Device for elastic ligature of tissues

A device for elastic ligature of tissues comprises: a first and a second element, one of which exhibits a support portion for at least a rubber ring, the elements being slidably coupled to one another such that a reciprocal sliding between the elements determines a release of a rubber ring from the support portion; a trigger, manually maneuverable by an operator and acting on at least the second element for realizing a reciprocal sliding between the elements; a connecting portion, connected to the trigger and to the second element and being elastically deformable in order to enable a reciprocal change of orientation between the trigger and the second element.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a device for elastic ligature of tissues, and is particularly applicable in treatment of hemorrhoids.

Devices are known which release rubber rings, and comprise a command tube connected to a maneuvering handle and support one or more rubber rings to be released.

The command tube comprises an internal tube on a free end of which the rubber ring is predisposed, and an external tube moved in advancement with respect to the internal tube in order to determine release of the rubber ring. The handle is fixed to the internal tube and exhibits a trigger which can be manually activated by an operator in order to command the advancement of the external tube.

Devices of the above-described type exhibit some complicated aspects, mainly regarding the handle and in connection with the mechanical transmission between the movement of the trigger and the advancing of the external tube. The mechanical transmission is included internally of the handle and exhibits mechanisms and return elements which transform a rotational movement of the trigger into a translational movement of the external tube.

It is also commonly known that devices for treatment of the human body must usually be of the single-use type, due to the sterilization requirements of the devices themselves.

The foregoing demonstrates that known-type devices are poorly adapted to single-use modalities, as they are complex and expensive.

In this context, the technical objective underlying the present invention is to provide a device for elastic ligature of tissues which obviates the drawbacks in the prior art as cited herein above.

In particular, the present invention aims to make available a device for elastically legating tissues which exhibits great constructional simplicity.

A further aim of the present invention is to provide a device for elastic ligature of tissues which exhibits contained manufacturing costs.

The set technical objective and the set aims are substantially attained by a device for elastic ligature of tissues comprising the technical characteristics set out in one or more of the accompanying claims.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

In the figures of the drawings,1denotes in its entirety a device for elastic ligature of tissues such as, for example, the anal mucosa of a patient. The application is advantageously applied in treatment of hemorrhoidal complaints related to the mucosa.

The device1comprises a handle2for a user to grip, and further comprises an elongate first element3, preferably tubular and having a circular section, destined together with the handle to give the device1an overall pistol confirmation.

The first element3exhibits a proximal end3a, arranged at the handle2, and a distal end3bprovided with a frontal opening4.

The first element3internally exhibits a chamber5which extends substantially along the whole development of the first element3and which is in communication with the frontal opening4.

The chamber5exhibits, opposite to the frontal opening4, a rear opening19located at the distal end3b .

The chamber5is further connectable to a pneumatic aspiration source, not illustrated, by means of as aspirating conduit6realized internally of the handle2and equipped with a connecting terminal7. The connection terminal7exhibits surface reliefs7afor improving a coupling with a connecting tube with a pneumatic aspiration source. By means of the action of the pneumatic aspiration transmitted by the aspiration conduit, and in combination with the closing of the rear opening16by the operator, a desired quantity of mucosa can be drawn through the frontal opening4internally of the chamber5.

At the distal end3bthe first element3exhibits a support portion8for one or more rubber rings100. The support portion8is preferably defined by a portion of the external surface of the first element3.

The device1further comprises a second element9predisposed on the first element3such that the two elements3,9are slidably coupled along the inclined direction K-K, which is inclined with respect to a prevalent development direction X-X of the first element3.

The second element9comprises an active portion10, which is substantially tubular and keyed on the first element3in order to slide along the inclined direction K-K.

The inclined direction K-K in which the element9slides defines, together with the prevalent development direction X-X of the first element3, an angle α comprised between 0 and 30 degrees, preferably 25 degrees.

The second element further comprises an elongate connecting rod11developing substantially along the prevalent development direction X-X of the first element3. The connecting rod11is fixed at an end thereof to the active portion10.

