Device

Abstract

This device comprises a plate member extending along a circumferential direction relative to a virtual center point when viewed along a first direction. The plate member has a first end that is one end among both circumferential-direction ends, and a second end that is the other end among both circumferential-direction ends. A first through hole penetrating the plate member in a radial direction with respect to the virtual center point is provided in a portion of the plate member closer to the first end than the center in the circumferential direction.

Description

device

[0001] FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE The present disclosure relates to a clampable device.

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses an organ traction device used to retract a desired organ in the abdominal cavity in a desired direction during endoscopic surgery to widen the field of view.

[0003] Utility Model Registration No. 3229109

[0004] For example, when securing a blood vessel by clamping a vascular tape with surgical forceps, even if the surgical field is widened, if there is not enough space to secure the blood vessel using the surgical forceps, it may take a long time to secure the blood vessel and there may be an increased risk of damaging the blood vessel with the surgical forceps.

[0005] An object of the present disclosure is to provide a device that can be held by forceps and that can safely and smoothly secure a blood vessel.

[0006] A device according to one aspect of the present disclosure is a device that can be grasped with forceps, and includes a plate member that extends circumferentially relative to an imaginary center point when viewed along a first direction, the plate member having a first end that is one of the two ends in the circumferential direction and a second end that is the other of the two ends in the circumferential direction, and a first through hole that penetrates the plate member radially relative to the imaginary center point is provided in a portion of the plate member closer to the first end than the circumferential center.

[0007] According to the present disclosure, a device that can be held with forceps and that can safely and smoothly secure a blood vessel can be realized.

[0008] 1 is a perspective view showing a device according to one embodiment of the present disclosure; 2 is a plan view of the device of FIG. 1; 3 is a plan view of the device taken along the Y1 direction of FIG. 2; 4 is a plan view of the device taken along the Z1 direction of FIG. 2; 5 is a plan view of the device taken along the Z2 direction of FIG. 2; 6 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a method of using the device of FIG. 1; 7 is a diagram illustrating an example of a method of using the device of FIG. 1; 8 is a plan view showing a first modified example of the device of FIG. 1; 9 is a plan view showing a second modified example of the device of FIG. 1; 10 is a plan view showing a third modified example of the device of FIG. 1; 11 is a plan view showing a fourth modified example of the device of FIG. 1; 12 is a perspective view showing a fifth modified example of the device of FIG. 1;

[0009] An example of the present disclosure will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. The following description is merely exemplary in nature and does not limit the present disclosure, its applications, or uses. The accompanying drawings are schematic drawings, and the illustrated configurations and actual products may differ in dimensional ratios, etc. In the following description, terms such as "about" or "approximately" mean that the values, shapes, etc. following these terms include an acceptable range of error as determined by a person skilled in the art.

[0010] 1, a device 1 according to one aspect of the present disclosure includes a plate member 10 and is configured to be able to be clamped by forceps. The forceps include, for example, not only forceps that are directly operated by a doctor with his or her own hands, but also forceps that are indirectly operated by a doctor via a surgical support robot (for example, an instrument attached to a robot arm).

[0011] As shown in FIG. 2 , the plate member 10 extends in a circumferential direction (hereinafter referred to as circumferential direction A) about a virtual center point P when viewed in a first direction (e.g., the X direction). In this embodiment, the plate member 10 is formed of, for example, stainless steel, PEI polyetherimide, UHMW-PE (ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene), or CFRP (carbon fiber reinforced plastic). When viewed in the X direction, the plate member 10 has a substantially arc shape. As shown in FIG. 3 , when viewed in the Y direction, the plate member 10 has a substantially constant width. The dimension of the plate member 10 in the X direction is referred to as the "width of the plate member 10." The surface of the plate member 10 may be subjected to treatments such as plating, anodizing, thermal spraying, and painting.

[0012] The plate member 10 has a first end 11 which is one of the ends in the circumferential direction A, and a second end 12 which is the other of the ends in the circumferential direction A. As shown in Fig. 4 , the plate member 10 has a first through hole 13 provided in a portion closer to the first end 11 than the center C of the plate member 10 in the circumferential direction A. The first through hole 13 penetrates the plate member 10 in a radial direction relative to the imaginary center point P (hereinafter referred to as the radial direction). In this embodiment, the first through hole 13 is adjacent to the first end 11 of the plate member 10.

