초록

Compliant inserts for jaw-type surgical instruments having improved traction are provided. The clamping surface of the inserts includes a plurality of short and densely arranged traction elements. The tractive force supplied by the traction elements approaches that of steel jawed clamps.

대표청구항 ▼

1. An insert for attachment to a jaw-type surgical instrument adapted for grasping or occluding a vessel, said insert comprising an elongate member having opposed proximal and distal ends, a compliant cushion having a tissue-engaging contact surface and having a plurality of molded, hooked traction

1. An insert for attachment to a jaw-type surgical instrument adapted for grasping or occluding a vessel, said insert comprising an elongate member having opposed proximal and distal ends, a compliant cushion having a tissue-engaging contact surface and having a plurality of molded, hooked traction elements on at least a region of said surface, wherein said hooked traction elements are of unitary construction with said tissue engaging contact surface, said insert further comprising a back surface opposite to said contact surface, and a jaw attachment member on the back surface, wherein said contact surface and said back surface extend between said opposed proximal and distal ends and face opposite directions, wherein said molded, hooked traction elements are not more than about 1 mm in height, wherein the density of said molded, hooked traction elements on said surface region is at least about 100/cm2. 2. The insert of claim 1 wherein said molded, hooked traction elements are configured to have at least one crook. 3. The insert of claim 1 wherein said molded, hooked traction elements are configured to have at least two crooks. 4. The insert of claim 1 wherein said molded, hooked traction elements are configured to have a mushroom-like shape. 5. The insert of claim 1 wherein said molded, hooked traction elements are not more than about 0.5 mm in height. 6. The insert of claim 1 wherein said molded, hooked traction elements are not more than about 0.3 mm in height. 7. The insert of claim 1 wherein the density of said molded, hooked traction elements on said surface region is at least about 130/cm2. 8. The insert of claim 1 wherein the density of said molded, hooked traction elements on said surface region is at least about 260/cm2. 9. The insert of claim 1 wherein the density of said molded, hooked traction elements on said surface region is at least about 300/cm2. 10. An insert according to claim 1 wherein when said insert is attached to said jaw, a tractive force of between about 4 to about 10 pounds is provided on a vessel clamped by the clamp. 11. The insert of claim 10 wherein said tractive force is between about 6 to about 8 pounds. 12. An insert according to claim 1 wherein when said insert is attached to said jaw, a tractive force of between about 1.5 to about 2.5 pounds is provided on a vessel clamped by the clip. 13. The insert of claim 12 wherein said tractive force is between about 1.5 to about 2 pounds. 14. An insert for attachment to a jaw-type surgical instrument adapted for grasping or occluding a vessel, said insert comprising an elongate member having opposed proximal and distal ends, a compliant cushion having a tissue-engaging contact surface and having a plurality of molded, twin-crooked traction elements on at least a region of said surface, said insert further comprising a back surface opposite to said contact surface, and a jaw attachment member on the back surface, wherein said contact surface and said back surface extend between said opposed proximal and distal ends and face opposite directions, wherein said traction elements are not more than about 0.4 mm in height and have a density on said surface region of at least about 130/cm2. 15. An insert for attachment to a jaw-type surgical instrument adapted for grasping or occluding a vessel, said insert comprising an elongate member having opposed proximal and distal ends, a compliant cushion having a tissue-engaging contact surface and having a plurality of molded, single-crooked traction elements on at least a region of said surface, said insert further comprising a back surface opposite to said contact surface, and a jaw attachment member on the back surface, wherein said contact surface and said back surface extend between said opposed proximal and distal ends and face opposite directions, wherein said traction elements are not more than about 0.3 mm in height and have a density on said surface region of at least about 260/cm2. 16. A surgical instrument comprising at least one jaw and an insert attached to the jaw, the insert comprising an elongate member having opposed proximal and distal ends, a compliant clamping surface adapted for grasping or occluding a vessel, the clamping surface having a plurality of molded, hooked traction elements on at least a region of said surface, and the hooked traction elements being of unitary construction with the clamping surface, said insert further comprising a back surface opposite to said contact surface, and a jaw attachment member on the back surface, wherein said contact surface and said back surface extend between said opposed proximal and distal ends and face opposite directions, wherein said molded, hooked traction elements are not more than about 1 mm in height, wherein the density of said molded, hooked traction elements on said surface region is at least about 100/cm2. 17. An insert according to claim 16, wherein said traction elements are not more than about 0.3 mm in height and have a density on said surface region of at least about 300/cm2. 18. The surgical instrument of claim 16 wherein said molded, hooked traction elements are configured to have at least one crook. 19. The surgical instrument of claim 16 wherein said molded, hooked traction elements are configured to have at least two crooks. 