Patent Publication Number: US-2016242778-A1

Title: Clamp device and its clamp unit

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a clamp device used in endoscopic view, in particular, it relates a clamp unit of a clamp device for the endoscope view for wound closure, label and anchor. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     With the development of endoscopic therapy technology, many gastrointestinal disorders, such as defects in the digestive tract mucosa, bleeding ulcers, bleeding arterioles, small polyps in the colon diverticulitis treatment, require using clamp device directly for treatment; the clamp device can also be instead the endoscope to be used with markers under the monitor by X-ray. The clamp device can also serve as anchoring device for feeding tubes and other equipment; it can also serve as closing processing device in a conservative treatment for the gastrointestinal perforation. 
     In current technology, the using of clamp device is to grip tissue to close wounds, to stop bleeding, to make marks, to anchor. 
     In the China patent application No. CN200980123274.7 the clip proximal end integrally fixed to the capsule, the end of the clamp jaws in the tube is fixed, thereby the clamp jaws cannot tilt, and thus the fixed end is easily bent to impact the open distance of the clip mouth. The connection between the clamp jaws and the push portion by spring reed, so that the clamp jaws cannot rotate relative to the push portion. This device do not have unlock features, pre-closure of the clamp jaws needs to maintain a pulling force, the clamp jaws cannot be unlock after the locking misuse. 
     In China patent application No. CN201220250652.7, this device does not have unlocking function, Pre-closing the clip is needed to be maintained by the suitable back tension, and the locking clip of misuse cannot be unlocked. Further, the elastic ring for holding the jaw closed, the manufacturing and assembly for this part are complicated; this device has no rotation mechanism. 
     In application No. CN201220160369.5 the clamp jaws and four-linking rod structure are held in the holder, the holder seat is pulled into the connector sleeve, the holder seat has no locking mechanism, when human tissue peristalsis, the clamp jaws is easy to slide out from the holder, eventually leads the clamp failure. Also, no rotation mechanism for this instrument. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     To solve the above technical problems, the present invention is to provide a reasonable structure, compact and reliable clamp device and clamp unit having an automatic pre-locking, unlocking ability, repositionable functions, etc. 
     To achieve the above objects, the present invention adopts the following technical solutions: 
     A clamp unit of a clamp device comprises a clip, a clip holder, a clamp tube, a clip stop pin, a connecting piece, a connecting pipe, an unlocking piece and connecting pin. Insert an end of the connecting piece into the connecting pipe and fix it therein, a front of the connecting piece is connected movably to the clip holder, and thereby the connecting piece is able to pull the clip holder moving backward. The connecting piece has a frangible portion, the unlocking piece is sleeved in the clam tube and is stop-limited between the connecting piece and the connecting pipe. Clip ends of the two clips are inserted into the clip holder and are connected therein through the clip connecting pin, then the clip holder is placed inside of the clamp tube and can move back and forth. The clip stop pin is fixed on the front of the clamp tube to limit the clip holder sliding out from the clamp tube. The clamp tube&#39;s wall has spring reeds, the spring reed is bent inward, which cooperates with the locking surface of the clip holder to form a one-way locking structure; the unlocked piece is provided with a pushing pulling surface to push the clip holder moving forward and with a wedge surface to unlock the spring reed. 
     For convenience of description, in the present specification the direction of the two clips extending axially from tube and open is as front, reverse direction is as back. Similarly, the parts closing to the clip are considered as front, on the contrary are considered as back. The clip stop pin is the stopper rod, bar, block, or any other shaped piece, which is able to limit the clip holder sliding out from clamp tube, it may be a separate component or may be formed directly on the clamp tube. The connecting pin of the present invention is the stopper rod, bar, block, or any other shaped piece which is able to position or limit the clip end of the clip, it may be a separate component, or can be directly fixed to the clip holder. 
     In this scheme, the clip holder is placed inside of the clamp tube and can relative axial move. The wall of the clamp tube has a resilient reed spring which cooperates with the locking surface of the clip holder to form a one-way locking structure. Whether it is pre-locking or final positioning clamp locking, the locking of clip holder needs not any outside force to maintain the locking state. The pre-locking structure is reliable and convenient. The unlocking piece may move relatively to the clip holder. When the clip holder is in the locking position, the unlocking mechanism takes no effect, but after the wedge portion of the unlocking piece is moved under the reed spring of the clamp tube by pushing, the reed spring is opened to let the clip holder moving forward to achieve unlocking. 
     Advantageously, the front end of the unlocking piece is connected with the clip holder in no turning possibility. The rotor of the operation unit drives the spring core shaft turning. The spring core shaft is connected with the connecting tube, the connecting pipe brings the unlocking piece turning, the unlocking piece brings the clip holder turning, and the clip holder brings the clips turning. By this turning operation of the clips a best grip angle is provide for improving the accuracy of the clamping operation. 