[0013] A plane intersecting the X direction is defined as the ZY plane, and a direction that coincides with the circumferential direction A when viewed along the Y direction is defined as the Z direction. In Fig. 2, the Y direction, which is a direction from the center C of the plate member 10 toward the imaginary center point P, is defined as Y1, the Z direction, which is a direction from the first end 11 toward the imaginary center point P, is defined as Z1, and the opposite direction of the Z1 direction (i.e., the Z direction, which is a direction from the second end 12 toward the imaginary center point P) is defined as Z2.

[0014] The first through-hole 13 is configured to allow passage of an elongated member such as a vascular tape, a suture, etc. As an example, the first through-hole 13 has a substantially rectangular shape when viewed along the radial direction.

[0015] As shown in Fig. 1 , in this embodiment, both ends of the plate member 10 in the circumferential direction A are curved. As shown in Fig. 4 and Fig. 5 , the first end 11 and the second end 12 of the plate member 10 have a generally semicircular shape when viewed along the radial direction, protruding in the circumferential direction A and in a direction away from the center C. The first end 11 and the second end 12 protrude in opposite directions from each other in the circumferential direction A.

[0016] An example of the dimensions of the device 1 is shown below. When viewed along the X direction, the central angle θ (see FIG. 2) of the plate member 10 relative to the virtual center point P is 135 degrees to 150 degrees. The central angle θ is the angle between an imaginary line L1 connecting the first end 11 and the virtual center point P and a line L2 connecting the second end 12 and the virtual center point P. When viewed along the X direction, the arrow height W1 (see FIG. 2) of the plate member 10 is greater than 4 mm and less than 12 mm. When the imaginary line L3 connecting the first end 11 and the second end 12 is defined as the arrow height W1, the arrow height W1 is the distance between the imaginary line L3 and the plate member 10 on an imaginary line L4 that passes through the virtual center point P and is perpendicular to the imaginary line L3. The width W2 (see FIG. 3) of the plate member 10 is 2 mm to 6 mm. The thickness W3 (see FIG. 2), which is the radial dimension of the plate member 10, is 0.5 mm to 1.5 mm.

[0017] 6 and 7, an example of a method of using the device 1 when securing the blood vessel 100 by wrapping the vascular tape 200 around the back of the blood vessel 100 whose periphery has been dissected using a robot will be described.

[0018] A user (e.g., a doctor) passes the vascular tape 200 through the first through-hole 13 of the device 1 in advance and attaches it so that it does not come off the device 1 (Step S1). After completing Step S1, the user peels off the area around the blood vessel 100 to be secured (Step S2).

[0019] After step S2 is completed, the user operates the robot to clamp the device 1 with the forceps 110 (step S3), and moves the forceps 110 to insert the device 1 from the second end 12 into the back side of the blood vessel 100 (step S4). Here, the area located farther from the blood vessel 100 from the viewpoint of the user operating the robot is defined as the "back side of the blood vessel 100."

[0020] After step S4 is completed, the user operates the robot to move the device 1 in the direction of arrow B so that the vascular tape 200 passes behind the blood vessel 100 (step S5). This allows the blood vessel to be secured. In step S5, for example, the user secures the field of view by using a second forceps 120 in addition to the forceps 110. As an example, the device 1 is moved so that the arc length direction of the plate member 10 and the direction of arrow B are approximately parallel.

[0021] The device 1 can achieve the following effects.

[0022] For example, surgeries performed in the field of urology include prostatectomy, cystectomy, partial nephrectomy, kidney removal, nephroureterectomy, and adrenalectomy. In these surgeries, safely and smoothly securing blood vessels such as arteries, veins, and ureters is an extremely important surgical process. Securing blood vessels is accomplished, for example, by dissecting the area around the vessel and wrapping vascular tape or the like around the inside of the vessel. Because damaging blood vessels can lead to serious medical accidents, establishing a surgical method that allows anyone to secure blood vessels safely and smoothly is extremely important for ensuring medical safety.

