APPARATUS FOR SECURELY AND GENTLY HOLDING A FLEXIBLE ELONGATED MEDICAL DEVICE

Abstract

A clip for holding a flexible elongated medical device. In embodiments, the clip has a hinge; first and second jaws movable with respect to each other about the hinge from a closed position to an open position, each of the jaws having a contact surface, the contact surface of the first jaw being disposed against the contact surface of the second jaw when the clip is in the closed position and away from the contact surface of the second jaw when the clip is in the open position; and flexible material disposed on at least one of the jaws, the flexible material comprising the contact surface. The invention also includes methods of holding a flexible elongated medical device.

Claims

1-25. (canceled)

26. A clip for holding a flexible elongated medical device, the clip comprising: a hinge; first and second jaws movable with respect to each other about the hinge from a closed position to an open position, each of the jaws having a contact surface, the contact surface of the first jaw being disposed against the contact surface of the second jaw when the clip is in the closed position and away from the contact surface of the second jaw when the clip is in the open position, the hinge and jaws being configured such that pressure placed on the flexible elongated medical device by the contact surfaces when the clip is in the closed position and when the flexible elongated medical device is held between the contact surface of the first jaw disposed against the contact surface of the second jaw when the clip is in the closed position is between a least pressure needed to hold the flexible elongated medical device in a coiled condition and a pressure just less than that which would damage the flexible elongated medical device; and flexible material disposed on at least one of the jaws, the flexible material comprising the contact surface.

27. The clip of claim 26 wherein the flexible material comprises a material with compression set resistance.

28. The clip of claim 26 further comprising a spring biasing the hinge to urge the jaws toward the closed position.

29. The clip of claim 28 wherein a living hinge comprises the hinge and the spring.

30. The clip of claim 26 further comprising first and second handles extending from the first and second jaws, respectively, to move the clip between the closed and open positions.

31. The clip of claim 26 wherein at least one of the jaws has an extension portion extending toward the other jaw, the extension portion contacting the other jaw when the clip is in the closed position.

32. The clip of claim 26 wherein the hinge is a living hinge.

33. The clip of claim 26 further comprising a latch adapted to maintain the clip in the closed position.

34. The clip of claim 33 wherein the latch is further adapted to apply a force to the jaws during actuation of the latch.

35. The clip of claim 26 further comprising a cleaning material disposed over the flexible material, the cleaning material comprising the contact surface.

36. The clip of claim 26 further comprising a textured surface on the flexible material.

37. The clip of claim 26 further comprising a lubricious surface on the flexible material.

38. The clip of claim 26 wherein the flexible material comprises a material which soaks up and holds liquid.

39. The clip of claim 38 wherein the flexible material comprises an open cell foam.

40. A method of holding a flexible elongated medical device, the method comprising: opening a clip; inserting portions of the flexible elongated medical device between opposing contact surfaces of the clip; and closing the clip to grasp the flexible elongated medical device between the contact surfaces to place a pressure on the flexible elongated medical device by the contact surfaces between a least pressure needed to hold the flexible elongated medical device in a coiled condition and a pressure just less than that which would damage the flexible elongated medical device; at least one of the contact surfaces comprising a flexible material.

41. The method of claim 40 wherein the inserting step comprises inserting proximal and distal portions of the flexible elongated medical device between the opposing contact surfaces of the clip.

42. The method of claim 40 wherein the inserting step comprises inserting the flexible elongated medical device arranged in at least one coil between the opposing contact surfaces of the clip.

43. The method of claim 42 further comprising coiling the flexible elongated medical device prior to the inserting step.

44. The method of claim 40 further comprising opening the clip to remove the flexible elongated medical device.

45. The method of claim 40 wherein opening further comprises moving first and second jaws of the clip against an action of a spring or living hinge biasing the clip toward a closed position.

46. The method of claim 45 wherein closing comprises permitting the spring or living hinge to move the first and second jaws toward each other.

47. The method of claim 45 wherein force from the spring or living hinge holds the flexible elongated medical device between the contact surfaces.

48. The method of claim 40 further comprising latching the clip after the closing step.

49. The method of claim 48 wherein latching comprises applying a force between the contact surfaces to hold the flexible elongated medical device.

