Aneurysm clip

A surgical clip, in particular an aneurysm clip, includes two rotatably connected clip parts, each having a clamping arm, an operating arm, and an interposed annular section with an opening. A leg spring pretensions the two clip parts into an initial rotation position. The pivot bearing of the two clip parts is formed by a bearing sleeve and the winding body of the leg spring is arranged at least in part inside the bearing sleeve.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to German Patent Application No. 10 2013 200 127.4, filed Jan. 8, 2013, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a surgical clip, such as an aneurysm clip, having two rotatably connected clip parts, each having a clamping arm, an operating arm, and an interposed annular section with an opening, and having a leg spring which pretensions the two clip parts into an initial rotation position.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

An aneurysm clip of this type is known e.g. from DE 10 2004 016 859 A1 or DE 10 2009 003 273 A1.

The aneurysm clip known from DE 10 2004 016 859 A1 comprises two rotatably connected clip parts, one of which, the first clip part, is fitted into a rotary receptacle of the other, second clip part and secured therein by a small guiding plate. Each rotary receptacle of the two clip parts has two pivot bearing sections which are disposed opposite to each other with respect to the axis of rotation and in which the respective other clip part is pivoted. However, each pivot bearing section only extends over an angle range of approximately 75°. The small guiding plate is welded to the second clip part after fitting together the two clip parts, thereby preventing detachment of the two clip parts in a direction opposite to the fitting direction. However, welding of the small guiding plate requires complex assembly, during which the welded plate is subsequently machined in order to prevent formation of burrs. A leg spring is finally arranged in a central opening of the two clip parts, the spring legs of which are welded to the two clip parts.

The aneurysm clip known from DE 10 2009 003 273 A1 comprises two clip parts which are connected to each other via a push-fit rotary lock and are pivoted. Each of the two clip parts has two pivot bearing sections which are disposed opposite to each other with respect to the axis of rotation, and in which the respective other clip part is pivoted. However, each pivot bearing section only extends over an angle range of less than 30°. A leg spring is disposed in a central opening of the two clip parts, the spring legs of which are welded to the two clip parts.

In contrast thereto, it is the object of the present invention to reduce the production cost and assembly work for a surgical clip of the above-mentioned type and also to further improve the pivot bearing of the two clip parts.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This object is achieved in accordance with the invention in that the pivot bearing of the two clip parts is formed by a bearing sleeve and the winding body of the leg spring is arranged at least in part inside the bearing sleeve.

The bearing sleeve thus forms the pivot bearing about which the two clip parts rotate. The bearing sleeve can either be a separate part or be non-rotatably connected to the clip part via a push-fit fitting or be produced in one piece with the clip part. In the first two cases, the surgical clip consists of four individual parts (two clip parts, bearing sleeve and leg spring), in the latter case, however, only of three individual parts (two clip parts and leg spring).

When the two clip parts are formed from weldable material, e.g. of titanium, the two spring legs of the leg spring can be welded to the two clip parts or alternatively be welded to the bearing sleeve, which is non-rotatably mounted to one of the clip parts, and be welded to the other clip part.

When the two clip parts are formed from non-weldable material, such as e.g. plastic material, in particular of polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) or of X-ray transparent polyether etherketone (PEEK), one of the spring legs of the leg spring can be welded to the bearing sleeve, which is non-rotatably mounted to the one clip part, and the other spring leg can engage the other clip part, i.e. for example grip around the outer side of the other clip part—similar to a peg.

In order to prevent tissue contusion between the individual helical windings of the leg spring, all helical windings, i.e. the whole winding body of the leg spring, is/are completely arranged inside the bearing sleeve.

In one particularly preferred embodiment of the invention, the two clip parts are connected to each other via a push-fit rotary lock, wherein the two clip parts are axially fitted into one another in an assembly rotation position and are axially locked to each other by subsequent rotation in the direction towards the initial rotation position. The push-fit rotary lock permits the two clip parts to be fitted into one another and be rotatably guided without additional components and without additional assembly work.

