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US 9,955,975 B2Granted
Clamp and applicator
AssigneeBTG International Limited
InventorDavid Dakin Iorwerth Wright
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The present invention provides a surgical clamp comprising a temperature sensitive shape memory material, the clamp capable of taking up a first form in which the clamp (6) is shaped to at least partially encircle a tubular structure (14); a second form shaped to substantially completely encircle the tubular structure (14) and constrict it, the clamp changing from the first form to the second form above the transition temperature of the shape memory material; and a third form derived from the first form by resilient deformation of the clamp in its first form. The present invention also provides applicators for delivering the clamps and kits comprising the clamps.
Claims20
An applicator for a surgical clamp (1) for clamping a blood vessel (14) comprising:
- a tubular housing (2), said tubular housing (2) having a proximal end (3), a distal end (4), and an inner lumen (5) having an opening on a distally facing surface at the distal end (4) of the tubular housing (2);
- a surgical clamp (6) having a proximal end (7) and a distal end (8) within the lumen (5);
- and
- a plunger (9) configured to move the surgical clamp (6) out of the opening;
- the surgical clamp (6) comprising a temperature sensitive shape memory material and capable of assuming:
- a first, curved form in which the clamp (6) is shaped to partially encircle a blood vessel (14);
- a second form in which the clamp (6) is shaped to substantially completely encircle the blood vessel (14) and to constrict the blood vessel (14) and thereby close the blood vessel (14);
- and
- a third, linearized form derived from the first form by resilient deformation of the clamp (6) in the first form and adoptable within the lumen (5), wherein the clamp (6) is induced to change from the third form to the first form as the clamp (6) leaves the opening, and from the first form to the second form on exposure to a temperature above the transition temperature of the shape memory material.
6 more elements
A method of clamping a blood vessel in the body of a subject, the method comprising the steps of:
- (a) providing an applicator comprising:
- a tubular housing (2), said tubular housing (2) having a proximal end (3), a distal end (4), and an inner lumen (5) having an opening on a distally facing surface at the distal end (4) of the tubular housing (2);
- a surgical clamp (6) having a proximal end (7) and a distal end (8) within the lumen (5);
- and
- a plunger (9) configured to move the surgical clamp (6) out of the opening;
- the surgical clamp (6) comprising a temperature sensitive shape memory material and capable of assuming:
- a first, curved form in which the clamp (6) is shaped to partially encircle a blood vessel (14);
- a second form shaped to substantially completely encircle said blood vessel (14) and to constrict the blood vessel (14) and thereby close the blood vessel (14), the clamp (6) configured to change from the first form to the second form above the transition temperature of the shape memory material, and
- a third, linearized form derived from the first form by resilient deformation of the clamp (6) in the first form, the clamp (6) being provided in the applicator in the third form;
- (b) applying the clamp (6) to the blood vessel (14) by moving the plunger (9) distally to urge the clamp (6) from the opening, whilst allowing the clamp (6) to return to the first, curved form as the clamp (6) leaves the opening and guiding the distal end (8) of the surgical clamp (6) around the blood vessel (14);
- and
- (c) raising the temperature of the shape memory material to a temperature at which the shape memory material changes from the first form to the second form, thereby clamping said vessel (14).
9 more elements
An applicator for a surgical clamp (1) for clamping a blood vessel comprising:
- a tubular housing (2), said tubular housing (2) having a proximal end (3), a distal end (4), and an inner lumen (5), the inner lumen (5) defining a longitudinal axis of the tubular housing (2), the inner lumen (5) having an opening at a distal end thereof, the opening spanning across the longitudinal axis;
- a surgical clamp (6) having a proximal end (7) and a distal end (8), the surgical clamp (6) located linearly within the lumen (5) along the longitudinal axis;
- and
- a rod (9) within the lumen (5), the rod (9) configured to move longitudinally within the lumen (5) to distally move the surgical clamp (6) along the longitudinal axis and out of the opening at the distal end of the lumen (5);
- wherein the surgical clamp (6) comprises a temperature sensitive shape memory material that assumes:
- a first form in which the clamp (6) is shaped to partially encircle a blood vessel (14);
- a second form in which the clamp (6) is shaped to substantially completely encircle the blood vessel (14) and to constrict the blood vessel (14), thereby closing the blood vessel (14);
- and
- a third form derived from the first form by resilient deformation of the clamp (6) in the first form, the resilient deformation making the clamp (6) conform to a shape of the lumen (5), lying straight along the longitudinal axis, and being located completely within the lumen (5), wherein the clamp (6) is induced to change from the third form to the first form as the distal end (8) of the clamp (6) longitudinally leaves the distal end of the lumen (5), and is induced to change from the first form to the second form on exposure to a temperature above the transition temperature of the shape memory material.
6 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.