WO2024251775A1 - Surgical device - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a surgical device (10) comprising: - a hollow guide tube (100) that extends between two ends referred to as the first end and the second end (102), respectively; - a one-piece flexible body (200) capable of bending when subjected to a mechanical stress and rigidly attached to the guide tube (100) by its second end (102); - a clamp (300) provided with two jaws referred to as the first jaw and the second jaw, respectively, which jaws are rigidly attached to the flexible body (200) and at least one of which jaws is movable about a pivoting axis; - orientation means arranged to subject the flexible body (200) to a mechanical stress so as to orient the clamp (300) in a desired direction; - actuation means configured to allow the two jaws of the clamp (300) to be opened and closed.

Description

surgical device FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to the field of surgical devices. In particular, the invention relates to a surgical device provided with a surgical clamp, or even a surgical micro-clamp, and intended to be implemented in cavities that are difficult to access and/or narrow. More particularly, the present invention relates to a surgical device provided with a clamp that can be oriented in at least one angular direction.

TECHNOLOGICAL BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The emergence of miniaturized surgical devices has made surgical procedures less invasive and, consequently, has limited the trauma associated with such procedures.

Among the devices used during these interventions, micro-forceps play an essential role. In particular, the latter are generally introduced into cavities that are difficult to access and/or narrow for the purposes of grasping and/or resection.

A conventional micro-clamp is known from U.S. Patent No. 5,342,390. However, this micro-clamp, mounted on the end of an insertion tube, remains difficult to handle. In particular, this micro-clamp does not allow intervention in very narrow and winding cavities.

Thus, one aim of the invention is to propose a surgical device provided with a micro-prince that is more manageable than the micro-forceps known from the state of the art.

Another aim of the present invention is to provide a surgical device provided with a micro-clamp capable of being implemented in narrow and winding cavities.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The aims of the present invention are, at least in part, achieved by a surgical device comprising:

- a hollow guide tube which extends between two ends called, respectively, the first end and the second end;

- a flexible, single-piece body, capable of bending under the effect of mechanical stress, and secured to the guide tube by its second end;

- a clamp provided with two jaws, called, respectively, first jaw and second jaw, integral with the flexible body, and of which at least one of said jaws is movable around a pivot axis;

- orientation means arranged to impose a mechanical constraint on the flexible body so as to orient the clamp in a desired direction;

- activation means configured to allow the opening and closing of the two jaws of the clamp.

According to one embodiment, the orientation means and the activation means comprise, respectively, orientation cables and activation cables, as well as a control block equipped with servomotors.

According to one embodiment, the flexible body comprises, in order, a first cylindrical section, a truncated cone section and a second cylindrical section, the orientation cables running in the guide tube from the first end to the second end and being integral with the second cylindrical section.

According to one embodiment, the flexible body is held to the guide tube by inserting the first cylindrical section into said guide tube.

According to one embodiment, the flexible body comprises grooves in which the steering cables are guided from the second end of the guide tube to the second cylindrical section.

According to one embodiment, the flexible body comprises at least one guide channel coaxial with the guide tube.

According to one embodiment, the guide tube comprises a metallic material.

According to one embodiment, the guide tube has an external diameter of less than 3 mm, advantageously less than 2.5 mm, even more advantageously less than 2 mm.

According to one embodiment, the flexible body comprises at least one of the materials chosen from: silicone, an elastomer.

Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will emerge from the detailed description which follows with reference to the appended figures in which:

There is a partial schematic representation of a surgical device in accordance with the principles set forth in the present invention, in particular the illustrates the arrangement of a flexible body and a clamp on the second end of a hollow guide tube;

There is an illustration, in perspective, of the hollow guide tube of the surgical device of the ;

There is a schematic representation, in perspective view, of the flexible body of the surgical device of the ;

There is a schematic representation, in perspective view, of the clamp of the surgical device of the ;

There is a schematic representation, in perspective view, of the surgical device provided with the control unit.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a surgical device intended to be implemented for surgical procedures, in particular surgical procedures in the larynx. The surgical device is more particularly provided with a clamp (or micro-clamp) secured to one end of a guide tube, said clamp being intended for gripping and/or resection operations.

Thus, the invention relates to a surgical device comprising:

- a hollow guide tube which extends between two ends called, respectively, the first end and the second end;

- a flexible, single-piece body, capable of deforming under the effect of mechanical stress, and secured to the guide tube by its second end;

- a clamp provided with two jaws, called, respectively, first jaw and second jaw, integral with the flexible body, and of which at least one of said jaws is movable around a pivot axis;

- orientation means arranged to impose a mechanical constraint on the flexible body so as to orient the clamp in a desired direction;

- activation means configured to allow the opening and closing of the two jaws of the clamp.

To the , an example of a surgical device 10 according to the present invention can be seen.

The surgical device 10 notably comprises a hollow guide tube 100. As illustrated in , the guide tube 100 extends between a first end 101 and a second end 102.

Advantageously, the guide tube 100 may comprise a metallic material, for example a stainless steel and more particularly stainless steel (in particular 316 stainless steel). The invention should not be limited to this material alone and those skilled in the art may consider any other material capable of being implemented within the framework of the present invention.

Advantageously, the guide tube 100 has an external diameter of less than 3 mm, advantageously less than 2.5 mm, even more advantageously less than 2 mm.

The guide tube 100 may be discontinuous and comprise at each discontinuity a flexible connecting means configured to secure two sections of the guide tube. The flexible connecting means may in particular comprise a polymer part, for example made of silicone.

Still in relation with the , the surgical device 10 also comprises a flexible body 200 secured to the guide tube 100 by its second end 102.