50. The method of claim 40 wherein at least one of the contact surfaces comprises a cleaning material, the method further comprising engaging the flexible elongated medical device with the cleaning material.

51. The method of claim 40 further comprising wetting the flexible material prior to the inserting step.

52. A clip for holding a flexible elongated medical device, the clip comprising: a hinge; first and second jaws movable with respect to each other about the hinge from a closed position to an open position, each of the jaws having a contact surface, the contact surface of the first jaw being disposed against the contact surface of the second jaw when the clip is in the closed position and away from the contact surface of the second jaw when the clip is in the open position, the hinge and jaws being adapted to exert a force between the contact surfaces to hold between the contact surface of the first jaw disposed against the contact surface of the second jaw when the clip is in the closed position the flexible elongated medical device in a coiled configuration without damaging the flexible elongated medical device; and flexible material with compression set resistance disposed on at least one of the jaws, the flexible material comprising the contact surface.

53. The clip of claim 52 further comprising a spring biasing the hinge to urge the jaws toward the closed position.

54. The clip of claim 53 wherein a living hinge comprises the hinge and the spring.

55. The clip of claim 52 further comprising first and second handles extending from the first and second jaws, respectively, to move the clip between the closed and open positions.

56. The clip of claim 52 wherein at least one of the jaws has an extension portion extending toward the other jaw, the extension portion contacting the other jaw when the clip is in the closed position.

57. The clip of claim 52 wherein the hinge is a living hinge.

58. The clip of claim 52 further comprising a latch adapted to maintain the clip in the closed position.

59. The clip of claim 58 wherein the latch is further adapted to apply a force to the jaws during actuation of the latch.

60. The clip of claim 52 further comprising a cleaning material disposed over the flexible material, the cleaning material comprising the contact surface.

61. The clip of claim 52 further comprising a textured surface on the flexible material.

62. The clip of claim 52 further comprising a lubricious surface on the flexible material.

63. The clip of claim 52 wherein the flexible material comprises a material which soaks up and holds liquid.

64. The clip of claim 63 wherein the flexible material comprises an open cell foam.

65. A method of holding a flexible elongated medical device, the method comprising: opening a clip; inserting portions of the flexible elongated medical device between opposing contact surfaces of the clip; and closing the clip to grasp the flexible elongated medical device between the contact surfaces to place a pressure on the flexible elongated medical device by the contact surfaces to hold the flexible elongated medical device between the contact surfaces without damaging the flexible elongated medical device; at least one of the contact surfaces comprising a flexible material with compression set resistance.

66. The method of claim 65 wherein the inserting step comprises inserting proximal and distal portions of the flexible elongated medical device between the opposing contact surfaces of the clip.

67. The method of claim 65 wherein the inserting step comprises inserting the flexible elongated medical device arranged in at least one coil between the opposing contact surfaces of the clip.

68. The method of claim 67 further comprising coiling the flexible elongated medical device prior to the inserting step.

69. The method of claim 65 further comprising opening the clip to remove the flexible elongated medical device.

70. The method of claim 65 wherein opening further comprises moving first and second jaws of the clip against an action of a spring or living hinge biasing the clip toward a closed position.

71. The method of claim 70 wherein closing comprises permitting the spring or living hinge to move the first and second jaws toward each other.

72. The method of claim 70 wherein force from the spring or living hinge holds the flexible elongated medical device between the contact surfaces.

73. The method of claim 65 further comprising latching the clip after the closing step.

74. The method of claim 73 wherein latching comprises applying a force between the contact surfaces to hold the flexible elongated medical device.

75. The method of claim 65 wherein at least one of the contact surfaces comprises a cleaning material, the method further comprising engaging the flexible elongated medical device with the cleaning material.

76. The method of claim 65 further comprising wetting the flexible material prior to the inserting step.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0031] In order to better understand the present invention, reference is made to the accompanying drawings, in which similar reference characters refer to similar parts, and in which:

[0032] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a clip according to one embodiment of the invention.

[0033] FIG. 2 is a side view of the clip shown in FIG. 1, where the clip is in a closed position.

[0034] FIG. 3 is a side view of the clip shown in FIG. 1, where the clip is in an open position.

[0035] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the clip shown in FIG. 1 holding a coiled flexible elongated medical device.

[0036] FIG. 5 is a side view of another embodiment of a clip according to the current invention.

