surgical device

Abstract

The invention relates to a surgical device (10) comprising: - a hollow guide tube (100) which extends between two ends, respectively called the first end and the second end (102); - a single-piece flexible body (200) 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, respectively called the first jaw and the second jaw, secured to the flexible body (200), and at least one of said jaws being movable about a pivot axis; - orientation means arranged to impose a mechanical stress on the flexible body (200) so as to orient the clamp (300) in a desired direction; - activation means configured to allow the opening and closing of the two jaws of the clamp (300). Figure 1

Description

Title of the invention: surgical device FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 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 microclamp, 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

[0002] The emergence of miniaturized surgical devices has made it possible to make surgical interventions less invasive and, consequently, to limit the trauma associated with such interventions.

[0003] 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 gripping and / or resection.

[0004] A conventional micro-gripper is known from US Patent No. 5,342,390. However, this micro-gripper, mounted on the end of an insertion tube, remains difficult to handle. In particular, this micro-gripper does not allow intervention in very narrow and winding cavities.

[0005] Thus, one aim of the invention is to propose a surgical device provided with a micro-pin which is more manageable than the micro-pins known from the state of the art.

[0006] Another object of the present invention is to propose a surgical device provided with a micro-clamp capable of being implemented in narrow and winding cavities. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0007] The aims of the present invention are, at least in part, achieved by a surgical device comprising:

[0008] - a hollow guide tube which extends between two ends called, respectively, first end and second end;

[0009] - a flexible, single-piece body capable of bending under the effect of stress mechanical, and secured to the guide tube by its second end;

[0010] - a clamp provided with two jaws called, respectively, first jaw and second jaw jaws, integral with the flexible body, and at least one of said jaws being movable around a pivot axis;

[0011] - orientation means arranged to impose a mechanical constraint on the body flexible so as to orient the clamp in a desired direction;

[0012] - activation means configured to allow the opening and closing of the two jaws of the pliers.

[0013] 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.

[0014] According to one embodiment, the flexible body comprises, in order, a first cylindrical section, a frustoconical section and a second cylindrical section, the orientation cables running in the guide tube from the first end towards the second end and being integral with the second cylindrical section.

[0015] According to one embodiment, the flexible body is held to the guide tube by inserting the first cylindrical section into said guide tube.

[0016] According to one embodiment, the flexible body comprises grooves in which the steering cables are guided from the second end of the guide tube towards the second cylindrical section.

[0017] According to one embodiment, the flexible body comprises at least one guide channel coaxial with the guide tube.

[0018] According to one embodiment, the guide tube comprises a metallic material.

[0019] 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.

[0020] According to one embodiment, the flexible body comprises at least one of the materials chosen from: silicone, an elastomer. Brief description of the drawings

[0021] Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will emerge from the detailed description which follows with reference to the appended figures in which:

[0022] [Fig-1] [Fig.l] is a partial schematic representation of a chi device surgical procedure in accordance with the principles set forth in the present invention, in particular [Fig.l] illustrates the arrangement of a flexible body and a clamp on the second end of a hollow guide tube;

[0023] [Fig.2] [Fig.2] is a perspective illustration of the hollow guide tube of the surgical device of [Fig.l];

[0024] [Fig.3] [Fig.3] is a schematic representation, in perspective view, of the flexible body of the surgical device of [Fig.l];

[0025] [Fig.4] [Fig.4] is a schematic representation, in perspective view, of the clamp of the surgical device of [Fig.l];

[0026] [Fig.5] [Fig.5] is a schematic representation, in perspective view, of the surgical device equipped with the control unit. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0027] The invention relates to a surgical device intended to be implemented for surgical interventions, in particular surgical interventions 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.

[0028] Thus, the invention relates to a surgical device comprising:

[0029] - a hollow guide tube which extends between two ends called, respectively, first end and second end;

[0030] - a flexible, single-piece body capable of deforming under the effect of stress mechanical, and secured to the guide tube by its second end;

[0031] - a clamp provided with two jaws called, respectively, first jaw and second jaw jaws, integral with the flexible body, and at least one of said jaws being movable around a pivot axis;

[0032] - orientation means arranged to impose a mechanical constraint on the body flexible so as to orient the clamp in a desired direction;

[0033] - activation means configured to allow the opening and closing of the two jaws of the pliers.