     Advantageously, the clip comprises a clip end, a connecting portion and a holding portion. The clip end has a slot, a connecting pin and the slot are in sliding fit, thus the connecting pin can move back and forth in the slot. The connection portion can be accommodated into the clamp tube. The clip holder has a wedge groove, the clip end of the clip can be moved vertically along the surface of the wedge groove. Thus, the clip holder uses a movable connection with the clip, both can relatively move forward and backward, up and down in a small range. When the clips are closed and tightened into the clamp tube, the two clip ends can move outwardly for reducing restriction to avoid yield; when the clips go out the clamp tube to open, the clip ends of two the clips can move inwardly, the angle between the two side clips is increased, thereby increase the two clips opening distance. 
     Advantageously, the unlocking piece is provided the wedge portion, which is movably inserted in the mounting groove of the clip holder. The wedge portion has a wedge surface, when the reed spring and the locking surface of the clip holder are in one way locking fit the wedging portion of the unlocking piece pushes the reed spring to open, then the clip holder can move forward. The wedge portion of the unlocking piece cooperates with the clip holder are in a circumferentially fixing fit and they can be moved axially to make an implementation of unlock or rotation function in simple and reasonable way. 
     A clamp device includes an operation unit, a clamp push unit and a clamp unite. The spring core shaft of the operating unit is connected with the connecting pipe of the clamp unit, the spring core shaft has spring tube outside which is connected with the operation unit. Other end of the spring core shaft is connected with the clamp tube holder, the clamp tube holder and the clamp tube are detachable connection. 
     Advantageously, the operation unit includes a handle, a slide handle, and a rotor. The slide handle can slide on the handle. The sliding handle is connected with the spring core shaft. The rotor is on the spring core shaft and is able to drive the spring core shaft to rotate, the spring core shaft can be moved in a hole in the rotor, and the spring tube of the clamp push unit is connected with the handle. 
     Advantageously, the push unit includes a clamp tube holder, a push open tube and a spring tube. The front end of the clamp tube holder has an elastic structure. The push open tube inserts into the clamp tube holder&#39;s inner hole thus the head of the clamp tube holder is enlarged. The enlarged head is connected with the connecting ring of the clamp tube movably. In natural state the outer diameter of the clip holder is smaller than the inner diameter of the connecting portion of the clamp tube; the push open tube is on the connecting tube, the connecting pipe is a tubular part with a flange, the diameter of the flange is greater than the inner diameter of the push open tube. Thus the fixing and releasing of the clamp tube are more convenient and reliable. 
     Since the present invention uses the above-mentioned technical solutions, the clip holder has automatic locking function. The pulling maintenance required by locking is avoided when pre-locking, while the analog effect of clamp portion is released, which facilitates medical judgment. The clip holder having unlocking feature provides unlocking function for wrong operation. The technical solution is simple and reasonable, stable and reliable. The clips can be repeated opening and closing, and the closed clamps can be repositioned many times. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING 
         FIG. 1  a cross section view of the structure of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the clamp unit (eliminating clamp tube and clip stop pin); 
         FIG. 3  is a cross section view of the clamp portion (eliminating clamp tube and clip stop pin); 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the clip; 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view of the clip holder; 
         FIG. 6  is a perspective view of the clamp tube; 
         FIG. 7  is a perspective view of the connecting piece; 
         FIG. 8  is a perspective view of the connecting pipe; 
         FIG. 9  is a perspective view of the unlocking piece; 
         FIG. 10  is a cross section view of the clamp tube holder; 
         FIG. 11  is a cross sectional view showing the clip holder in pre-locking; 
         FIG. 12  is a perspective view showing the clip holder in pre-locking; 
         FIG. 13  is a cross-sectional view showing a clip holder in unlock; 
         FIG. 14  is a cross-sectional view showing a state of connecting piece is pulled down, the push open tube is pulled back; 
         FIG. 15  is a cross-section view of the clamp released state. 
     
    
    
     DETAIL DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Below with reference to the specific embodiments of the invention have a detailed description. 
     A clamp device shown in  FIG. 1 , which includes the operation unit  300 , the clamp unit  100  and the clamp push unit  200 . The clamp unit  100  is for holding the body tissue, the clamp push unit  200  is for pushing the clamp unit  100  into the body and connecting the clamp unit with the operation unit  300  for operating. One end of the spring core shaft  340  in the operation unit  300  is fixed connected with the connecting tube  160  of the clamp unit, the spring tube  230  of the push clamp unit  200  is on the sprig core shaft  340 , one end of the spring tube  230  is connected with the operation unit and other end is connected with the clamp tube holder  210  which is disassembly connected with the clamp tube  130  of the clamp unit  100 . 
