Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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This invention relates to an improved surgical ligating
instrument.
The surgical ligating instrument of this invention has
advantages over the prior art. One advantage is the housing which
is in substantial parallel alignment with the probe. In this
alignment, a high degree of accuracy can be obtained in the use
of the instrument. For example, the orientation of the probe is
in the same plane as the motion of the user's hand.
Another advantage is the compactness of the housing.
10 A predominant portion of the housing can be easily held by the
palm of a hand. This can be most important in internal surgery,
for example in a body cavity, where the compactness and/or narrow-
ness of the instrument may enable the surgeon to have a higher
degree of control.
Yet another advantage is the "pointing" of the fingers
as the hand grips the instrument. Specifically, a thumb and at
least an index finger form a pointed profile as the hand grips the
instrument. The pointing has a streamline effect which can allow
the user to place the instrument as deeply as possible into a body
cavity.
Still another advantage of the instrument is in the
upper portion of the housing and first activating means (for
example a trigger) which are in diagonal alignment with the probe.
A diagonal alignment of the housing upper portion and trigger
seems to counteract the optical and manual illusion that the probe
is nonparallel with the housing.
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A diagonal alignment may also better conform to the contour of
the hand.
Still yet another advantage is the erimping motion of
the jaws whieh can be substantially parallel to the compression
motion of the first and the second activating means. The motion
of the jaws can therefore be an extension of the squeezing motion
of the user's hand. The hand/eye (more formally termed the
visual/tactile) coordination of the user is therefore increased
and may even be maximized. Further, another advantage is a rest-
ing area for the index finger. The resting can allow the index
finger to be used as a reaction force against the first activating
means being compressed by the thumb. Also, the resting area can
allow the index finger to have more accuracy--guiding the instru-
ment.
Finally, another advantage is the location of the second
activating means. The location can allow a strong eompressive
force to be applied by the index and/or middle finger. Since
either or both of these fingers tend to be the strongest, the
efficiency in the use of the instrumen~ is increased and may even
be maximized.
The invention accordingly provides a surgical ligating
instrument having a housing eontaining a first and a second force
activating means; and elip loading, advaneing and erimping means,
the improvement eomprising said housing in substantial parallel
alignment in at least two planes with said loading, advancing and
crimping means; and said first and second activating means are
compressible into said housing, wherein an independent force ean
be applied to each of said first and second activating means only
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in compression.
One embodiment of the instrument is wherein a predominant
portion of said housing can be essentially held by the palm of a
hand; and wherein said first and second force activating means can
be operated respectively by a thumb, and by at least one finger in
a nonextended position.
Another embodiment of the instrument is wherein said
loading, advancing and crimping means are contained in a probe,
the terminal end of said probe containing jaws; wherein said first
and second activating means are in opposing relationship and adja-
cent said probe; and wherein a thumb
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is placed on said first activating means and at least an
index finger is placed on said second activating means
such that said thumb, and at least said index finger form
a pointed profile.
Still another embodiment of the instrument is
wherein said housing has a curved portion between said
second activating means and said probe; wherein an index
finger is placed on said curved portion; and wherein a
thumb is placed on said first activating means and at least
10 a middle finger is placed on said second activating means
such that said thumb, said index finger and at least said
middle finger form a pointed profile.
A further embodiment of the instrument is wherein
the crimping motion of said jaws is substantially parallel
15 to the compression motion of said first and second activa-
ting means.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Figure 1 is a partially broken top plan view of
a surgical ligating instrument showing our new design;
Figure 2 is a partially broken side elevation
of Figure l;
Figure 3 is a bottom plan view of Figure 2;
Figure 4 is a back plan view of Figure 2;
Figures 5 to 7 are alternative side elevation
25 views of a surgical ligating instrument of Figure 2; and
Figure 8 is a broken and exploded top planview showing the probe of Figure 1.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
Referring to Figures 2 and 5 to 7, the surgical ligating
instrument has a housing 30. The housing contains a first acti-
vating means, for example a trigger 1, and a second activating
means, for example a handle 17. The housing can internally contain
a first and a second force translating means (not shown), for
example as described in Canadian Application Serial No. 392,342
filed December 15th, 1981. The first and the second force trans-
lating means is activated by the trigger l and the handle 17,
respectively.
Referring to Figures l, 2 and 8, the instrument has a
probe 31. The probe can internally contain a clip loading, advanc-
ing and crimping means for example as described in the above-
identified application. Preferably, the initial end of the load-
ing, advancing and crimping means is contained in the housing 30.
The housing 30 is in substantial parallel alignment with
the probe 31. Preferably, the first activating means l and the
upper portion of the housing are in a diagonal alignment with the
probe 31. A diagonal alignment seems to counteract the optical
and manual illusion that the probe is nonparallel with the housing
and may better conform to the contour of the hand.
Preferably, the size of the housing is such that a
predominant portion of the housing can be essentially held by the
palm of a hand.
The terminal end of the probe 31 contains jaws 23.
Referring to Figure 2, in one embodiment the housing has
a curved portion 30a between the second activating means 17 and
the probe 31. An index finger can be placed on the curved portion.
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Figures 5 to 7 are alternative embodiments of the
surgical instrument housing shown in Figures 1 to 4.
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The description of the housing of Figures 1 to 4 essenti.ally
corresponds to Figures. 5 to 7.
Figure 8 descri~es in more detail the probe 31.
The optional raised portion 31a can be a transparent
material and is adjacent to the inital end (.not shown) of
the jaws 23 in the probe. The raised portion gives a
visual identification to the user that clips are/are not
remaining in the instrument.
Referring to Figures 1 to 6ascalloped configuration
in the upper portion of the housing and the first activating
means and in the lower portion of second activating
means is preferred. The scalloping assists the user to
grip the housing and to compre~s the first and the second
activating means. The partial and broken scalloping
shown in Figures. 1 to 3 are for clarity of illustration.
It is to be understood that the scalloping in Figures 1
and 3 is cons.istent with Figure 2. It is also to be under
stood that the probe shown in Figure 2 is identical in
Figures 5 to 7. A notch 30b between the first activating
means and the upper portion of the housing, and a notah 30c
between the second activating means and the lower portion of the
housing reduces or may even eliminate the possibility that
the hand and/or fingers of the user are punched when the
first and the second activating means are returning to
the relaxed position.
