Surgical device with malleable shaft

Abstract

The present invention provides a surgical device having a tissue engaging portion, a shaft member, and a handle assembly. The tissue engaging portion includes first and second opposed jaws for grasping, securing, and occluding body tissue and conduits. The shaft member is operatively coupled to the tissue engaging portion and is capable of being placed in different curvatures. The handle assembly is operatively coupled to both the shaft member and to the tissue engaging portion. The shaft member of the present invention allows the surgeon to bend and adjust the shape of the surgical device to minimize its intrusion and to allow for proper positioning in predetermined body locations. In a preferred embodiment, a portion of the device is disposable.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A surgical device having a longitudinal axis extending between a proximal end and a distal end, comprising: 
 tissue engaging means including first and second opposed jaws for grasping, securing, and occluding body tissue and conduits;    a shaft member operatively coupled to the tissue engaging means, the shaft member capable of being placed in different curvatures; and    a handle assembly operatively coupled to the shaft member and to the tissue engaging means.    
     
     
         2 . The surgical device of  claim 1  further comprising a jaw actuating means for actuating the jaws of the tissue engaging means between an open position and a closed position, the actuating means being operatively connected to the tissue engaging means and to the handle assembly.  
     
     
         3 . The surgical device of  claim 2  wherein the shaft member comprises a malleable tube with the jaw actuating means extending axially there through.  
     
     
         4 . The surgical device of  claim 2  wherein the shaft member comprises a series of interconnected ball and socket segments with the jaw actuating means extending axially there through.  
     
     
         5 . The surgical device of  claim 2  wherein the shaft member comprises soft metal tubing with the jaw actuating means extending axially there through.  
     
     
         6 . The surgical device of  claim 2  wherein the shaft member comprises wound metal tubing with the jaw actuating means extending axially there through.  
     
     
         7 . The surgical device of  claim 2  wherein the shaft member comprises a dual-channeled plastic tube having a first and a second channel, the jaw actuating means extending axially through the first channel and a malleable rod extending axially through the second channel.  
     
     
         8 . The surgical device of  claim 1  further comprising a compression return spring for biasing the tissue engaging means to an open position.  
     
     
         9 . The surgical device of  claim 1  wherein the tissue engaging means further includes a hinged end at which the jaws are hinged together.  
     
     
         10 . The surgical device of  claim 9  further comprising a jaw actuating means for actuating the jaws of the tissue engaging means between an open position and a closed position, the actuating means operatively connected to the tissue engaging means and to the handle assembly.  
     
     
         11 . The surgical device of  claim 10  wherein the jaw actuating means comprises a drive rod.  
     
     
         12 . The surgical device of  claim 11  wherein a jaw actuating member is provided at the hinged end of the tissue engaging means for squeezing together the jaws of the tissue engaging means in response to actuation of the drive rod by the handle assembly.  
     
     
         13 . The surgical device of  claim 10  wherein the jaw actuating means comprises a cable.  
     
     
         14 . The surgical device of  claim 13  wherein the hinged end of the tissue engaging means includes a hole there through, the hole interacting with a hook provided at one end of the cable.  
     
     
         15 . The surgical device of  claim 14  wherein the shaft member is provided with a end member which, upon actuation of the cable by the handle assembly, interacts with the jaws of the tissue engaging means to bring the jaws to the closed position.  
     
     
         16 . The surgical device of  claim 10  wherein the jaw actuating means comprises a wire member having a hook at one end operatively coupled to the jaws of the tissue engaging means.  
     
     
         17 . The surgical device of  claim 18  wherein each jaw is provided with a diagonal slot at one end, the hook of the wire member interacting with the diagonal slots of the jaws to move the jaws between the open and closed positions.  
     
     
         18 . The surgical device of  claim 17  further provided with a clevis which houses a portion of the wire member and the slotted ends of the jaws.  
     
     
         19 . The surgical device of  claim 10  wherein one jaw of the tissue engaging means is provided with a slot at one end, the jaw actuating means being operatively coupled with the slot via a pin.  
     
     
         20 . The surgical device of  claim 11  wherein the tissue engaging means is further provided with a socket for coupling to the jaw actuating means.  
     
     
         21 . The surgical device of  claim 20  wherein one end of the jaw actuating means is provided with a ball for coupling to the socket of the tissue engaging means.  
     
     
         22 . The surgical device of  claim 21  wherein another end of the jaw actuating means is provided with a ball for coupling to the handle assembly.  
     
     
         23 . The surgical device of  claim 1  wherein the tissue engaging means and the shaft member are disposable.  
     
     
         24 . The surgical device of  claim 1  wherein the tissue engaging means is disposable  
     
     
         25 . The surgical device of  claim 1  wherein the shaft member is disposable.  
     
     
         26 . A surgical device having a longitudinal axis extending between a proximal end and a distal end, comprising: 
 tissue engaging means including first and second opposed jaws for grasping, securing, and occluding body tissue and conduits;    a shaft member operatively coupled to the tissue engaging means, the shaft member capable of being placed and locked in different curvatures;    a handle assembly operatively coupled to the shaft member and to the tissue engaging means; and    a jaw actuating means for actuating the jaws of the tissue engaging means between an open and a closed position.    
     
     
         27 . The surgical device of  claim 26  wherein the jaw actuating means comprises a cable operatively connected to the tissue engaging means, extending through the shaft member, and operatively connected to the handle assembly.  
     
     
         28 . The surgical device of  claim 27  wherein the shaft member comprises a series of interconnected ball and socket segments with the jaw actuating cable extending axially there through.  
     
     
         29 . The surgical device of  claim 28  further comprising a tightening knob for exerting axial compression on the segments, thereby allowing the shaft member to be locked in any shape.  
     
     
         30 . The surgical device of  claim 27  wherein the shaft member comprises a flexible tube with the jaw actuating cable extending axially there through.  
     
     
         31 . The surgical device of  claim 30  further comprising a malleable applier instrument for grasping the jaws of the tissue engaging means for insertion together into an incision.  
     
     
         32 . The surgical device of  claim 31  wherein the malleable applier instrument is capable of being released and removed from the incision once the jaws of the tissue engaging means have been actuated to the closed position.  
     
     
         33 . A surgical device having a longitudinal axis extending between a proximal end and a distal end, comprising: 
 tissue engaging means including first and second opposed jaws for grasping, securing, and occluding body tissue and conduits;    a shaft member operatively coupled to the tissue engaging means, the shaft member being constructed of malleable material and thus capable of being placed in different curvatures;    a handle assembly operatively coupled to the shaft member and to the tissue engaging means; and    a jaw actuating means for actuating the jaws of the tissue engaging means between an open and a closed position, the jaw actuating means extending axially through the shaft member and being provided with coupling means at each end which enable the jaw actuating means and the shaft member to be separated from the remainder of the device to be disposed.    
     
     
         34 . The surgical device of  claim 33  wherein the tissue engaging means is provided with a socket for coupling to the jaw actuating means.  
     
     
         35 . The surgical device of  claim 34  wherein the coupling means of the jaw actuating means comprises a first ball provided at one end of the actuating means for coupling with the socket of the tissue engaging means.  
     
     
         36 . The surgical device of  claim 35  wherein the coupling means of the jaw actuating means further comprises a second ball provided at another end of the jaw actuating means for coupling with the handle assembly.