Surgical anastomosis clamping apparatus

Claim 2

Apparatus for use in approximating the respective ends of two elongated vessels, said apparatus comprising: an elongated lead screw having a first portion threaded in a first direction and a second portion threaded in a second direction; a first nut threadedly engaging the first portion of said lead screw; a second nut threadedly engaging the second portion of said lead screw; first and second clamps coupled to said first and second nuts, respectively, each clamp adapted to grip a separate one of the elongated vessels with a controllable pressure, and without causing any significant deformation thereof, said vessels being maintained in axial alignment with respect to each other; and means for preventing rotation of said first and second nuts about the axis of said lead screw, whereby rotation of said lead screw effects an axial movement of said first and second clamps toward each other, to approximate the respective ends of the elongated vessels.

Claim 3

Apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein: each of said first and second clamps includes an elongated stanchion for coupling the clamp to the corresponding nut; and said preventing means includes a housing disposed around said lead screw and said first and second nuts, and with respect to which the lead screw can be rotated, said housing having an elongated slot formed therein, a portion of each of said stanchions being received within said slot, in slidable abutment with an edge thereof, whereby each of said clamps is prevented from rotating about the axis of said lead screw.

Claim 4

Apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein each of said first and second clamps includes: a first jaw having a concave gripping surface, a second jaw having a concave gripping surface disposed adjacent the gripping surface of first jaw, and control means for controllably moving said first and secnod jaws toward each other, wherein the respective gripping surfacces of the jaws together form a seat for receiving the corresponding vessel and gripping it with a controllable pressure, without causing any significant deformation thereof;

Claim 5

Apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein: each of said clamps further includes a stanchion having a base end coupled to the corresponding one of said first and second nuts, and a remote end for carrying said first jaw, the exterior surface of said stanchion having a threaded portion, and a pivot arm having a base end pivotally coupled to said stanchion, and a remote end for carrying said second jaw; and said control means includes a collar having an internally threaded portion for threadedly engaging the threaded portion of the corresponding stanchion, whereby rotation of the collar in a prescribed angular direction causes the collar to move toward the remote end of the stanchion, and thereby urges the pivot arm in a pivotal fashion toward the stanchion.

Claim 6

Apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein the gripping surface of each of said jaws is substantially in the form of an elongated half cylinder whereby the seat formed by said first and second jaws conformably receives an elongated vessel that is substantially circular in cross-section.

Claim 7

Apparatus for use in approximating the respective ends of a pair of elongated tubular vessels, substantially circular in cross-section, to facilitate a surgical anastomosis of the vessels, said apparatus comprising: first and second clamps for controllably gripping the respective vessels, each of said clamps including first and second jaws, each having a concave gripping surface substantially in the form of an elongated half cylinder, a stanchion having a base end and a remote end, said remote end carrying said first jaw, the exterior surface of said stanchion having a threaded portion, a pivot arm having a base end pivotally coupled to said stanchion, and a remote end for carrying said second jaw, said stanchion having an elongated slot formed therein for receiving the pivot arm when the arm is urged to pivot toward the stanchion, and a collar having an internally threaded portion for threadedly engaging the threaded portion of the stanchion, whereby rotation of the collar in a prescribed angular direction causes the collar to move toward the remote end of the stanchion and thereby urge the pivot arm to move in a pivotal fashion toward the stanchion, whereby the respective gripping surfaces of said first and second jaws cooperate to form a substantially cylindrical seat for conformably receiving the correspnding vessel and gripping it with a controllable pressure, without causing any significant deformation thereof; an elongated lead screw having a first portion threaded in a first direction and a second portion threaded in a second direction; a first nut threadedly engaging the first portion of said lead screw, said first clamp being coupled to said first nut; a second nut threadedly engaging the second portion of said lead screw, said second clamp being coupled to said second nut; and means for inhibiting rotation of said first and second nuts about the axis of said lead screw, whereby rotation of said lead screw effects an axial movement of said first and second clamps toward each other, to approximate the respective ends of the two elongated vessels being gripped by the clamps, while maintaining the vessels in axial alignment with each other.

