CA1287538C

CA1287538C - Sexual sterilisation device

Info

Publication number: CA1287538C
Application number: CA000513522A
Authority: CA
Inventors: Gilbert Marcus Filshie
Original assignee: Femcare Ltd
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1985-07-10
Filing date: 1986-07-10
Publication date: 1991-08-13
Anticipated expiration: 2008-08-13
Also published as: GB2177748B; DE3623023A1; FR2584602A1; GB2177748A; DE3623023C2; GB8517468D0; FR2584602B1

Abstract

ABSTRACT
A sexual sterilization device in the form of a clip is designed to prevent, as far as possible, failure due to incorrect latching of an upper jaw underneath the lip of a lower jaw by dimensioning the upper and lower jaws such that considerable deformation of the upper jaw is required before correct latching can occur.

Description

~75~8 SPECIFICATION
This invention relates to a sexual sterilization device in the form of a clip adapted to be clamped on a Fallopian tube or a vas deferen.s to effect occlusion thereof.

U.K. Patent Specification No. 1 530 282 describes and claims a clip of this general type, and this form of clip has been widely used with a very small failure rate. Improvements in the reliability of this clip have been achieved by providing the clip with a latching arrangement, whereby one jaw is held under a lip on the other jaw, after closure of the clip, but because of the sllght inherent resilience of the metal of the clip, titanium, it has been found that it is still possible for a small passageway to be left open for the passage of gametes if sufficient closing force is not exercised on the clip during application, and this could lead to a failure of sterilization.

~ Additionally, the clips are applied by an applicator which has clamping jaws remotely operated through appropriate linkages. It is possible for the : :
applicator to be incorrectly assembled, for example after disassembly for;sterilization of the instrument, or for the linkages to become worn after prolonged use, in either , :' : ` :
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1287S3~3 case making it i~possible for the surgeon to apply sufficient pressure to the clip to close it fully. ~he conventional clip may in these circumstances appear properly closed, but still leave a srnall passageway for gametesJ or the potential for such a passageway after the normal physiological changes in the tube have taken place after clamping.

Accordingly, the present invention provides a sexual sterilization device in the form of a clip adapted to be clamped on and thereby to occlude a duct through which gametes pass, comprising a pair of clamping jaws hinged together, the first jaw having a lip under which the free end of the second jaw is engaged to hold the clip `
closed, wherein the second jaw is deformable and is dimensioned and arranged such that the free end thereof can only engage under the lip after deformation of the second jaw into occluding engagement with the first jaw.
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It wlll be understood that occluding engagement occurs when the duct is permanently closed to the passage of gametes.

Preferably, the second jaw initially curves : outwardly~between the ends thereof from the first jaw, , : : ~ ~` .
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deformation serving to flatten the second jaw towards the first.

The clip is preferably lined internally with a resilient material, such as a medial grade silicone rubber ~ i It has been found that, using clips according to the present invention, it is i~lpossible to latch the second jaw under the lip of the first jaw and still leave a passage for the gametes, and it is therefore expected --~
that a significant reduction in the already small number of failures~of the clip will be achieved.

A specific embodiment of the invention will now be described, by:way of example only, with the use of drawings in whioh:

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: : Figure 1 is:a side elevation of a clip in accordance with~a preferred embodiment of the invention, in:its~fully open poeition;

~ Figure;~2 ls a view corresponding to Figure 1, with the second~:jaw in position prior to closure of the clip: and~

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Figure 3 is a view corresponding to Figure 1, with the clip closed on a tube representing a duct for gametes.

Referring now to the drawings, the clip comprises a first jaw 1 in the form of a flat plate la having one end curved over to form a lip lb, and the other end provided with upstanding side plates lc with aligned holes ld therein. A second jaw 2 is formed with small posts 2a extending from each side thereof adjacent to one end, the posts 2a serving as a pivot for mounting in the holes ld to provide a hinging action between the two jaws. The second jaw 2 is curved so as to present a~
concave face to the first jaw 1, and has catch_iDe~n 2b at the free end thereof, bent outwardly from the concave face.

The two jaws 1 and 2 are formed from commercially pure titaniu~, and are provided with linings 3 and 4 of medical grade silicone rubber. The linings are provide~d with longitudinal ribs 3a and 4a to reduce the risk of damage to the duct to which the clip is applied.
The lining 3 for the first jaw 1 substantially fills the space 5 defined between the lip lb`and the flat part la.
~The l~inlng 4~on the catch portion of 2b of the second jaw 2~has~ a proiection 4b.