     A clamp unit  100  of the clamp device as shown in  FIG. 2 , includes the clip  110 , clip holder  120 , clamp tube  130 , clip stop pin  140 , connecting piece  150 , connecting tube  160 , unlocking piece  170  and connecting pin  180 . In the  FIG. 2  and  FIG. 3 , the rear end of the connecting piece  150  is inserted into the connecting tube  160  and fixed therein, the front end of the connecting piece  150  is connected movably with the clip holder  120 , and thereby the clip holder  120  can be pulled to move rearward. The connecting piece  150  has a frangible portion  151 , the unlocking piece  170  is on the connecting piece  150  and is defined between an end of the connecting piece  150  and an end of the connecting tube  160 . The clips  110  are connected with the clip holder by two clip ends  111  inserted in the holder  120  and the connecting pin  180 . The clip holder  120  is placed inside the clamp tube  130  and can be moved back and forth, the clip stop pin  140  is fixed to the front portion of the clamp tube  130  to limit the clip holder to slide out of the clamp tube  130 . The clamp tube  130  has a reed spring  132  which is inward and works with the locking surface  121  of the clip holder  120  to form a one-way lock structure. The unlocking piece  170  has a pushing and pulling surface  173  which can push the clip holder  120  forward movement and a wedge surface  171  which can push to open the reed spring  132  to achieve unlocking. The front end of the unlocking piece  170  can be connected with the clip holder  120  in a no turn-able way, the rear end of the unlocking piece  170  can be connected with the connecting tube  160  in turn-able way. 
     Shown in  FIG. 4 , the clip  110  includes a clip end  111 , a connecting portion  112  and the holding portion  113 . The clip end  111  is used for fixing the clip  112  on the clip holder  120 . The holding portion is used for gripping tissue, the connection section  112  is used to connect the holding portion  113  with the clip end  110  and provides a holding span when the clamp portion  110  is opened. The end of clip end  110  has a slot  114 , the fit tolerance between the connecting pin  180  and the slot  114  is movable fit, so that both one may do relative movement, the connecting portion  112  can be accommodated into the clamp tube  130 . 
     Shown in  FIG. 5 , the clip holder  120  includes the locking surface  121 , wedge groove  122 , mounting groove  123 , through holes  124  and connecting sink bore  125 . The locking surface  121  cooperates with the reed spring  132  on the wall of the clamp tube  132  to form a push forward fixing in one direction. The wedge grooves  122  pushes the clip  110  forward to make the clip ends  110  to be closed along the surfaces of the wedge groove  112 , thereby the two clips  110  generate an additional opening angle. 
     The connecting pin  180  used for connecting the clip  110  with the connecting pin  180  has an outer diameter which is smaller than the width of the slot  114 . The connecting pin  180  is fixed in the through holes  124  of the clip holder  120 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 6 , the clamp tube  130  includes the connection ring  131 , reed spring  132 , pin fixing hole  133 . When the head  211  of the clamp tube holder  210  being supported to enlarge, the inner diameter of the connecting ring  131  is smaller than the diameter of the enlarged head  211  and larger than the diameter of the neck  212 ; when the head  211  of the clamp tube holder returning nature status the inner diameter of the connecting ring  131  is larger than the diameter of the head  211 . The reed spring  132  has elasticity, the pin fixing hole  133  is for the clip stop pin  140 . The clip stop pin  140  is a hollow tube mounted in the pin fixing hole  133 , and then fixed with the clamp tube  130  through enlarging the hollow end of the clip stop pin  140 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 7 , the connecting piece  150  is a step shaft comprising a frangible portion  151 , a rear end  152 , a flange  153 , and a shaft shoulder surface  154 . The frangible portion  151  is set to be broken under certain pull force. The rear end  152  fixedly connected to the connecting tube  160  for push-pull transmission. The flange  153  is set in the connecting sink bore  125  of the clip holder  120 . The shoulder surface  154  of the connecting piece  150  can pass through the clip holder  120  to contact with the end of the unlocking piece  170 , mutually transfer force. 
     As Shown in  FIG. 8 , the connecting tube  160  is a tubular part with a flange  161  with two flat surfaces  162 . The spring core shaft  340  is inserted into the inner hole of the connection tube  160  and fixed therein and also is fixedly connected with the connecting piece  150  to transfer push-pull and rotary torque. The diameter of flange  161  of the connecting tube  160  is greater than the inner diameter of the push open tube  220 , the end surface of the flange  161  contacts with the bottom surface of the unlocking pieces, the plate surfaces  162  of the flange  161  enter the groove  172  of the unlocking piece  170 , the torque transmission can be made. 
