The disclosure relates to surgical devices for performing endoscopic surgical procedures. More specifically, the disclosure relates to a surgical grasper having parallel jaws operatively coupled to an ergonomic handle assembly.
In minimally invasive surgery, the surgical procedure is performed by access to the surgical site through one or more small incisions. The surgical site is visualized by an endoscope inserted through one of the incisions and various surgical devices are inserted through the incisions to manipulate the tissue as desired. The advantages of minimally invasive surgery are well established which include reduced trauma to tissue, reduced chance of infection, faster patient recovery time, and lower hospital costs.
Minimally invasive surgical procedures typically require the tissue to be grasped and held or manipulated. It would be advantageous to provide a tissue grasper that applies uniform tissue compression and that is easy to use by a clinician.
In accordance with the disclosure, a surgical grasper includes a tool assembly, an elongate shaft, an actuation member, and a handle assembly. The tool assembly includes first and second jaws transitionable between an approximated configuration, in which, the first and jaws are adjacent each other to grasp tissue therebetween and a spaced apart configuration, in which, the first and second jaws are spaced apart from each other. The elongate shaft supports the tool assembly at a distal portion of the elongate shaft. The actuation member extends through the elongate shaft. The actuation member is operatively coupled to the tool assembly such that axial displacement of the actuation member causes transition of the first and second jaws between the approximated and spaced apart configurations. The handle assembly has an arcuate body. The arcuate body includes an actuation button and a gimbal assembly. The actuation button is operatively coupled to the actuation member to transition the first and second jaws between the approximated and spaced apart configurations. The gimbal assembly is configured to support the elongate shaft and the actuation member for off-axis movement and rotation.
In an aspect, the first and second jaws may be biased towards the spaced apart configuration.
In another aspect, the arcuate body of the handle assembly may have a diameter in the range from about 1 inch and about 4 inches.
In another aspect, the arcuate body of the handle assembly may have a diameter of about 2.4 inches.
In another aspect, the gimbal assembly may be configured to maintain the configuration of the first and second jaws during the off-axis movement and rotation of the handle assembly relative to the elongate shaft.
In yet another aspect, the arcuate body may be configured for off-axis movement less than about 45 degrees with respect to the elongate shaft.
In still yet another aspect, the arcuate body may define an aperture configured to receive the elongate shaft and the actuation member therethrough.
In still yet another aspect, the aperture of the arcuate body may have a conical shape.
In an aspect, the arcuate body may include a skirt configured to provide a fluid tight seal against the elongate shaft.
In an aspect, the arcuate body may be spherical.
In another aspect, the actuation member may be at least partially flexible.
In accordance with another aspect of the disclosure, a surgical grasper includes a tool assembly, an elongate shaft, an actuation member, and a handle assembly. The tool assembly includes first and second jaws and first, second, third, and fourth linkage members. The first and second jaws are transitionable between an approximated configuration, in which, the first and jaws are adjacent each other to grasp tissue therebetween and a spaced apart configuration, in which, the first and second jaws are spaced apart from each other. The first and second linkage members are coupled to each other about a first pivot. The first and second linkage members are coupled to the respective first and second jaws and the respective third and fourth linkage members about respective second and third pivots. The third and fourth linkage members are pivotably coupled to each other about a fourth pivot. The elongate shaft supports the tool assembly at a distal portion of the elongate shaft. The actuation member extends through the elongate shaft and operatively coupled to the tool assembly such that axial displacement of the actuation member causes transition of the first and second jaws between the approximated and spaced apart configurations. The handle assembly includes an actuation button and a gimbal assembly. The actuation button is operatively coupled to the actuation member to transition the first and second jaws between the approximated and spaced apart configurations. The gimbal assembly is configured to support the elongate shaft and the actuation member for off-axis movement and rotation.
In an aspect, the second and third pivots may be movable along the respective first and second jaws.
In another aspect, the fourth pivot may be coupled to the actuation member for concomitant axial displacement therewith.
In yet another aspect, the fourth pivot may be movable along a groove defined in the elongate shaft.
In still yet another aspect, the first and second jaws may include respective tissue contacting surfaces.
In still yet another aspect, each tissue contacting surface may have a convex profile.
In still yet another aspect, the second and third pivots may be axially movable along a length of the respective first and second jaws.
In an aspect, the gimbal assembly may be configured to maintain the configuration of the first and second jaws during movement of the handle assembly relative to the elongate shaft.
In another aspect, the first and second linkage members may be pivotably coupled to the respective first and second jaws.
In accordance with yet another aspect of the disclosure, a surgical grasper includes a tool assembly including first and second jaws transitionable between approximated and spaced apart configurations, an actuation member operatively coupled to the tool assembly to transition the first and second jaws between the approximated and spaced apart configurations, and an arcuate body. The arcuate body includes an actuation button operatively coupled to the actuation member to transition the first and second jaws between the approximated and spaced apart configurations and a gimbal assembly configured to support the actuation member for off-axis movement and rotation.
The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate aspects of the disclosure and, together with a general description of the disclosure given above, and the detailed descriptions given below, serve to explain the principles of the disclosure, wherein:
The disclosure is described hereinbelow with reference to the accompanying drawings; however, it is to be understood that the disclosed graspers are merely exemplary of the disclosure and may be embodied in various forms. Well-known functions or constructions are not described in detail to avoid obscuring the disclosure in unnecessary detail. Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a basis for the claims and as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to variously employ the disclosure in virtually any appropriately detailed structure. Like reference numerals refer to similar or identical elements throughout the description of the figures.
As used herein, the term “distal” refers to that portion of the instrument, or component thereof which is farther from the user while the term “proximal” refers to that portion of the instrument or component thereof which is closer to the user. As used herein, the term “about” means that the numerical value is approximate and small variations would not significantly affect the practice of the disclosed graspers. In addition, the terms parallel and perpendicular are understood to include relative configurations that are substantially parallel and substantially perpendicular up to about + or −10 degrees from true parallel and true perpendicular.
Referring to
Under such a configuration, the clinician may hold the handle assembly 200 in a desired orientation most comfortable to the clinician to reduce fatigue during a surgical procedure. The handle assembly 200 is ergonomically designed to be held by a clinician. In particular, the handle assembly 200 has an arcuate profile. In particular, the handle assembly 200 includes a generally ball shaped body 202 for ambidextrous use. The ball shaped body 202 has a diameter in a range from about 1 inch and about 4 inches. In an aspect, the diameter may be about 2.4 inches. The ball shaped body 202 may be formed of a light biocompatible material such as, e.g., aluminum or polymetric materials, to reduce user fatigue. The ball shaped body 202 may define dimples (not shown) on an outer surface thereof to enhance gripping by the clinician. The ball shaped body 202 includes a gimbal assembly 250 (
As shown in
While various graspers of the disclosure have been shown and described herein, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that these graspers are provided by way of example only. Numerous variations, changes, and substitutions will now occur to those skilled in the art without departing from the disclosure. Accordingly, it is intended that the invention be limited only by the spirit and scope of the appended claims.
This application claims the benefit of and priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Nos. 62/935,925, filed on Nov. 15, 2019, and 63/004,004, filed on Apr. 2, 2020, the entire contents of each of which are incorporated by reference herein.
Number | Date | Country | |
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63004004 | Apr 2020 | US | |
62935925 | Nov 2019 | US |