[0023] In recent years, robotic surgery using surgical robots has become widely used. Surgical robots allow for highly flexible and delicate manipulation thanks to their multi-joint forceps and anti-shake function. However, in robotic surgery, securing vascular access can be difficult in limited spaces due to limitations in the range of motion of the multi-joint forceps and the length of the multi-joints. In such cases, because surgical robots lack a sense of touch, robotic surgery may place excessive tension on the vascular access.

[0024] The device 1 of the present disclosure includes a plate member 10 extending in a circumferential direction A relative to an imaginary center point P when viewed along the X direction. The plate member 10 has a first end 11 and a second end 12. A first through-hole 13 penetrating the plate member 10 in a radial direction relative to the imaginary center point P is provided in a portion of the plate member 10 closer to the first end 11 than to the center C in the circumferential direction A. Because the plate member 10 extends in the circumferential direction A, the device 1 can be easily and smoothly inserted, for example, into the back side of a blood vessel. Furthermore, because the plate member 10 has the first through-hole 13, an elongated member such as a vascular tape can be attached to the device 1. Therefore, by using the device 1 in, for example, the aforementioned surgery, even when space is limited, an elongated member such as a vascular tape can be easily and smoothly routed behind the blood vessel. As a result, for example, excessive tension on the blood vessel can be avoided during robot-assisted surgery, ensuring the safety of the surgery. In other words, the above configuration makes it possible to realize a device 1 that can be held with forceps and that can safely and smoothly secure a blood vessel.

[0025] In the device 1, both ends of the plate member 10 in the circumferential direction A are curved. With this configuration, for example, by using the device 1 in the aforementioned surgery, it is possible to more smoothly wrap a thin and long member such as a vascular tape around the back side of a blood vessel.

[0026] The device 1 can optionally employ one or more of the following configurations. That is, if one or more of the following configurations are included in the above-described embodiment, they can be optionally deleted, and if they are not included in the above-described embodiment, they can be optionally added. By employing such a configuration, it is possible to more reliably realize a device 1 that can be grasped with forceps and can safely and smoothly secure a blood vessel.

[0027] When viewed along the X direction, the central angle θ of the plate member 10 with respect to the imaginary center point P is 135 degrees to 150 degrees.

[0028] When viewed along the X direction, the arrow height W1 of the plate member 10 is less than 12 mm.

[0029] The arrow height W1 of the plate member 10 is greater than 4 mm.

[0030] The width W2 of the plate member 10 is 2 mm to 6 mm.

[0031] The thickness W3 of the plate member 10 is 0.5 mm to 1.5 mm.

[0032] The device 1 can be configured as follows.

[0033] As shown in Fig. 8 , a second through-hole 14 may be provided radially penetrating the plate member 10 in a portion closer to the second end 12 than the center C in the circumferential direction A of the plate member 10. The device 1 shown in Fig. 8 is configured to be clamped with forceps via the second through-hole 14. This configuration allows the device 1 to be more securely clamped with forceps. In this embodiment, the second through-hole 14 has a substantially rectangular shape when viewed radially and is adjacent to the second end 12 of the plate member 10. The shape and size of the second through-hole 14 can be set according to the design of the device 1, etc.

[0034] 9 , the outer surfaces of the portions 141 located on both sides of the second through-hole 14 in the X direction of the plate member 10 may each be curved over the entire circumference in the circumferential direction A. This configuration allows the device 1 to be more securely clamped by the forceps. As a result, for example, after the device 1 is clamped by the forceps, the device 1 can be prevented from rotating relative to the forceps or falling off the forceps.

[0035] The plate member 10 is not limited to having a substantially arc shape when viewed along the X direction. For example, the plate member 10 may have a shape that combines multiple arcs with different curvatures when viewed along the X direction, or a shape that combines multiple straight lines (for example, a shape that is formed by part of the periphery of a polygon).

[0036] The width and thickness of the plate member 10 may be constant or variable. One of the width and thickness of the plate member 10 may be constant, and the other of the width and thickness of the plate member 10 may be variable.