The device1comprises a trigger12hinged to a frontal portion of the handle2such as to rotate about a hinge axis Y. In particular, as illustrated inFIG. 2, the handle3exhibits a cylindrical portion13snap-fittable to a corresponding cylindrical seating of the trigger12. The snap-fit coupling is is done by reciprocal nearing between the trigger12and the handle3along a substantially parallel direction to the prevalent development direction X-X of the element3.

The trigger12acts on the second element9to realize a translation of the second element9following a rotation of the trigger12about the hinge axis Y.

In particular, the trigger12causes an axial sliding of the connecting rod11with respect to the first element3when the trigger12is pressed by the user.

The sliding is done parallel to the prevalent direction X-X of the first element3.

The sliding of the connecting rod11contemporaneously causes an advancement of the second element9towards the distal end3bof the first element3.

The advancement is done along the inclined direction K-K. The advancement of the second element9causes release of an elastic ring100from the support portion8.

The device1advantageously comprises a flexible connecting portion14, which in particular is elastically deformable and is active between the trigger12and the second element9in order to enable a variation in the reciprocal orientation between the trigger12and the second element9.

The connecting portion14is fixed to the trigger12in an upper position of the trigger12, i.e. a portion of the trigger12which is closer to the first element3.

The connecting portion14comprises a strip having one or more reductions of thickness15defining pre-weakened zones, i.e. zones having a lesser flexional rigidity and destined to make the strip itself more elastically deformable. In the accompanying figures the strip exhibits a plurality of reductions of thickness15which give the connecting portion14an undulating conformation, i.e. a variable thickness alternating along the connection portion14itself.

In particular, the connecting portion14is fixed at a side thereof directly to the trigger12, and at another side thereof to an end of the connecting rod11(the other end of the connecting rod11is connected to the active portion10, as previously described). As the connecting portion is fixed to the trigger12at an upper portion of the trigger12, the connecting rod11can remain adjacent to the first element3, giving the device1a compact structure.

The connecting portion14preferably exhibits a compressive rigidity which is sufficient to determine a movement of the second element9slidingly with respect to the first element3, while it exhibits a flexional rigidity which is sufficiently small to enable the connecting portion14to absorb dealignment between the trigger12and the second element9. The dealignments between the trigger12and the second element9are due to the fact that the trigger12, as it rotates, lowers the point of application of the thrust on the connecting portion14with respect to the second element9.

The trigger12and the connecting portion14define command means of the reciprocal movement of the first element3and the second element9.

The connecting portion14is advantageously made in a single piece with the second element9and the trigger12. In other words, these three elements are made in a single element, made for example of plastic material by means of an industrial injection molding process.

As can be seen inFIG. 4, the handle2laterally exhibits a seating16for housing a light source, for example an optic fiber200. The optic fiber200has a tubular conformation and exhibits a prevalent development direction.

The optic fiber200further exhibits an active end210for issuing a light beam, and the active end210is curved, i.e. it deviates from the prevalent development direction of the optic fiber200itself.

The seating16has a substantially complementary shape to the optic fiber200, and in particular exhibits. a straight first portion16aand a curved second portion16b, which second portion is destined to house the active end210of the optic fiber200.

The seating16is couplable with the optic fiber200in a reciprocal nearing movement along a perpendicular direction to the prevalent development direction of the seating16. To this end, the seating16is laterally open.

Further, the seating16preferably exhibits snap-fit retaining means18for stably retaining the optic fiber200in the seating16. The snap-fit retaining means18preferably comprise at least a pair of opposite projection able to elastically deform and enable a press-insertion of the optic fiber200in the seating16, and a following stable retaining of the optic fiber200in the seating16.

As can be seen inFIGS. 1 and 3, the first element3exhibits, internally thereof, a wall17which extends internally of the chamber5and which is in contact at one side with the chamber5and therefore with the pneumatic aspiration, and on the other side with the seating16, and in particular with the curved second portion16bof the seating16. The wall17thus determines a separation of the seating16from the chamber5.