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~28~S315 The spacing C lFigure 2) relative to the overall length of the jaw 2 ensures that only when the second jaw 2 is sufficiently deformed to guarantee full occlusion of the tube will sufficient of the catch portion 2b (distance ,r' B in Figure~) be caught under the lip lb to hold the -closed. If the second jaw is not sufficiently deformed, and the distance is less than B, the resilience of the projection 4b, coacting with the lining in the space 5, will push the catch portion 2b clear of the lip lb, and it will be Immediately apparent to the surgeon applying the clip that it is not yet latched closed.

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A further advantage of the resilience of the projection 4b, and the lining in the space 5, is that it prevents excessive deformation of the second jaw 2, with consequent risk of damage to the duct to which it is being ` applied.
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In practice, the;clip of the invention is applied~to a duct by~the use of an applicatorj which : ~ :
enables the surgeon remotely to locate the clip and then apply pressure to deform~the second jaw and close the clip. Such applicators~ are known for use with existing clips~of this type, as hereinbefore described.

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It will be appreciate~ that the clip of the invention can be readily adapted, for exa~ple by suitably modifying the dimensions and closure position of the jaws, for ~se either on the Fallopian tube or on vas deferens.
It can be seen that the clamp has two hingedly connected ~aws or arms in which the lip lb of the first jaw serves a~ a latching portion which engages the free end or catch portion 2b of the second arm. Spacing between the hinge of the clam~ and the catch portion at the free end o~ the second arm defines ~length~ of the second arm, which length can vary from:the initial position in which the arm is curved, to the second condition, in which the arm is flattened and the:length is greater. --.
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While a specific embodiment of the invention has :
been described~, sucb description shouId be taken as illustrative only and~ n~t limiting the~scope of the in~èntion as:defln~e~d~ in~accordance with the accompanying claims.~

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Claims

1. A sexual sterilization device consisting of a clamp adapted to be closed on a duct in which gametes circulate, so as to occlude said duct, which comprises two hingedly interconnected arms, the first arm comprising a latching portion under which the free end of the second arm is adapted to be engaged to keep the clamp closed, said second arm being deformed between an initial condition in which it is curved and a second condition in which said second arm is more flattened so as to have a greater length enabling its free end to extend under the latching portion of the first arm, characterized in that when said second arm is in its initial curved condition and pivoted towards the first arm, a clearance exists between the free end of said second arm and said latching portion, this precluding any possibility of engaging said free end under said latching portion as long as said second arm has not been flattened sufficiently to permit this engagement.

2. A device as claimed in Claim 1, in which the clip is lined internally with a resilient material, and a resilient material lining the second arm is shaped to form a projection extending outwardly from the second arm, which projection acts upon the resilient lining on the first arm to spring urge the arms apart until the second arm has been sufficiently flattened to latch the free end securely under the lip of the first arm.

3. A device as claimed in Claim 2, in which the resilient material is medical grade silicon rubber.

4. A sexual sterilizing clamp to occlude a duct bearing gametes, the clamp comprising first and second jaws hingedly connected together by a hinge at inner ends of the jaws, the first jaw having a lip spaced at a first spacing from the hinge, the second jaw having a catch portion and being deformable between an initial condition in which the second jaw is curved and the catch portion is spaced from the hinge by a second spacing which is smaller than the first spacing, and a second condition in which the second jaw is more flattened and the catch portion is spaced from the hinge by a third spacing which is larger than the first spacing, so that when the second jaw is in the initial condition and the catch portion is generally adjacent the lip, a clearance exists between the catch portion and the lip, and when the second jaw is in the second condition, the catch portion extends under the lip of the first arm, thus holding the clamp closed.

5. A clamp as claimed in Claim 4, in which the jaws have oppositely facing inner faces, each face supporting a lining of resilient material, the resilient material lining the second jaw being shaped to form a projection extending outwardly beyond the catch portion of the second jaw so that the projection acts upon the resilient lining of the first jaw to spring urge the jaws apart until the second jaw has been sufficiently flattened to latch the catch portion securely under the lip of the first jaw.

6. A device as claimed in Claim 5, in which the resilient material is medical grade silicon rubber.

B182:381:63