mechanism 5. When the forceps closing mechanism 5 is moved from the
basic position in the direction C, the forceps 6 are closed. Moving
the forceps closing mechanism from the basic position in the
direction D opens the forceps locking mechanism by movement of the
filler piece 19. At the same time, with the movement of the forceps
closing mechanism 5 in the direction D, the elastic latch 18 is
raised by sliding engagement of leading inclines on the forceps
closing mechanism 5 and on the elastic latch 18, with respect to
the relative motion of the forceps closing mechanism 5 and the
elastic latch 18, and the clamp magazine 9 is unlocked
accordingly.
* * * * *