     As Shown in  FIG. 9 , the unlocking piece  170  includes the wedging portion  171 , the groove  172 , the pushing pulling surface  173 , the through hole  174 . The wedged portion  171  is mounted in the mounting groove  123  of the clip holder  120 , the wedge portion has a wedge surface. When the reed spring  132  of the clamp tube  130  locking in one direction with the locking surface  121  of the clip holder  121 , under pushing the wedge portion of the unlocking piece moves into the place under the reed spring  132  and pushes the reed spring  132  to open, thereby the stop for the clip holder  120  moving forward is released. The groove  172  of the unlocking piece  170  is used for setting the flange  161  of the connecting tube  160  and for transfer the push force and torque of the connecting tube. The pushing and pulling surface  173  connects with the connecting piece  150 , clip holder  120  and transfers the pushing and pulling force. The inner diameter of the through hole  174  is larger than the diameter of the frangible portion  151  and rear end  152  and is smaller than the diameter of the shoulder surface  154 . 
     The clamp push  200  unit includes a clamp tube holder  210 , push open tube  220  and spring tube  230 . The front end of the clamp tube holder  210  has a elastic folder structure, the push open tube  220  inserts into the inner hole  213  to enlarge the head  211 , the enlarged head  211  passes the connecting ring  131  of the clamp tube  130  and is stopped therein. In natural state the outside diameter of the head  211  is less than the inner diameter of the connecting ring  131 . The push open tube  220  is on the connecting tube  160 , which has a flange  161 , the outer diameter of the flange  161  is larger than the inner diameter of push open tube  220 . 
     As Shown in  FIG. 10 , the clamp tube holder  210  includes a head  211 , neck  212 , internal hole  213 , hole bottom  214 . In the natural state the outer diameter of the head  211  is smaller than the inner diameter of the clamp tube  130 , that is facilitate the separation of clamp tube. The clamp tube holder has resilient structure, the inner diameter of the internal hole  213  is less than the outer diameter of the push open tube  220 . The hole bottom  214  is used for stopping the bottom surface of the push open tube  220 . The inner diameter of the push open tube  220  is greater than the outer diameter of the connecting tube  160 , is smaller than the outer diameter of the flange  161 , when the connecting tube  160  being pulled to a specified position, the push open tube  220  can be pulled out. The spring tube  230  is connected with the clamp tube holder  210  and the handle  310 . The inner diameter of the spring tube  230  is greater than the outer diameter of the spring core shaft  340  and the outer diameter of the connecting tube  160 ; the spring tube  230  has a spring core shaft  340 . The spring tube  230  is used for pushing the clamp portion to the working position. 
     The operation unit  300  includes a handle  310 , a slide handle  320 , a rotor  330  and the spring core shaft  340 . The slider  320  can slide on the handle  310 , the slider  320  is connected to the spring core shaft  340 , and the rotor  330  is on the spring core shaft and can turn the spring core shaft. The spring core shaft  340  can be moved in a hole of the rotor  330 . The spring tube  230  is connected with the handle  310 . 
     The handle  310  is connected to the spring tube  230 , on the handle  310  the handle  320 , rotor  330 , spring core shaft  340  are set. The slide handle  320  is slidable on the rail of the handle  310  and connected with the spring core shaft  340 , the slide handle can pull and push the spring core shaft. The rotor  330  can rotate on the handle  310  and is connected to the spring core shaft  340 , the rotor  330  can drive the spring core shaft rotation. The spring core shaft may turn relative to the slide handle  320  and the handle  310 , and may slide move forward or back relative to the rotor  330 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 11 ,  FIG. 12 , when the clip holder is in a pre-locked position, the connecting piece  150  pulls the clip holder  120  back, the clip  110  is withdrawn into the clamps tube  130 , the reed springs  132  and the locking surface  121  is in a one-way lock, the unlock piece  170  relative to the clip holder  120  moves back to the place behind the reed spring  132 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 13 , the unlocking piece  170  is pushed forward to unlock, the wedge portion of unlocking piece  170  can wedges into the place under reed spring  132  and pushes the reed spring  132  to open, the clip hold  120  is unlocked and can be moved forward by the pushing of the unlocking piece, the clips  110  is reopened. 
     As Shown in  FIG. 14 ,  FIG. 15 , the clamp unit is released, in the pre-locked state the spring core shaft  340  continues to pull the connecting piece  150  rearward, the clip holder  120  that is restricted as the clamp portion cannot be moved rearward, the frangible portion  151  of the connecting piece  150  is break by pulling and the push open tube  220  is pulled by the connecting tube to exit the inner hole  213 , the head  211  of the clamp tube holder returns the nature state, so that the spring tube can bring the clamp tube holder  210  to leave the clamp tube, the clamp unit release is achieved.