The flexible body 200, also illustrated in isolation at , is a single piece and is configured to deform under mechanical stress.

The flexible body 200, as illustrated in , may comprise, in order, from a first face 200a to a second face 200b, a first cylindrical section 201, a truncated cone section 202 and a second cylindrical section 203.

In particular, the first cylindrical section 201, with a diameter smaller than that of the second cylindrical section 203, is intended to be inserted into the guide tube 100 for the purpose of holding, by embedding, the flexible body 200 in said guide tube 100.

The diameter of the second cylindrical section 203 is advantageously less than 3 mm, advantageously less than 2.5 mm, even more advantageously less than 2 mm.

The flexible body 200 may also comprise a channel 204, passing through and coaxial with the guide tube 100. More particularly, the channel 204 opens out through one and the other of the first face 200a and the second face 200b.

The flexible body 200 may also include grooves 205 that extend parallel to the channel 204 on an exterior surface of the flexible body 200.

In particular, the grooves 205 extend from the first face 200a, towards the second face 200b, and up to the birth of the second cylindrical section 203.

The interest and function of the grooves 205 will appear clearly in the remainder of the statement. Furthermore, the grooves 205 advantageously have a constant angular spacing.

As illustrated in the , the surgical device 10 also comprises a clamp 300.

In particular, and as illustrated in the , the clamp 300 comprises two jaws called, respectively, first jaw 301 and second jaw 302. According to a first variant ( ), one of the jaws, for example the first jaw 301 is configured to be movable about a pivot axis 303.

According to a second variant, both jaws can be mounted pivoting.

The clamp 300 may also comprise a base 304, of generally cylindrical shape and intended to be inserted into the channel 204 by the second face 200b for the purpose of holding said clamp by the flexible body.

According to this configuration, the clamp 300 is located in the extension of the flexible body 200 and in projection of the second face 200b.

Thus, a constraint imposed on the flexible body 200 in order to bend it will result in an angular deviation of the clamp 300. In other words, the bending of the flexible body 200 makes it possible to adjust the orientation of the clamp 300 relative to the guide tube 100. Furthermore, the bending of the flexible body 200 can be limited to its frustoconical section 202 alone.

The surgical device 10 also comprises orientation means. In particular, these orientation means are arranged to impose a mechanical constraint on the flexible body 200 in order to cause it to flex, and for example to cause its truncated cone section 202 to flex.

Particularly advantageously, the orientation means may comprise cables, called orientation cables.

In particular, the orientation cables 500 can extend into the guide tube and be secured by one of their ends to the flexible body and by the other of their ends to a control block (illustrated in FIG. ).

The control block may in particular be configured to selectively and independently tension each of the orientation cables 500 so as to impose a deflection on the flexible body 200. In this regard, the control block may comprise servomotors to which the orientation cables are coupled.

Particularly advantageously, the orientation cables 500 are directly connected to the second cylindrical section 203 so that when the orientation means impose a mechanical stress on the flexible body 200, only the truncated cone section flexes. According to this configuration, it is understood that each orientation cable is guided in a groove 205 specific to it.

It is also understood that three 500 orientation cables are sufficient to impose all possible orientations of the 300 clamp.

The surgical device 10 also comprises activation means configured to allow the opening and closing of the two jaws of the clamp. In particular, the activation means comprise activation cables 600. The latter can extend in the guide tube, in the channel 204 and be secured by one of their ends to the pivot axis 303. The control block 400 can also be configured to selectively and independently tension each of the activation cables so as to control the opening and closing of the clamp.

Of course, the invention is not limited to the embodiments described and variant embodiments can be made without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the claims.

Claims (9)

Surgical device (10) comprising:
- a hollow guide tube (100) which extends between two ends called, respectively, first end (101) and second end (102);
- a flexible body (200), in one piece, capable of bending under the effect of mechanical stress, and secured to the guide tube (100) by its second end (102);
- a clamp (300) provided with two jaws called, respectively, first jaw (301) and second jaw (302), integral with the flexible body (200), and of which at least one of said jaws is movable around a pivot axis (303);
- orientation means (500) arranged to impose a mechanical constraint on the flexible body (200) so as to orient the clamp (300) in a desired direction;
- activation means (600) configured to allow the opening and closing of the two jaws of the clamp (300). Surgical device (10) according to claim 1, wherein the orientation means and the activation means comprise, respectively, orientation cables (500) and activation cables (600), as well as a control block (400) equipped with servomotors. Surgical device (10) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the flexible body (200) comprises, in order, a first cylindrical section (201), a frustoconical section (202) and a second cylindrical section (203), the orientation means, preferably the orientation cables (500), running in the guide tube (100) from the first end (101) towards the second end (102) and being integral with the second cylindrical section (203). Surgical device (10) according to claim 3, wherein the flexible body (200) is held to the guide tube (100) by insertion of the first cylindrical section (201) into said guide tube (100). Surgical device (10) according to claim 3 or 4, wherein the flexible body (200) comprises grooves (205) in which the steering cables (500) are guided from the second end (102) of the guide tube (100) towards the second cylindrical section (203). Surgical device (10) according to one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the flexible body (200) comprises at least one guide channel coaxial with the guide tube (100). Surgical device (10) according to one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the guide tube (100) comprises a metallic material. Surgical device (10) according to one of claims 1 to 7, in which the guide tube (100) has an external diameter of less than 3 mm, advantageously less than 2.5 mm, even more advantageously less than 2 mm. Surgical device (10) according to one of claims 1 to 8, in which the flexible body (200) comprises at least one of the materials chosen from: silicone, an elastomer.