US6312445B1 — Vascular clamps and surgical retractors with dire…

Claim 1

Independent Claim 86 words

A clamping member for attachment to a jaw of a surgical clamp comprising: a means for attaching the member to the jaw; and a clamp pad having a surface, said clamp pad having resilient filaments extending therefrom at an acute angle relative to said surface for engagement with a vessel or other tissue, said filaments terminating in free distal ends for abutment against a vessel or other tissue engaged by the clamp to resist relative movement between the clamp pad and the vessel or other tissue.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 86 words

A clamping member for attachment to a jaw of a surgical clamp comprising: a means for attaching the member to the jaw; and a clamp pad having a surface, said clamp pad having resilient filaments extending therefrom at an acute angle relative to said surface for engagement with a vessel or other tissue, said filaments terminating in free distal ends for abutment against a vessel or other tissue engaged by the clamp to resist relative movement between the clamp pad and the vessel or other tissue.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 15 words

A clamping member according to claim 1 wherein said resilient filaments extend from said surface.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 22 words

A clamping member according to claim 1 wherein said filaments are resiliently deflectable to cushion a vessel or other tissue engaged thereby.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 15 words

A clamping member according to claim 1 wherein the filaments are monofilament and generally rectilinear.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 26 words

A clamping member according to claim 4 wherein the filaments have a length between 0.030 to 0.075 inches and a diameter between 0.005 to 0.012 inches.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 12 words

A clamping member according to claim 4 wherein the filaments are cylindrical.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 15 words

A clamping member according to claim 4 wherein the filaments have at least three sides.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 28 words

A clamping member according to claim 4 wherein the filaments have tip shapes, said tip shapes selected from the group consisting of rounded, semi-rounded, angled-cut, blunt-cut or pointed.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 13 words

A clamping member according to claim 8 wherein said tip shapes are rounded.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 51 words

A clamping member according to claim 1 wherein said resilient filaments extend from said surface and wherein said surface has a first end and a second end and the filaments extend in directions which resist movement of a vessel or other tissue engaged thereby towards said first end of the surface.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 54 words

A clamping member according to claim 1 wherein said resilient filaments extend from said surface and wherein said surface has a first end, a second end, and a length therebetween, and the filaments extend in directions which resist movement of a vessel or other tissue engaged thereby along a direction transverse to said length.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 70 words

A clamping member according to claim 10 wherein the surface has a length, and wherein the surface further defines a plane, the plane having a longitudinal axis oriented parallel to the length of the surface, and a normal axis extending perpendicularly from the plane, and wherein a group of said filaments extends at an angle from the surface in a plane defined by the longitudinal axis and the normal axis.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 15 words

The clamping member of claim 12 wherein said angle is between 30 to 60 degrees.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 123 words

A clamping member according to claim 10 wherein the surface has a length, and wherein the surface further defines a plane, the plane having a longitudinal axis oriented parallel to the length of the surface, a perpendicular axis within the plane oriented perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, and a normal axis extending from the plane oriented perpendicular to both the longitudinal axis and the perpendicular axis, and wherein a first group of said filaments extends at a first angle from the surface in a first plane defined by the longitudinal axis and the normal axis, and a second group of said filaments extends at a second angle from the surface in a second plane defined by the perpendicular axis and the normal axis.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 18 words

The clamping member of claim 14 wherein said first and second angles are between 30 to 60 degrees.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 56 words

A clamping member according to claim 14 wherein a third group of said filaments extends at a third angle from the surface in a third plane defined by the perpendicular axis and the normal axis in a direction opposed to the direction of said second one or more of said filaments relative to the perpendicular axis.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 16 words

The clamping member of claim 16 wherein said third angle is between 30 to 60 degrees.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 154 words

A clamping member of claim 10 wherein the surface has a length, and wherein the surface further defines a plane, the plane having a longitudinal axis oriented parallel to the length of the surface, a perpendicular axis within the plane oriented perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, and a normal axis extending from the plane oriented perpendicular to both the longitudinal axis and the perpendicular axis, and wherein a first group of said filaments extends at a first angle from the surface in a first plane defined by the normal axis and a first axis parallel to the plane of the surface, and a second group of said filaments extends at a second angle from the surface in a second plane defined by the normal axis and a second axis parallel to the plane of the surface, and said first axis and said second axis intersect to form an intersection angle less than 180 degrees.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 18 words

The clamping member of claim 18 wherein said first and second angles are between 30 to 60 degrees.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 13 words

A clamping member of claim 2 wherein said surface comprises resiliently deflectable material.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 13 words

A clamping member of claim 20 wherein said resiliently deflectable material comprises silicone.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 43 words

A clamping member according to claim 1 wherein said clamp pad has a first end and a second end and said filaments extend in directions which resist movement of a vessel or other tissue engaged thereby towards both said first and second ends.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 31 words

A clamping member according to claim 22 wherein said surface comprises a resiliently deflectable material for engagement with said vessel or other tissue when said jaws are moved toward one another.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 12 words

A clamping member according to claim 23 wherein said surface comprises silicone.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 53 words

A clamping member according to claim 23 wherein said filaments comprise a first group and a second group of filaments, said first group having filaments oriented parallel to one another and said second group having filaments oriented parallel to one another and at an angle relative to the filaments of said first group.