The wall17preferably comprises a first tract17awhich extends transversally, preferably perpendicular, to the prevalent development direction X-X of the first element3. The orientation of the first tract17aof the wall17enables the active end210of the wall17enables the active end210of the optic fiber200to direct a light beam parallel to the prevalent development direction X-X of the first element3and towards the frontal opening4.

In this configuration, the active end210of the optic fiber200extends internally of the tubular volume of the first element3but is separated from the pneumatic aspiration thanks to the wall17. In this way contamination of the optic fiber200is avoided, and can be re-used.

The wall17, which defines a sealed separation between the chamber5and the seating16, exhibits further tracts17b,17c, defining a closure of the second portion17bof the seating17. In the illustrated embodiment, the wall17exhibits a substantially upturned-U conformation.

The seating16is preferably frontally arranged with respect to the aspiration conduit6, i.e. in an intermediate position between the aspiration conduit6and the frontal opening4. The active end210of the optic fiber200can this be in a closer position to the frontal opening4such as to realize an efficient illuminating action.

In a further embodiment, not illustrated, the trigger12and the connecting portion14can be solidly constrained to the first element3(internal) while the second element (external) is fixed to the handle2.

The device is entirely made of aplastic material, preferably polycarbonate.

Further, preferably the device is entirely realized via an industrial injection molding process.

The device1functions as follows.

The device is arranged in such a position as to place the distal end3bof the first element3is a position facing a portion of the mucous membrane, for example the anal mucosa.

The pneumatic aspiration is then activated and, by closing the rear opening16, a depression is transmitted into the chamber to draw a portion of the mucosa internally of the chamber5through the frontal opening4. The aspiration can be reduced or halted when a sufficient quantity of mucous membrane has been drawn into the chamber5through the opening and the rear opening16can be closed, which the operator performs by applying a finger thereto.

The device1is equipped with at least a rubber ring100which is stretched about the support portion8. The positioning of the rubber ring100on the support portion8can be realized by a mounting cone of a substantially known type and therefore not illustrated.

Then, starting from the configuration ofFIG. 1, in which a rubber ring100is arranged on the support surface8, the trigger12is activated by pressure exerted by a user's finger and consequently the trigger12rotates about the hinge axis Y (the arrow F1inFIG. 3). The pressure is in particular exerted in the rear part of the trigger12, i.e. on the opposite side of the connecting portion14with respect to the hinge axis Y.

The rotation of the trigger12generates a thrust on the connecting portion14which causes the connecting portion11to slide with respect to the first element (arrow F2ofFIG. 4) and at the same time advances the active portion10of the second element9with respect to the first element3(arrow F3ofFIG. 4), pushing the rubber ring100beyond the support surface8and thus releasing the rubber ring100onto the portion of mucosa.

The rubber ring100, by its elastic recall effect, closes, gripping a part of the mucosa and interrupting the blood flow to the portion of mucosa connected thereto and still present in the chamber5.

The elastic deformability of the connecting portion14enables an automatic recall of the trigger12and the second element9into the initial position ofFIG. 1. The device1can then be retracted for a new application on the same patient (and in this case it is preferable that at least a further rubber ring has been predisposed on the support portion8).

The device1is of the single-use type, i.e. it is packed in a sterile environment and can be used on a single patient, and must be discarded after use.

The invention thus attains the set aims, and obviates any drawbacks noted in the prior art.

The device exhibits notable constructional simplicity which translates into low production and assembly costs. The device can in fact be made of only two components, the handle solidly constrained to the first element and the trigger solidly constrained to the connecting portion and the second element.

Assembly is extremely simple, and merely requires nearing the two components along the prevalent reciprocal sliding direction between the first element and the second element. This enables reciprocal engaging between the first element and the second element, and at the same time enables a snap-fitting of the trigger on the handle.