In an advantageous further development of this embodiment, the annular section of at least one of the two clip parts has two first annular segments disposed opposite to each other with respect to the opening, and a respectively interposed second annular segment which is radially set back towards the inside with respect to the first annular segments, and at least the other clip part has a push-fit receptacle which is formed by two side walls disposed opposite to each other with respect to the opening, the side walls being provided with circumferential grooves, wherein in the assembly rotation position, the two second annular segments of one of the clip parts are fitted into the push-fit receptacle between the side walls of the respective other clip part, and upon subsequent rotation, the first annular segments of that clip part engage the circumferential grooves of the other clip part, thereby locking the two clip parts to each other in a direction opposite to the fitting direction.

In a further preferred embodiment of the invention, the two clip parts are also axially held together by the bearing sleeve, one end of which has an annular shoulder and the other end of which has a rivet head that is bent to the outside.

Further advantages of the invention can be extracted from the description, the claims and the drawing. The features mentioned above and below may be used individually or collectively in arbitrary combination. The embodiments shown and described are not to be understood as exhaustive enumeration but have exemplary character for describing the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Identical components or components having the same function are designated by identical reference numerals in the following description of the drawing.

The aneurysm clip1shown inFIGS. 1a-1ccomprises two two-armed clip parts2a,2bwhich are rotatably connected to each other about an axis of rotation3and are pretensioned into their closed end position by a leg spring4which comprises at least one winding.

Each of the two clip parts2a,2bhas a long clamping arm5a,5band a short operating arm6a,6bwhich are arranged opposite to each other with respect to the axis of rotation3and are displaced parallel with respect to each other. The operating arms6a,6bcan be pushed apart against the closing force of the leg spring4by means of an applying forceps that grips between the two operating arms6a,6b, thereby opening the clamping arms5a,5b.

As is shown inFIGS. 2a-2c, the first clip part2ahas a flat annular section7awith a circular opening8a(opening diameter D) between the clamping arm5aand the operating arm6a. The annular section7ais axially set back towards the inside with respect to the clamping and operating arms5a,6aby two steps9ahaving the shape of a partial cylinder in order to thereby form a push-fit receptacle10athat is open on the inside. The annular section7aforms the bottom or the bottom plate of the push-fit receptacle10aand the two steps9aform two side walls of the push-fit receptacle10athat are disposed opposite to each other with respect to the opening8a. The annular section7ahas two first annular segments11awhich are disposed opposite to each other with respect to the opening8a, and a respectively interposed second annular segment12a, wherein the second annular segments12aare each radially set back towards the inside with respect to the first annular segments11a.

As is shown inFIGS. 3a, 3b, the other, second clip part2balso has a flat annular section7bwith a circular opening8b(opening diameter D) between the clamping arm5band the operating arm6b. The annular section7bis axially set back towards the inside with respect to the clamping and operating arms5b,6bby two steps9bhaving the shape of a partial cylinder in order to thereby form a push-fit receptacle10bthat is open on the inside. The annular section7bforms the bottom or the bottom plate of the push-fit receptacle10band the two steps9bform two side walls of the push-fit receptacle10bwhich are disposed opposite to each other with respect to the opening8b. The annular section7bhas two first annular segments11bwhich are disposed opposite to each other with respect to the opening8b, and a respectively interposed second annular segment12b, wherein the second annular segments12bare each radially set back towards the inside with respect to the first annular segments11b. The two steps9bare each overlapped on the side opposite to the bottom plate7bby a protrusion13and are thereby formed as circumferential grooves. The second clip part2bcan be formed identically to the first clip part2aexcept for its two protrusions13. The second ring segments12are not necessarily required, but allow the two clip parts2a,2bto be produced by the same unfinished parts.

For assembling the aneurysm clip1, the second annular segments12aof the first clip part2aare oriented between the two protrusions13of the second clip part2band the second annular segments12bof the second clip part2bare oriented between the two steps9aof the first clip part2aand axially fitted into one another in this maximally open assembly rotation position shown inFIG. 4until their flat bottom plates7a,7babut each other on the inside and the openings8a,8bcoincide. A bearing sleeve14is then fitted through these openings8a,8b, wherein the round outer diameter of the bearing sleeve14corresponds to the opening diameter D of the circular openings8a,8bexcept for a minimum bearing clearance. The bearing sleeve14therefore forms the pivot bearing about which the two clip parts2a,2brotate. The length of the bearing sleeve14maximally corresponds to the overall thickness of the two annular sections7a,7bsuch that the bearing sleeve14is flush with the outer sides of the two clip parts2a,2bor is set back.