Claim 8

Apparatus for use in approximating the respective ends of a pair of elongated tubular vessels, substantially circular in cross-section, to facilitate a surgical anastomosis of the vessels, said apparatus comprising: first and second clamps for controllably gripping the respective vessels, each of said clamps including first and second jaws, each having a concave gripping surface substantially in the form of an elongated half cylinder, a stanchion having a base end and a remote end, said remote end carrying said first jaw, the exterior surface of said stanchion having a threaded portion, a pivot arm having a base end pivotally coupled to said stanchion, and a remote end for carrying said second jaw, said stanchion having an elongated slot formed therein for receiving the pivot arm when the arm is urged to pivot toward the stanchion, and a collar having an internally threaded portion for threadedly engaging the threaded portion of the stanchion, whereby rotation of the collar in a prescribed angular direction causes the collar to move toward the remote end of the stanchion and thereby urge the pivot arm to move in a pivotal fashion toward the stanchion, whereby the respective gripping surfaces of said first and second jaws cooperate to form a substantially cylindrical seat for conformably receiving the correspnding vessel and gripping it with a controllable pressure, without causing any significant deformation thereof; an elongated lead screw having a first portion threaded in a first direction and a second portion threaded in a second direction; a first nut threadedly engaging the first portion of said lead screw, said first clamp being coupled to said first nut; a second nut threadedly engaging the second portion of said lead screw, said second clamp being coupled to said second nut; and means for inhibiting rotation of said first and second nuts about the axis of said lead screw, whereby rotation of said lead screw effects an axial movement of said first and second clamps toward each other, to approximate the respective ends of the two elongated vessels being gripped by the clamps, while maintaining the vessels in axial alignment with each other.

Claim 9

Apparatus for use in approximating the respective ends of two elongated vessels, said apparatus comprising: clamping means for securely gripping the two vessels, without causing any substantial deformation thereof; and approximation means, to which said clamping means are coupled, for orienting the clamping means such that the two vessels gripped thereby are maintained in axial alignment with each other, and permitting the respective ends of the two vessels to be controllably moved from an initial position, where the respective ends are in spaced relationship, to a suturing position, where the respective ends are in proximity to each other, said approximation means including an elongated lead screw, first and second lead nuts threadedly engaging said lead screw, said clamping means being coupled to said respective lead nuts, and means for preventing rotation of said first and second lead nuts about the axis of said lead screw, whereby rotation of said lead screw causes said lead nuts to move toward each other and thereby approximate the respective ends of the two elongated vessels.

Claim 10

Apparatus for use in approximating the respective ends of two elongated vessels, said apparatus comprising: clamping means for securely gripping the two vessels, without causing any substantial deformation thereof; and approximation means, to which said clamping means are coupled, for orienting the clamping means such that the two vessels gripped thereby are maintained in axial alignment with each other, and permitting the respective ends of the two vessels to be controllably moved from an initial position, where the respective ends are in spaced relationship, to a suturing position, where the respective ends are in proximity to each other, said approximation means including an elongated lead screw, first and second lead nuts threadedly engaging said lead screw, said clamping means being coupled to said respective lead nuts, and means for preventing rotation of said first and second lead nuts about the axis of said lead screw, whereby rotation of said lead screw causes said lead nuts to move toward each other and thereby approximate the respective ends of the two elongated vessels.

Claim 11

Apparatus for use in approximating the respective ends of two elongated vessels, to facilitate a suturing together of the vessels, said apparatus comprising: first and second clamps for controllably gripping the respective vessels, each of said clamps including a first jaw having a gripping surface, a second jaw having a gripping surface disposed adjacent the gripping surface of said first jaw, and control means for controllably moving said first and second jaws toward each other, wherein the respective gripping surfaces of the jaws together form a seat for receiving the corresponding vessel and gripping it with a controllable pressure, without causing any significant deformation thereof; and support means for orienting said first and second clamps such that two vessels gripped thereby are maintained in spaced relationship and in axial alignment with respect to each other, said support means including an elongated lead screw having a first portion threaded in a first direction and a second portion threaded in a second direction, a first nut threadedly engaging the first portion of said lead screw, said first clamp being coupled to said first nut, a second nut threadedly engaging the second portion of said lead screw, said second clamp being coupled to said second nut, and means for inhibiting rotation of said first and second nuts about the axis of said lead screw, whereby rotation of said lead screw effects an axial movement of said first and second clamps toward each other, to approximate the respective ends of the two elongated vessels.