[0037] The shape and size of the first through-hole 13 can be set according to the design of the device 1 and the like.

[0038] Both ends of the plate member 10 in the circumferential direction may or may not be curved.

[0039] Forceps used as scissors are included as forceps that can grip or hold the device 1. Examples of the device 1 that can be easily gripped or held by forceps used as scissors are shown in Figures 10 to 12.

[0040] The device 1 shown in Fig. 10 has a plurality of holes 15 provided on one or both of the two side surfaces in the X direction of the plate member 10, each capable of accommodating one of a pair of forceps tips. The plurality of holes 15 are positioned at intervals in the circumferential direction A and are configured to simultaneously accommodate a pair of forceps tips in two of the plurality of holes 15. By accommodating the pair of forceps tips in two of the plurality of holes 15 and opening or closing the forceps, the device 1 can be clamped or held. The shape, size, position, number, etc. of each hole 15 can be changed depending on the forceps to be used.

[0041] The device 1 shown in FIG. 11 has at least one notch 16 (a plurality of notches 16 as a whole) provided on each of both side surfaces (hereinafter referred to as a first side surface 101 and a second side surface 102) in the X direction of the plate member 10. The notches 16 on the first side surface 101 and the notches 16 on the second side surface 102 are positioned so as to be able to be clamped with forceps. In the device 1 shown in FIG. 11, the notches 16 on the first side surface 101 and the notches 16 on the second side surface 102 are provided in the same number and are arranged alternately along the Z direction. The device 1 can be clamped by placing one tip of a pair of forceps in the notch 16 on the first side surface 101 and the other tip of the pair of forceps in the notch 16 on the second side surface 102 and closing the forceps. The shape, size, position, number, etc. of each notch 16 can be changed depending on the forceps used.

[0042] The device 1 shown in FIG. 12 has multiple slits 17 provided between the first end 11 and the second end 12 on one or both radial surfaces of the plate member 10. Each slit 17 can accommodate at least a portion of the tip of a pair of forceps. In the device 1 shown in FIG. 12, the multiple slits 17 include slits 17 extending in three different directions: a slit 171 extending in the X direction; a slit 172 extending from one end to the other in the X direction as it moves from the first end 11 to the second end 12; and a slit 173 extending from the other end to one end in the X direction as it moves from the first end 11 to the second end 12. The device 1 can be clamped by accommodating a pair of tips of forceps in two slits 175 of the multiple slits 17 and closing the forceps. The shape, size, position, and number of each slit 17 can be changed depending on the forceps used. In the device 1 shown in FIG. 12, the slits 17 are provided across the entire outer surface of the plate member 10, but this is not a limitation. The slit 17 may be provided at least around the second through-hole 14 of the plate member 10 on one or both of the two radially opposite surfaces of the plate member 10 .

[0043] Various aspects of the disclosure are described below.

[0044] A device of a first aspect of the present disclosure is a device that can be grasped with forceps, and includes a plate member that extends circumferentially relative to an imaginary center point when viewed along a first direction, the plate member having a first end that is one of the two ends in the circumferential direction and a second end that is the other of the two ends in the circumferential direction, and a first through hole that penetrates the plate member radially relative to the imaginary center point is provided in a portion of the plate member closer to the first end than the circumferential center.

[0045] A device of a second aspect of the present disclosure is the device of the first aspect, wherein a second through-hole that penetrates the plate member in a radial direction relative to the virtual center point is provided in a portion of the plate member closer to the second end than the circumferential center, and the device is configured to be clamped by the forceps via the second through-hole.

[0046] A device of a third aspect of the present disclosure is a device of the second aspect, wherein the outer surfaces of portions of the plate member located on both sides of the second through hole in the first direction are each curved around the entire circumference in the circumferential direction.

[0047] A device according to a fourth aspect of the present disclosure is the device according to any one of the first to third aspects, wherein both ends of the plate member in the circumferential direction are curved.

[0048] A device according to a fifth aspect of the present disclosure is a device according to any one of the first to fourth aspects, wherein when viewed along the first direction, the central angle of the plate member relative to the virtual center point is 135 degrees to 150 degrees.

