Abstract:
A surgical staple-clip including a clip component and a securing member is used in a wide range of surgical procedures. The staple-clip may be introduced to a surgical site in an un-assembled condition through a small port or trocar. An applier for the staple-clip comprising a pair of opposed jaw-like channels is provided to position and apply the clip component and the securing member. The clip component is positioned around a target tissue and is compressed or clamped upon the tissue using only the force required for a specific surgical procedure such as occlusion, ligation or fixation. When the clip component is properly applied, the securing member is urged forward and over the clip component to secure the staple-clip. The clip component may include traction enhancement features such as surface interruptions, bumps, valleys and ridges. With the staple-clip of the invention, the force required to constrict or occlude the tissue is separate from the force required to secure and maintain the staple-clip in position and, as a result, the body tissue is not over-compressed and nourishment to the body tissue is maintained. Other aspects of the invention include thumb actuated clip appliers for use in hand assisted laparoscopy (HAL). In one embodiment, a clip applier includes a handle and a thumb actuated mechanism that is used to slidably release clips onto a body tissue or vessel by sliding the thumb actuated mechanism forward and backward using only one hand. In another aspect of the invention, a two-stage clip is disclosed having a clip component and a staple component for securing the clip after it has been properly positioned.
Abstract:
The invention provides for treating deleterious body tissue located within healthy body tissue by isolating the deleterious tissue from blood, air, and fluid communication. The device includes two structures, each having a corresponding circumferential surface arranged to circumscribe the deleterious body tissue. When the first and second circumferential surfaces are brought together in an aligned relationship with the deleterious body tissue between the structures, the two circumferential surfaces co-act to isolate the deleterious body tissue from communication with the healthy body tissue. The deleterious tissue is resected according to the invention by allowing it to become ischemic and necrotic, or by excision.
Abstract:
A novel umbilical cord clamp and a combined umbilical cord clamp and cutter are provided for clamping and cutting umbilical cords in one motion. The cutter comprises two shells joined by a longitudinal hinge. A transverse blade is mounted in one shell, and a cutting support is mounted in the other shell across from the blade. A clamping member is provided on one side of the blade as part of the cutter, and a removable clamp is provided on the other side of the blade. The umbilical cord to be cut is oriented generally parallel to the hinge and lying across the cutting support. As the shells of the cutter are closed, the umbilical cord is clamped on both sides of the blade, and the blade severs the umbilical cord in the same motion. After the cut is completed, the removable clamp is removed from the cutter, preferably revealing an aesthetically pleasing form such as the face of a koala bear.
Abstract:
An instrument for clamping and cutting a deformable flexible tube includes handles and jaws pivotally coupled together on opposite sides of a pivot member, a fixed cutting blade on the jaws, integrally hinged lockable V-clamps with ratcheted inner gripping surfaces mounted in the jaws with the edge of the cutting blade positioned above the ratcheted surfaces of the V-clamps, and a device to push the V-clamp axially forward in the jaws. When the handles are pressed together to an intermediate position, the jaws are closed only partially locking the arms of the V-clamps while leaving the edge of the cutting blade distanced from the center of the clamp and from the tube, and when the handles are pressed further to a cutting position, the locked V-clamp is pushed forward in the jaws simultaneously closing the jaws completely and bringing down the cutting blade.
Abstract:
An endoscopic vessel harvesting device and a method of endoscopic harvesting of vessels from a patients body. The method comprises locating the vessel, and inserting the vessel harvesting device through an incision. Dissecting the vessel from the surrounding tissue, and capturing side branch vessels in a vessel capturing means. Ligating and transecting the side branch vessels using electrodes and a knife located in the vessel capturing means. Finally, ligating and transecting the vessel, and removing the vessel from the patients body. The vessel harvesting device comprises a head piece, a shaft having a lumen for receiving an endoscope, and a vessel capturing means located on the head piece for capturing the side branch vessels in the receiver.
Abstract:
A device includes first and second clamps each having an upper arm and a lower arm, and a cutting blade attached to one of the clamps. According to the invention, the upper arms of the first and second clamps are each provided with an upper clamping surface, and a directing member having a deformable cord gripping surface. The lower arms of the first and second clamps are each provided with a lower clamping surface, and a cord gripping surface. The clamping surfaces function to occlude the flow of blood through cut ends of the cord after the cord is cut by the blade, while the cord gripping surfaces function to prevent cord slippage prior to clamping by the clamping surfaces. Preferred gripping surfaces include deformable foam or resilient strips provided with teeth.
Abstract:
A method and device for endoscopic harvesting of blood vessels from a patient for use in subsequent procedures. The device having a two piece headpiece. A vessel to be removed is inserted into the headpiece and the top and bottom portions of the headpiece are alternatively extended in reciprocating fashion to dissect above and below the vessel. The headpiece having electrodes for ligation of any side branch vessels which are uncovered in the dissection process.
Abstract:
A medical knife assembly includes an outer clamp assembly and an inner clamp blade assembly having a cutting blade assembly. The inner and outer clamp assemblies are pivotally connected at about their proximate ends so they may be squeezed together with one hand to affect a novel method of clamping and cutting in a single motion operation. A set of shear pins holds the component parts of the inner and outer assemblies together in a ready position that enables a user to properly position the knife assembly for severing an umbilical cord at the time of birth. Once the umbilical cord is severed, the component parts of the inner and outer assemblies separate providing independent clamps, one staying with an infant segment of the umbilical cord and one staying with a maternal segment of the umbilical cord. The two independent clamps operate to clamp the umbilical cord on both sides of the cutting blade assembly thereby preventing or at least greatly
Abstract:
An instrument for clamping and cutting an artificial or natural deformable tube capable of being clamped and severed by selectively moving between a first open position, an intermediate partly closed position and a cutting position including scissors members having handles and jaws pivotally coupled together on opposite sides of a pivot member, the jaws including a cutting blade and releasably holding an integrally hinged V clamp, the V clamp including two spread apart arms with ratcheted inner gripping surfaces connected by an arcuate hinge section, means for locking the arms together and means for releasably securing the clamp in the jaws. A cradle support is provided between handle and jaw near the pivot member, and means are provided on the scissors members to push the V clamp axially forward in the jaws, and the edge of the cutting blade is positioned in the jaw above the ratcheted surface of a clamp arm. When the handles are pressed together from a first open position to an intermediate position, the jaws are closed, partially locking the arms of the V clamp while leaving the edge of the cutting blade distance from the center of the clamp, and when the handles are pressed further to a cutting position, the locked V clamp is pushed forward enabling the jaws to close completely and bring down the cutting blade to sever a deformable tube held in the locked arms of the clamp.
Abstract:
A surgical instrument useful in harvesting blood vessels such as veins and arteries. The instrument has a pair of jaws and a central cutting element displaceable distally and proximally to dissect tissue contained between the jaws. A sequencing element prevents the cutting element from being engaged when the jaws are in the open configuration.