Claim 12

Apparatus for use in approximating the respective ends of two elongated vessels, to facilitate a suturing together of the vessels, said apparatus comprising: first and second clamps for controllably gripping the respective vessels, each of said clamps including a first jaw having a gripping surface, a second jaw having a gripping surface disposed adjacent the gripping surface of said first jaw, and control means for controllably moving said first and second jaws toward each other, wherein the respective gripping surfaces of the jaws together form a seat for receiving the corresponding vessel and gripping it with a controllable pressure, without causing any significant deformation thereof; and support means for orienting said first and second clamps such that two vessels gripped thereby are maintained in spaced relationship and in axial alignment with respect to each other, said support means including an elongated lead screw having a first portion threaded in a first direction and a second portion threaded in a second direction, a first nut threadedly engaging the first portion of said lead screw, said first clamp being coupled to said first nut, a second nut threadedly engaging the second portion of said lead screw, said second clamp being coupled to said second nut, and means for inhibiting rotation of said first and second nuts about the axis of said lead screw, whereby rotation of said lead screw effects an axial movement of said first and second clamps toward each other, to approximate the respective ends of the two elongated vessels.

Claim 13

Apparatus for use in approximating the respective ends of two elongated vessels, to facilitate a suturing together of the vessels, said apparatus comprising: first and second clamps for controllably gripping the respective vessels, each of said clamps including a first jaw having a gripping surface, a second jaw having a gripping surface disposed adjacent the gripping surface of said first jaw, and control means for controllably moving said first and second jaws toward each other, wherein the respective gripping surfaces of the jaws together form a seat for receiving the corresponding vessel and gripping it with a controllable pressure, without causing any significant deformation thereof; and support means for orienting said first and second clamps such that the two vessels gripped thereby are maintained in spaced relationship and in axial alignment with respect to each other, said support means including means for controllably moving said first and second clamp together, while maintaining the axial alignment, whereby an approximation of the elongated vessels is achieved; wherein each of said first and second clamps further includes a stanchion having a base end coupled to said support means and a remote end for carrying said first jaw, and having a threaded portion on its exterior surface, and a pivot arm having a base end pivotally coupled to said stanchion, and a remote end for carrying said second jaw; and wherein each of said control means includes a collar having an internally threaded portion for threadedly engaging the threaded portion of the corresponding stanchion, whereby rotation of the collar in a prescribed angular direction causes the collar to move toward the remote end of the stanchion and thereby urge the pivot arm to move in a pivotal fashion toward the stanchion.

Claim 14

Apparatus for use in approximating the respective ends of two elongated vessels, to facilitate a suturing together of the vessels, said apparatus comprising: first and second clamps for controllably gripping the respective vessels, each of said clamps including a first jaw having a gripping surface, a second jaw having a gripping surface disposed adjacent the gripping surface of said first jaw, and control means for controllably moving said first and second jaws toward each other, wherein the respective gripping surfaces of the jaws together form a seat for receiving the corresponding vessel and gripping it with a controllable pressure, without causing any significant deformation thereof; and support means for orienting said first and second clamps such that the two vessels gripped thereby are maintained in spaced relationship and in axial alignment with respect to each other, said support means including means for controllably moving said first and second clamp together, while maintaining the axial alignment, whereby an approximation of the elongated vessels is achieved; wherein each of said first and second clamps further includes a stanchion having a base end coupled to said support means and a remote end for carrying said first jaw, and having a threaded portion on its exterior surface, and a pivot arm having a base end pivotally coupled to said stanchion, and a remote end for carrying said second jaw; and wherein each of said control means includes a collar having an internally threaded portion for threadedly engaging the threaded portion of the corresponding stanchion, whereby rotation of the collar in a prescribed angular direction causes the collar to move toward the remote end of the stanchion and thereby urge the pivot arm to move in a pivotal fashion toward the stanchion.

Claim 15

Apparatus as defined in claim 9, wherein each of said stanchions includes an elongated slot for receiving the corresponding one of said pivot arms when the arm is urged toward the stanchion by said collar.