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 22 words

A clamping member according to claim 25 wherein said angle between filaments of said first and second groups is a right angle.

Claim 28

Dependent Claim 41 words

A clamping member according to claim 25 wherein said surface defines a first plane and said first and second groups of filaments define a second plane, and wherein said first and second planes intersect to form an angle between 45-90 degrees.

Claim 29

Dependent Claim 15 words

A clamping member according to claim 27 wherein said angle of intersection is 45 degrees.

Claim 30

Dependent Claim 18 words

A clamping member according to claim 27 wherein said filaments terminate at a position below said first plane.

Claim 31

Dependent Claim 18 words

A clamping member according to claim 27 wherein said filaments terminate at a position above said first plane.

Claim 32

Dependent Claim 27 words

A clamping member according to claim 25 wherein said means is a rigid member and said filaments are mounted between the rigid member and said clamp pad.

Claim 33

Dependent Claim 23 words

A clamping member according to claim 25 wherein said means is a rigid member and said filaments are mounted on the rigid member.

Claim 34

Dependent Claim 29 words

A surgical clamp according to claim 25 wherein said clamp pad has an upper and a lower portion and said filaments are mounted between the upper and lower portions.

Claim 35

Dependent Claim 148 words

A clamping member for attachment to a jaw of a surgical clamp comprising: a means for attaching the member to the jaw; and a clamp pad having a surface, said clamp pad having resilient filaments extending from said surface at an acute angle relative thereto for engagement with a vessel or other tissue, said filaments terminating in free distal ends for abutment against a vessel or other tissue engaged by the clamp to resist relative movement between the clamp pad and the vessel or other tissue, wherein said filaments are arranged in one or more rows generally parallel to the pad length, and wherein said one or more rows includes a first row having filaments extending in a plane normal to the pad surface and parallel to the pad length, and a second row having filaments extending in a plane at an oblique angle to the pad surface.

Claim 36

Dependent Claim 148 words

A clamping member for attachment to a jaw of a surgical clamp comprising: a means for attaching the member to the jaw; and a clamp pad having a surface, said clamp pad having resilient filaments extending from said surface at an acute angle relative thereto for engagement with a vessel or other tissue, said filaments terminating in free distal ends for abutment against a vessel or other tissue engaged by the clamp to resist relative movement between the clamp pad and the vessel or other tissue, wherein said filaments are arranged in one or more rows generally parallel to the pad length, and wherein said one or more rows includes a first row having filaments extending in a plane normal to the pad surface and parallel to the pad length, and a second row having filaments extending in a plane at an oblique angle to the pad surface.

Claim 37

Dependent Claim 22 words

A clamping member according to claim 21 wherein said filaments are resiliently deflectable to cushion a vessel or other tissue engaged thereby.

Claim 38

Dependent Claim 28 words

A clamping member according to claim 34 wherein said filaments resist movement of a vessel or other tissue engaged thereby along a direction parallel to the pad length.

Claim 39

Dependent Claim 28 words

A clamping member according to claim 34 wherein said filaments resist movement of a vessel or other tissue engaged thereby along a direction transverse to the pad length.

Claim 40

Dependent Claim 104 words

A clamping member for attachment to a jaw of a surgical clamp comprising: a base member for attaching the clamping member to the clamp jaw; and a clamp pad having a surface for engagement with a vessel or other tissue, wherein resilient filaments extend from said base member to a position above said surface and at an acute angle relative to said surface for engagement with a vessel or other tissue, said filaments terminating in free distal ends for abutment against a vessel or other tissue engaged by the clamp to resist relative movement between the clamp pad and the vessel or other tissue.

Claim 41

Dependent Claim 104 words

A clamping member for attachment to a jaw of a surgical clamp comprising: a base member for attaching the clamping member to the clamp jaw; and a clamp pad having a surface for engagement with a vessel or other tissue, wherein resilient filaments extend from said base member to a position above said surface and at an acute angle relative to said surface for engagement with a vessel or other tissue, said filaments terminating in free distal ends for abutment against a vessel or other tissue engaged by the clamp to resist relative movement between the clamp pad and the vessel or other tissue.

Claim 42

Dependent Claim 27 words

A clamping member according to claim 38 wherein said filaments resist movement of a vessel or other tissue engaged thereby along directions parallel to the pad length.

Claim 43

Dependent Claim 37 words

The clamping member of claim 38 wherein said filaments comprise first and second groups of filaments, said first group having filaments oriented parallel to one another and said second group having filaments oriented parallel to one another.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	2004-11-05	2005-05-07	2005-11-06	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	2008-11-05	2009-05-07	2009-11-06	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2012-11-05	2013-05-07	2013-11-06	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Vascular clamps and surgical retractors with directional filaments for tissue engagement

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