The two clip parts2a,2bare subsequently rotated towards their closed end position to form a push-fit rotary lock, as a result of which the first annular segments11aof the first clip part2aengage the circumferential grooves9bof the second clip part2b, thereby axially connecting the two clip parts2a,2bto each other or locking them in a direction opposite to the fitting direction.

The winding body4aof the leg spring4is finally arranged in the bearing sleeve14and the two spring legs4bof the leg spring are then welded to the outside of the operating arms6a,6bat15a,15b(FIG. 1). As a result, the two clip parts2a,2bare pretensioned into their closed initial rotation position and are secured in the assembly rotation position in a direction opposite to the fitting direction, and the bearing sleeve14is also undetachably held between the two legs4bin the aneurysm clip1. The length of the bearing sleeve14is advantageously smaller than the overall thickness of the two annular sections7a,7bin order to prevent any friction between the bearing sleeve14and the legs4b.

Instead of being welded to the two clip parts2a,2bthe two spring legs can alternatively grip around the outer side of the two operating arms6a,6b—similar to a peg. In this case, the two clip parts2a,2bcan also be formed from non-weldable material such as e.g. plastic material, in particular of polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) or of X-ray transparent polyether etherketone (PEEK).

The aneurysm clip1′ shown inFIG. 5differs from the aneurysm clip1ofFIG. 1only in that its bearing sleeve14′ is produced in one piece with the first clip part2a. As is shown inFIGS. 6a-6c, the bearing sleeve14′ (outer diameter D) projects axially past the annular section7a. The sleeve opening (inner diameter d) of the bearing sleeve14′ extends continuously to the outer side of the clip part, thereby defining the opening8aof the annular section7a. The second clip part2bof the aneurysm clip1′ shown inFIGS. 7a, 7bis formed identically to the clip part2bofFIGS. 3a,3b.

For assembling the aneurysm clip1′, the second annular segments12aof the first clip part2aare oriented between the two protrusions13of the second clip part2band the second annular segments12bof the second clip part2bare oriented between the two steps9aof the first clip part2aand the two clip parts are axially fitted into one another in this maximally open assembly rotation position shown inFIG. 8until the bearing sleeve14′ of the first clip part2ahas been fitted into the opening8bof the second clip part2band the insides of the two flat bottom plates7a,7babut each other. The bearing sleeve14′ thus forms the pivot bearing about which the two clip parts2a,2brotate. The projecting length of the bearing sleeve14′ maximally corresponds to the thickness of the annular section7bof the second clip part2bsuch that the bearing sleeve14′ is flush with the outer side of the second clip part2bor is axially set back. The length of the bearing sleeve14′ is advantageously smaller than the thickness of the annular section7bin order to prevent any friction between the bearing sleeve14′ and the legs4b.

The two clip parts2a,2bare subsequently rotated towards their closed end position in order to obtain a push-fit rotary lock, as a result of which the first annular segments11aof the first clip part2aengage in the circumferential grooves9bof the second clip part2b, thereby axially connecting the two clip parts2a,2bto each other or locking them in a direction opposite to the fitting direction.

The winding body4aof the leg spring4is finally arranged in the sleeve opening8aof the bearing sleeve14′ and the two legs4bof the leg spring are subsequently welded to the outside of the operating arms6a,6bat15a,15b(FIG. 5). As a result, the two clip parts2a,2bare pretensioned into their closed initial rotation position and are secured in the assembly rotation position in a direction opposite to the fitting direction.