[0034] In [Fig. 1], an example of a surgical device 10 according to the present invention can be seen.

[0035] The surgical device 10 notably comprises a hollow guide tube 100. As illustrated in [Fig.2], the guide tube 100 extends between a first end 101 and a second end 102.

[0036] 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 scope of the present invention.

[0037] Advantageously, the guide tube 100 has an outside diameter of less than 3 mm, advantageously less than 2.5 mm, even more advantageously less than 2 mm.

[0038] 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 silicone.

[0039] Still in relation to [Fig.l], the surgical device 10 also comprises a flexible body 200 secured to the guide tube 100 by its second end 102.

[0040] The flexible body 200, also illustrated in isolation in [Fig. 3], is a single piece and is configured to deform under the effect of mechanical stress.

[0041] The flexible body 200, as illustrated in [Fig. 3], may comprise, in order, from a first face 200a to a second face 200b, a first cylindrical section 201, a frustoconical section 202 and a second cylindrical section 203.

[0042] 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.

[0043] 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.

[0044] 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.

[0045] 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.

[0046] In particular, the grooves 205 extend from the first face 200a, towards the second face 200b, and up to the start of the second cylindrical section 203.

[0047] The interest and the function of the grooves 205 will appear clearly in the remainder of the statement. Furthermore, the grooves 205 advantageously have a constant angular spacing.

[0048] As illustrated in [Fig.l], the surgical device 10 also comprises a clamp 300.

[0049] In particular, and as illustrated in [Fig. 4], the clamp 300 comprises two jaws called, respectively, first jaw 301 and second jaw 302. According to a first variant ([Fig. 4]), one of the jaws, for example the first jaw 301 is configured to be movable around a pivot axis 303.

[0050] According to a second variant, the two jaws can be pivotally mounted.

[0051] 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.

[0052] 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.

[0053] Thus, a constraint imposed on the flexible body 200 in order to flex it will result in by 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 only.

[0054] The surgical device 10 also comprises orientation means. In particular, these orientation means are arranged to impose a mechanical stress on the flexible body 200 in order to cause it to flex, and for example to cause its frustoconical section 202 to flex.

[0055] In a particularly advantageous manner, the orientation means may comprise cables, called orientation cables.

[0056] 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.5]).

[0057] The control unit 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 unit may comprise servomotors to which the orientation cables are coupled.

[0058] In a particularly advantageous manner, 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 frustoconical section flexes. According to this configuration, it is understood that each orientation cable is guided in a groove 205 which is specific to it.

[0059] It is also understood that three orientation cables 500 are sufficient to impose all possible orientations of the clamp 300.

[0060] 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.

[0061] 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

Claims

1. Surgical device (10) comprising: - a hollow guide tube (100) which extends between two ends, respectively called the first end (101) and the second end (102); - a flexible body (200), in one piece, capable of bending under the effect of a mechanical stress, and secured to the guide tube (100) by its second end (102); - a clamp (300) provided with two jaws, respectively called the first jaw (301) and the second jaw (302), secured to the flexible body (200), and at least one of said jaws being movable about a pivot axis (303); - orientation means arranged to impose a mechanical stress on the flexible body (200) so as to orient the clamp (300) in a desired direction, the orientation means comprising orientation cables (500);- activation means configured to allow the opening and closing of the two jaws of the clamp (300), the activation means comprising activation cables, characterized in that the flexible body (200) comprises, in order, a first cylindrical section (201), a frustoconical section (202) and a second cylindrical section (203), 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), and in which the flexible body (200) comprises grooves (205) in which the orientation cables (500) are guided from the second end (102) of the guide tube (100) towards the second cylindrical section (203).;

2. The surgical device (10) of claim 1, wherein the flexible body (200) is held to the guide tube (100) by inserting the first cylindrical section (201) into said guide tube (100).

3. A surgical device (10) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the flexible body (200) comprises at least one guide channel coaxial with the guide tube (100).

4. A surgical device (10) according to one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the guide tube (100) comprises a metallic material.

5. Surgical device (10) according to one of claims 1 to 4, 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.

6. Surgical device (10) according to one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the flexible body (200) comprises at least one of the materials chosen from: silicone, an elastomer.

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