20. The surgical instrument of claim 16 wherein said molded, hooked traction elements are configured to have a mushroom-like shape. 21. The surgical instrument of claim 16 wherein said molded, hooked traction elements are not more than about 0.5 mm in height. 22. The surgical instrument of claim 16 wherein said molded, hooked traction elements are not more than about 0.3 mm in height. 23. The surgical instrument of claim 16 wherein the density of said molded, hooked traction elements on said surface region is at least about 130/cm2. 24. The surgical instrument of claim 16 wherein the density of said molded, hooked traction elements on said surface region is at least about 260/cm2. 25. The surgical instrument of claim 16 wherein the density of said molded, hooked traction elements on said surface region is at least about 300/cm2. 26. An insert for attachment to a jaw-type surgical instrument adapted for grasping or occluding a vessel, said insert comprising an elongate member having opposed proximal and distal ends, a compliant cushion having a tissue-engaging contact surface and having a plurality of molded, hooked traction elements on at least a region of said surface, wherein said hooked traction elements are of unitary construction with said tissue engaging contact surface, said insert further comprising a back surface opposite to said contact surface, and a jaw attachment member on the back surface, wherein said contact surface and said back surface extend between said opposed proximal and distal ends and face opposite directions, wherein said hooked traction elements are on at least a region of said surface at a density on said surface region of at least about 100/cm2. 27. The insert of claim 26 wherein the density of said hooked traction elements on said surface region is at least about 130/cm2. 28. The insert of claim 26 wherein the density of said hooked traction elements on said surface region is at least about 260/cm2. 29. The insert of claim 26 wherein the density of said hooked traction elements on said surface region is at least about 300/cm2. 30. A surgical instrument comprising at least one jaw and an insert attached to the jaw, the insert comprising an elongate member having opposed proximal and distal ends, a compliant clamping surface adapted for grasping or occluding a vessel, the clamping surface having a plurality of molded, hooked traction elements on at least a region of said surface, and the hooked traction elements being of unitary construction with the clamping surface, said insert further comprising a back surface opposite to said contact surface, and a jaw attachment member on the back surface, wherein said contact surface and said back surface extend between said opposed proximal and distal ends and face opposite directions, wherein the plurality of hooked traction elements are on at least a region of said surface at a density on said surface region of at least about 100/cm2. 31. The surgical instrument of claim 30 wherein the density of said hooked traction elements on said surface region is at least about 130/cm2. 32. The surgical instrument of claim 30 wherein the density of said hooked traction elements on said surface region is at least about 260/cm2. 33. The surgical instrument of claim 30 wherein the density of said hooked traction elements on said surface region is at least about 300/cm2. 34. An insert for attachment to a jaw-type surgical instrument adapted for grasping or occluding a vessel, said insert comprising an elongate member having opposed proximal and distal ends, a compliant cushion having a tissue-engaging contact surface and having a plurality of molded, hooked traction elements on at least a region of said surface, wherein said hooked traction elements are of unitary construction with said tissue engaging contact surface, said insert further comprising a back surface opposite to said contact surface, and a jaw attachment member on the back surface, wherein said contact surface and said back surface extend between said opposed proximal and distal ends and face opposite directions, wherein said insert comprises a first overmold and a second overmold together defining a first side and a second side opposite from said first side, wherein said compliant cushion is fixed to said first side and said jaw attachment member is fixed to said second side, and wherein said second overmold is made from an elastomer having a shore durometer rating of between about 2 A and about 95 A, and wherein said first overmold is made from an elastomer having a shore durometer rating of between about 20 A and about 95 A, and wherein said first overmold is more rigid than said second overmold. 35. The insert of claim 34, wherein said second overmold defines said first side and said first overmold defines said second side, and wherein said jaw attachment member extends from said first overmold at said second side. 36. An insert for attachment to a jaw-type surgical instrument adapted for grasping or occluding a vessel, said insert comprising an elongate member having opposed proximal and distal ends, a compliant cushion having a tissue-engaging contact surface and having a plurality of molded, hooked traction elements on at least a region of said surface, wherein said hooked traction elements are of unitary construction with said tissue engaging contact surface, said insert further comprising a back surface opposite to said contact surface, and a jaw attachment member on the back surface, wherein said contact surface and said back surface extend between said opposed proximal and distal ends and face opposite directions and wherein said molded, hooked traction elements are configured to have at least two crooks, wherein each hook comprises a single stem extending from said tissue-engaging contact surface, and wherein said two crooks extend in opposite directions from said single stem.