The aneurysm clip1″ shown inFIGS. 9a, 9bdiffers from the aneurysm clip1ofFIG. 1only in that its bearing sleeve14″ is non-rotatably fitted into the first clip part2a. The first clip part2aof the aneurysm clip1″ shown inFIGS. 10a, 10bhas an opening8awith an octagonal opening cross-section and the bearing sleeve14″ shown inFIGS. 11a, 11bhas a bearing section14aof circular outer cross-section at one end and at the other end an annular shoulder14bas well as an interposed fitting section14cof octagonal outer cross-section, wherein the fitting section14cis radially set back towards the inside with respect to the annular shoulder14band the bearing section14ais radially set back towards the inside with respect to the fitting section14c. As is shown inFIG. 12, the octagonal fitting section14cof the bearing sleeve14″ is fitted into the octagonal opening8aof the first clip part2aand thus held non-rotatably therein. The annular shoulder14bof the bearing sleeve14″ abuts the outside of the annular section7aof the first clip part2aand its circular bearing section14aprojects towards the inside past the annular section7a. The opening cross-section of the opening8aand the outer cross-section of the fitting section14ccan have any other non-circular cross-section, e.g. another polygonal or an oval cross-section. The second clip part2bof the aneurysm clip1″ shown inFIGS. 13a, 13bis formed identically to the clip part2bofFIGS. 3a,3b.

The first clip part2awith fitted bearing sleeve14″ and the second clip part2bare assembled like the aneurysm clip1′ shown inFIG. 5. The bearing sleeve14″ thus forms the pivot bearing about which the second clip part2brotates. The projecting length of the bearing section14bof the bearing sleeve14″ maximally corresponds to the thickness of the annular section7bof the second clip part2bsuch that the bearing sleeve14″ is either flush with the outer side of the second clip part2bor is axially set back. The winding body of the leg spring4is finally arranged in the sleeve opening of the bearing sleeve14″ and its two spring legs are then mounted to the two clip parts2a,2bin order to pretension the two clip parts2a,2binto the closed end position. In the shown embodiment, one spring leg of the leg spring4is welded to the bearing sleeve14″ at15a, namely advantageously already prior to fitting the bearing sleeve14″ into the first clip part2a, and its other spring leg grips around the operating arm6bof the second clip part2bat15b—similar to a peg. The leg spring4is thus not welded to the clip parts2a,2bsuch that the clip parts2a,2bcan also be produced from a non-weldable material such as e.g. plastic material, in particular of polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) or of X-ray transparent polyether etherketone (PEEK). The length of the bearing section14bis advantageously smaller than the thickness of the annular section7bin order to prevent any friction between the bearing sleeve14″ and the legs4b.

If the clip parts2a,2bare made from a weldable material, the leg spring4can be welded to the operating arm6bof the second clip part2b—as with the aneurysm clips1,1′—and can optionally also be welded to the operating arm6aof the first clip part2ainstead of being welded to the bearing sleeve4″.

The aneurysm clip1′″ shown inFIGS. 14a, 14bdiffers from the aneurysm clip1″ ofFIG. 9only in that the two clip parts2a,2bare connected to each other by bending the bearing sleeve14″′ and not through a push-fit rotary lock. The first clip part2aof the aneurysm clip1′″ shown inFIGS. 15a, 15bis formed identically to the clip part2aofFIGS. 10a, 10b. The bearing sleeve14″′ shown inFIGS. 16a, 16bdiffers from the bearing sleeve14″ shown inFIG. 11only in that it has a longer bearing section14a.FIG. 17shows the first clip part2awith the bearing sleeve14″′ which has been fitted non-rotatably therein. The second clip part2bof the aneurysm clip1′″ shown inFIGS. 18a, 18bis formed identically to the clip part2bofFIGS. 3a, 3bexcept for the missing projections13.

The first clip part2awith fitted bearing sleeve14″′ and the second clip part2bare assembled like the aneurysm clip1″ shown inFIG. 9. The bearing sleeve14″′ thus forms the pivot bearing about which the second clip part2brotates. The end of the longer bearing section14bof the bearing sleeve14″′ that projects past the outer side of the second clip part2bis bent to the outside to form a rivet head16in order to attach the two clip parts2a,2bto each other or axially hold them together.

Although several embodiments have been described in detail for purposes of illustration, various modifications may be made to each without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. Accordingly, the invention is not to be limited, except as by the appended claims.