[0037] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of yet another embodiment of a clip according to the current invention.

[0038] FIG. 7 is a side view of the clip shown in FIG. 6, where the clip is in a closed position.

[0039] FIG. 8 is a side view of the clip shown in FIG. 6, where the clip is in an open position.

[0040] FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the clip shown in FIG. 6 holding a coiled flexible elongated medical device while the clip is in a closed position.

[0041] FIG. 10 is a side view of still another embodiment of a clip according to the current invention, where the clip is in a closed position.

[0042] FIG. 11 is a side view of the clip shown in FIG. 10, where the clip is in an open position.

[0043] Skilled artisans will appreciate that elements in the figures are illustrated for simplicity and clarity and have not necessarily been drawn to scale. For example, the dimensions of some of the elements in the figures may be exaggerated relative to other elements to help improve understanding of embodiments of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0044] While the present invention will be described with reference to a few specific embodiments, the description is illustrative of the invention and is not to be construed as limiting the invention. Various modifications to the present invention can be made to the preferred embodiments by those skilled in the art without departing from the true spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims. It will be noted here that for a better understanding, like components are designated by like reference numerals throughout the various figures.

[0045] FIG. 1 shows a clip 1 according to one embodiment of the invention. The clip 1 has an upper jaw 2 and a lower jaw 3. The jaws 2 and 3 are articulated about a hinge 4, allowing them to be moved between a closed position, as seen in FIG. 2, and an open position, as seen in FIG. 3. The upper jaw 2 has a handle 5 and the lower jaw 3 has a handle 6. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, moving the handles 5 and 6 toward each other in the direction of the arrows A in FIG. 2 causes the clip to open. The hinge 4 may be, e.g., a spring hinge that causes the jaws 2 and 3 to be biased into a closed position. The spring force of the spring must be sufficient to hold between the jaws the flexible elongated medical device in a coiled condition that has the most potential energy when in a coiled condition (i.e., the condition in which the coiled medical device has the highest potential energy due to, e.g., spring forces of the medical device resisting the coiling) but not so strong as to damage the most fragile flexible elongated medical device when held between the jaws. Spring hinge 4 may include, e.g., a torsion spring that tightens when handles 5 and 6 move toward each other about a pivot 18. When the handles 5 and 6 are pressed together in the direction of arrows A in FIG. 2, tension is placed on the spring hinge 4, and the jaws 2 and 3 open as illustrated in FIG. 3. Releasing the handles 5 and 6 relieves the tension on the spring hinge 4, and the spring hinge 4 urges the jaws 2 and 3 into a closed position. A flexible elongated medical device 7 may be placed between the jaws 2 and 3 through the longitudinal opening when the jaws 2 and 3 are open. When the handles 5 and 6 are released, the spring hinge 4 will urge jaws 2 and 3 toward each other to hold the flexible elongated medical device 7 between them, as illustrated by FIG. 4. When the user desires to remove the flexible elongated medical device 7 from the clip 1, the user can pick up the clip 1 in the closed position and holding the flexible elongated medical device 7 as illustrated by FIG. 4, press the handles 5 and 6 together, placing tension on the spring hinge 4 so that the jaws 2 and 3 open, and remove the flexible elongated medical device 7 from the clip 1 through the longitudinal opening.

[0046] In an alternative embodiment, the spring hinge and pivot of the previous embodiment may be replaced with a living hinge providing a spring force.

[0047] FIG. 5 shows an embodiment of the present invention in which the jaws 2 and 3 take a different shape. In this embodiment, the tip of the upper jaw 8 and the tip of the lower jaw 9 extend toward one another such that the pressure from the spring hinge 4 is held on the tips of the jaws 8 and 9 rather than throughout the internal planes of the jaws. This embodiment of the present invention can also hold a flexible elongated medical device in a closed position in the same manner as illustrated by FIG. 4. In yet another embodiment, only one of the jaws has an extension portion extending toward the other jaw.

