US 5,496,333 A · Laparoscopic surgical clamp

Abstract

A surgical clamp combination includes a clamp movable between a free state and operable state, the clamp including a pair of jaws which can be operated to occlude a body conduit. A clamp applier is adapted to releasibly engage the clamp in the free state and to operate the clamp in the operable state to close the jaws. The applier has a housing disposed at a proximal end and a tube extending distally and configured to receive the clamp in the operable state. A shaft is disposed within the tube and movable between an extended position to engage the clamp in the free state and a retracted position to releasibly hold the clamp in the operable state. With the clamp in the operable state, the shaft is rotatable by operation of a handle and aladdin screw, to alternatively rotate in opposite directions to open and close the jaws of the clamp.

Claims22

Dependent claims

A surgical clamp having a longitudinal configuration and an axis extending between a proximal end and a distal end of said clamp, the clamp comprising:

a support structure;
first and second opposed jaws coupled to the support structure, the first jaw being pivotally attached to one of the support structure and the second jaw and the jaws being operable between an open state wherein the first jaw is spaced from the second jaw to accept a body conduit, and a closed state wherein the jaws are proximate to at least partially occlude the body conduit;
means carried by the clamp for biasing the first jaw to the open state;
a portion of the first jaw defining a beveled surface which is disposed at an angle to the axis of the clamp;
means carried by the support structure and movable relative to the support structure for engaging at least the first jaw to move the first jaw relative to the second jaw between the open state and the closed state;
and
a screw included in the engaging means and disposed at the proximate end of the clamp, the screw being operable to move axially along the beveled surface of the first jaw in the open state to move the first jaw toward the closed state.

4 more elements

A surgical clamp combination, comprising:

a surgical clamp having a longitudinal axis extending between a proximal end and a distal end, and including a supporting structure;
a pair of jaws coupled to the supporting structure, the jaws being movable between an open position and a closed position;
moving means carried by the supporting structure and operable from the proximal end of the clamp for moving the jaws between the open position and the closed position and comprising a screw rotatable along the axis of the clamp to operatively engage at least one of the jaws of the clamp;
a clamp applier having a longitudinal axis extending between a proximal end and a distal end;
a tube disposed at the distal end of the clamp applier;
engaging means disposed within the tube for engaging the moving means at the proximal end of the clamp;
and
operating means disposed at the proximal end of the applier for operating the engaging means to move the jaws of the clamp.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Laparoscopic surgical clamp

Life of this patent

Laparoscopic surgical clamp

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims22