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US 2002/0165565 A1Published application
Clamp having bendable shaft
AssigneeNovare Surgical Systems, Inc.
InventorsDavid J. Danitz, David E. Hegeman, Adam C. Gold
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A clamp has a handle assembly, a gripping assembly having a pair of jaws that can be opened and closed to grip an element, and a shaft assembly. The shaft assembly has a flexible shaft having a proximal end that is operatively coupled to the handle assembly and a distal end that is operatively coupled to the gripping assembly. The shaft assembly also has a rigid element that can be placed in a first position where the rigid element supports the shaft in a manner where the shaft cannot be bent, and in a second position where the shaft can be bent.
Claims42
A clamp comprising:
- a gripping assembly having a pair of jaws that can be opened and closed to grip an element;
- a handle assembly having means for locking the pair of jaws in a closed position, the locking means having means for adjusting the locking force of the jaws;
- and
- a shaft assembly having:
- a flexible shaft having a proximal end that is operatively coupled to the handle assembly and a distal end that is operatively coupled to the gripping assembly;
- and
- a rigid element that can be placed in a first position where the rigid element supports the shaft in a manner where the shaft cannot be bent, and in a second position where the shaft can be bent.
4 more elements
A clamp comprising:
- a handle assembly;
- a gripping assembly having a pair of jaws that can be opened and closed to grip an element;
- a shaft assembly having a flexible shaft having a proximal end that is operatively coupled to the handle assembly and a distal end that is operatively coupled to the gripping assembly;
- and
- a rigid element that can be removably coupled to the shaft in a manner so that when the rigid element is coupled to the shaft, the shaft cannot be bent, and when the rigid element is not coupled to the shaft, the shaft can be bent.
2 more elements
A clamp comprising:
- a handle assembly;
- a gripping assembly having a pair of jaws that can be opened and closed to grip an element;
- a shaft assembly having a flexible shaft having a proximal end that is operatively coupled to the handle assembly and a distal end that is operatively coupled to the gripping assembly;
- and
- a rigid element that can be placed in a first position where the rigid element extends parallel to the shaft along the length of the shaft so that the shaft cannot be bent, and in a second position where the rigid element extends parallel to the shaft along a portion of the shaft so that portions of the shaft can be bent.
2 more elements
A clamp comprising:
- a handle assembly;
- a gripping assembly having a pair of jaws that can be opened and closed to grip an element;
- a shaft assembly having:
- a flexible shaft having a proximal end that is operatively coupled to the handle assembly and a distal end that is operatively coupled to the gripping assembly;
- and
- a plurality of rigid telescoping tubes that can be oriented in a first position where the telescoping tubes are nested within each other adjacent to and external of the handle assembly, and in a second position where the telescoping tubes are fully deployed to completely cover the flexible shaft.
3 more elements
A clamp comprising:
- a handle assembly;
- a gripping assembly having a pair of jaws that can be opened and closed to grip an element;
- a shaft assembly having:
- a flexible shaft having a proximal end that is operatively coupled to the handle assembly and a distal end that is operatively coupled to the gripping assembly;
- and
- a plurality of rigid telescoping tubes that can be oriented in a first position where the telescoping tubes are nested within each other adjacent the gripping assembly, and in a second position where the telescoping tubes are fully deployed to completely cover the flexible shaft.
3 more elements
A method of using a clamp during a surgical procedure, comprising:
- a. providing a clamp comprising:
- a handle assembly;
- a gripping assembly having a pair of jaws that can be opened and closed to grip an element;
- and
- a shaft assembly having:
- a flexible shaft having a proximal end that is operatively coupled to the handle assembly and a distal end that is operatively coupled to the gripping assembly;
- a plurality of rigid telescoping tubes that can be oriented in a first position where the telescoping tubes are nested within each other adjacent the gripping assembly, the telescoping tubes including a proximal telescoping tube;
- and
- a knob that is attached to the proximal telescoping tube, and which is releasably locked with the handle assembly;
- b. fully deploying the telescoping tubes into a second position where the telescoping tubes completely cover the flexible shaft in a manner where the shaft cannot be bent;
- c. introducing the jaws into a surgical site via an opening that has a size which is smaller than a surgeon's hand;
- and
- d. manipulating the jaws inside the surgical site solely by controlling the knob.
10 more elements
A clamp comprising:
- a gripping assembly having a pair of jaws that can be opened and closed to grip an element;
- a shaft assembly having a shaft having a proximal end that is operatively coupled to the handle assembly and a distal end that is operatively coupled to the gripping assembly;
- and
- a handle assembly having:
- a first handle piece and a second handle piece;
- a ratchet rack pivotally coupled to the first and second handle pieces, the ratchet rack having a tooth;
- and
- means coupled to the second handle piece for releasably engaging the tooth on the ratchet rack, the engaging means having means for providing both discrete adjustment and continuous adjustment of the locking force of the jaws.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.