[0048] The embodiment of FIGS. 6-9 replaces the spring hinge of prior embodiments with a living hinge 10 that does not provide a spring force. FIG. 6 shows a clip 1 according to this embodiment. The clip 1 features an upper jaw 2 and a lower jaw 3. The jaws 2 and 3 are articulated about a living hinge 10, allowing them to be moved between a closed position, as seen in FIG. 7, and an open position, as seen in FIG. 8. The upper jaw 2 has a holding feature 11 (see FIGS. 7 and 8) and the lower jaw 3 has a holding feature 12 that help the user to control the clip 1 using one hand. As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, moving the jaws 2 and 3 away from each other causes the clip 1 to open, as illustrated in FIG. 8, and moving the jaws 2 and 3 toward each other causes the clip 1 to close, as illustrated in FIG. 7. Where the upper jaw 2 and the lower jaw 3 meet when the clip 1 is in a closed position is a coupling feature 13 that allows the user to latch the jaws 2 and 3 together when the clip 1 is in a closed position so that the clip 1 can be put down by the user and still retain a flexible elongated medical device 7, as illustrated in FIG. 9. Coupling feature 13 has a first component 13 and a second component 13 that engage to latch. As they engage, second component 13 passes into an opening in first component 13 and engages a surface within that opening. The engagement force of second component 13 with the inside surface of the opening in component 13 as the two components (and the jaws to which they are attached) move with respect to each other transmits a closing force to the jaws. A flexible elongated medical device 7 may be placed between the jaws 2 and 3 through the longitudinal opening when the jaws are open, then the jaws 2 and 3 can be pushed toward each other by the user into the closed position and the coupling feature 13 can be latched by the user so that the jaws 2 and 3 are held together in a closed position thereby holding the flexible elongated medical device 7 without the assistance of the user, as illustrated by FIG. 9. When the user desires to remove the flexible elongated medical device 7 from the clip 1, the user can pick up the clip 1 in the closed position and holding the flexible elongated medical device 7 as illustrated by FIG. 9, unlatch the coupling feature 13, use the holding features 11 and 12 to move the jaws 2 and 3 into the open position, and remove the flexible elongated medical device 7 from the clip 1 through the longitudinal opening.

[0049] In embodiments of the invention, one or both of the internal planes of the jaws 2 and 3 have a grasping part 14 and 15, respectively, disposed on the internal planes of the jaws 2 and 3 to hold the flexible elongated medical device 7 in the clip 1 when in a closed position. One or both of such grasping parts can include a flexible material, such as thin metal, flexible plastic, silicone, durometer of 70-80 A, polypropylene, a firm open cell foam, or a silicone foam, to help softly grip the flexible elongated medical device 7 held by the clip 1. This flexible material can be an absorptive material, such as a foam material, cloth, sponge, or gauze. The flexible material may be attached to the inner faces of jaws 2 and 3 with an adhesive. In some embodiments, portions of the flexible material will change shape or deform to accommodate a flexible elongate medical device held between the jaws 2 and 3. In some embodiments, portions of the opposing faces of the flexible material (e.g., at the outer ends of the jaws) may meet even when other portions of the flexible material are holding a flexible elongate medical device, thereby enabling, for example, the ends to the jaws to clip onto an object, such as a sheet on the sterile field, to help with organization during a surgical procedure.

[0050] The flexible material may be wet before the clip 1 is used to prevent the clip 1 from sticking to the flexible elongated medical device 7 held by the clip 1 (e.g., due to adherent blood) and so that the clip 1 can moisten the flexible elongated medical device 7 held by the clip 1 by moving the clip 1 with the wet absorptive material over the flexible elongated medical device 7 held by the clip 1. In some optional embodiments the flexible material in the grasping parts 14 and 15 may be made of a PORON Medical urethane, such as, e.g., soft PORON Medical Slow Recovery urethane. In some optional embodiments, a material with compression set resistance (such as, e.g., PORON Medical urethane) may increase gripping of the flexible elongated medical device. Use of an open cell material may increase gripping of the flexible elongated medical device and may soak up liquid quickly and hold that liquid over an extended period of time to decrease the incidence of sticking to the flexible elongated medical device. In alternative embodiments, a closed cell foam may be used for the flexible material. Use of a lubricious material for the flexible material may also decrease the incidence of sticking to the flexible elongated medical device.