[0049] A device according to a sixth aspect of the present disclosure is the device according to any one of the first to fifth aspects, wherein the arrow height of the plate member is less than 12 mm when viewed along the first direction.

[0050] A seventh aspect of the present disclosure provides a device according to any one of the first to sixth aspects, wherein the arrow height of the plate member is greater than 4 mm.

[0051] The device according to an eighth aspect of the present disclosure is the device according to any one of the first to seventh aspects, wherein the width of the plate member, which is the dimension in the first direction, is 2 mm to 6 mm.

[0052] A device according to a ninth aspect of the present disclosure is the device according to any one of the first to eighth aspects, wherein the thickness of the plate member, which is the dimension in the radial direction, is 0.5 mm to 1.5 mm.

[0053] A tenth aspect of the present disclosure provides a device according to any one of the first to ninth aspects, wherein the plate member is provided on one or both of the two side surfaces in the first direction, and has a plurality of holes configured to accommodate the tips of the forceps, and is configured to be clamped or held by the forceps via the plurality of holes.

[0054] The device of an eleventh aspect of the present disclosure is a device described in any one of the first to ninth aspects, wherein the plate member has at least one notch provided on each of both side surfaces in the first direction, and is configured to be clamped by the forceps via the notches.

[0055] A device of a twelfth aspect of the present disclosure is a device described in any of the first to ninth aspects, wherein the plate member has a plurality of slits provided around the first through hole on one or both of the radial surfaces, and is configured to be clamped by the forceps via the plurality of slits.

[0056] Any of the various embodiments or modifications described above can be combined appropriately to achieve the effects of each. In addition, combinations of embodiments, combinations of examples, or combinations of embodiments and examples are possible, and combinations of features from different embodiments or examples are also possible.

[0057] Although the present disclosure has been described in each embodiment with a certain degree of detail, the disclosed contents of these embodiments may vary in structural details, and changes in the combination and order of elements in each embodiment may be made without departing from the scope and spirit of the claimed disclosure.

[0058] The devices of the present disclosure can be used, for example, in robotic-assisted or laparoscopic surgery.

[0059] REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 Device 10 Plate member 11 First end 12 Second end 13 First through-hole 14 Second through-hole 15 Hole 16 Notch 17 Slit 100 Vessel 110 Forceps 120 Second forceps 141 Part 200 Vascular tape

Claims

1. A device that can be grasped or held with forceps, comprising a plate member that extends in a circumferential direction about an imaginary center point when viewed along a first direction, the plate member having a first end that is one of the two ends in the circumferential direction and a second end that is the other of the two ends in the circumferential direction, and a first through-hole that passes through the plate member in a radial direction about the imaginary center point is provided in a portion of the plate member closer to the first end than to the center in the circumferential direction.

2. The device according to claim 1, wherein a second through hole penetrating the plate member in a radial direction relative to the virtual center point is provided in a portion of the plate member closer to the second end than the circumferential center, and the device is configured to be clamped by the forceps via the second through hole.

3. The device according to claim 2, wherein the outer surfaces of portions of the plate member located on both sides of the second through hole in the first direction are curved all around in the circumferential direction.

4. A device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein both ends of said plate member in the circumferential direction are curved.

5. A device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the central angle of the plate member relative to the virtual center point when viewed along the first direction is between 135 degrees and 150 degrees.

6. A device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the height of the plate member when viewed along the first direction is less than 12 mm.

7. The device of claim 6, wherein the height of the plate member is greater than 4 mm.

8. A device according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the width of the plate member in the first direction is 2 mm to 6 mm.

9. The device according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the thickness of the plate member in the radial direction is 0.5 mm to 1.5 mm.

10. A device according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the plate member has a plurality of holes 15 provided on one or both of the two sides in the first direction, and is configured to be clamped or held by the forceps via the plurality of holes.

11. A device according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the plate member has at least one notch provided on each of both side surfaces in the first direction, and is configured to be clamped by the forceps via the notch.

12. The device according to claim 2, wherein the plate member has a plurality of slits provided around the second through hole on one or both of the radially opposite surfaces, and is configured to be clamped by the forceps through the plurality of slits.

Images