[0051] In some embodiments, as shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, the grasping parts 14 and 15 may each include an optional layer of cleaning material 16 and 17, respectively, such as gauze, another textile from cotton or polyester, or Telfa, on top of the flexible material to form the contact surfaces that touch the flexible elongated medical device 7 when held by the clip 1 so that the flexible elongated medical device 7 held by the clip 1 can be wiped clean by the user using the clip 1. In embodiments, the internal planes of the jaws of the clip which touch the flexible elongated medical device 7 being held by the clip 1 can optionally be textured, such as by using a molding polymer or a textured textile or foam, to help grip the flexible elongated medical device 7 held by the clip 1, yet that texture cannot have so much grit as to damage the flexible elongated medical device 7 held by the clip 1.

[0052] In all embodiments, the pressure placed by the clip 1 on the flexible elongated medical device 7 when in a closed position is between the least pressure needed to hold the flexible elongated medical device in a coiled condition that has the most potential energy when in a coiled condition (i.e., the condition in which the coiled medical device has the highest potential energy due to, e.g., spring forces of the medical device resisting the coiling) and the pressure just less than that which would damage the most fragile flexible elongated medical device when such device is held by the clip such that this flexible elongated medical device is retained in the clip. In one optional embodiment in which the flexible material in the grasping parts 14 and 15 is made of soft PORON Medical Slow Recovery urethane measuring approximately 0.118 inches thick and 2.25 inches wide and a spring hinge with torsion spring is employed, the torsion spring exerts 2.63 inch-pounds of torque with approximately 0.75 inches from the spring's pivot point to the center of the grasping parts 14 and 15 such that approximately 3.5 pounds of force is exerted where a flexible elongated medical device would be held. It is important to note that this is just one of many embodiments that functions to hold this range of flexible elongated medical devices; factors that affect this functionality and dictate the force which the spring or living hinge would need to exert to maintain this functionality include the particular flexible material used, how wide the grasping surfaces are, and the distance from the spring's or living hinge's pivot point to where the flexible elongated medical device held by the clip is gripped.

[0053] In all embodiments, the clip 1 is a size that the user can easily operate with only one hand and that does not take too much space when placed on the sterile field or in the bowl filled with saline commonly used during a minimally invasive procedure.

[0054] In all embodiments, the jaws 2 and 3 are made of a firm material, which can take various forms. In one embodiment, the jaws 2 and 3 are made of a material that allows for a single-use clip which is to be thrown away after use on one patient, such as a thermoplastic like polyethylene, polypropylene, polystyrene, PVC, or PMMA or an elastometer like silicone; alternative disposable and single-use materials include metal, silicone rubber, nitinol, ABS, polycarbonate, nylon, and/or polyurethane. Alternatively, the jaws 2 and 3 may be made of metal which can be sterilized between uses on different patients, in which case any material covering the grasping part of the internal planes of the jaws (such as the flexible material and optional cleaning material described above), if included in the embodiment and not able to be sterilized for reuse in the same way as the metal, will be single-use such that it can be removed after use on one patient and thrown away so that the clip 1 can be sterilized after use, then new single-use material covering the grasping part of the internal planes of the jaws can be applied onto the grasping part of the internal planes of the jaws 2 and 3 of the sterilized clip 1 for use on a new patient.

[0055] In all embodiments, the portion of jaws 2 and 3 held by the user when controlling the jaws 2 and 3 of the clip 1 can take various forms to help the user grip the clip 1. For example, the parts of the clip 1 held by the user can have a ridged surface, a rubber surface, or holes or indentations where the user's fingers can grip the clip 1.

[0056] In all embodiments, the clip 1 can have a labeling feature to help the user to identify which flexible elongated medical device 7 is being held by the clip 1. This feature can be on the outward-facing planes of the jaws 2 and 3 and, for example, can be a stick-on type label, a surface adapted to be written on, or a color on the surface of the clip 1 easily visible to the user.

[0057] In all embodiments, the part of the jaws 2 and 3 of the clip 1 that hold a flexible elongated medical device 7 when the clip 1 is in a closed position can take various shapes. For example, this part of the clip 1 can be square, rectangular, oval, crescent, or some other shape.

[0058] Although the present invention has been described in detail with particular reference to preferred embodiments thereof, it should be understood that the invention is capable of other different embodiments, and its details are capable of modifications in various obvious respects. As is readily apparent to those skilled in the art, variations and modifications can be affected while remaining within the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the foregoing disclosure, description, and figures are for illustrative purposes only, and do not in any way limit the invention, which is defined only by its claims.