GB840920A - Improvements in or relating to suturing apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

840,920. Suturing appliances. CANADIAN PATENTS & DEVELOPMENT Ltd. Jan. 14, 1959 [Feb. 26, 1958], No. 1381/59. Class 81 (2). Apparatus for suturing the two parts 57, Fig. 1, of a severed blood vessel comprises a clip-driving assembly 1 having half sections to surround one part of the blood vessel, a cylindrical anvil 12 having half sections to surround the other part of the blood vessel, two holders 17, 25, Figs. 6, 7, for engagement with the clip-driving assembly and the anvil respectively, each holder having a pair of pivotally-mounted jaws 20, 28, means 30 removably connecting the holders, and means 38 for effecting a limited swinging movement of the holders relative to each other. The clip driving assembly comprises a tubular guide 2 which has longitudinal ribs 3 and grooves 5 of T-shaped cross-section along a part of its length and which slidably carries a sleeve 6 having a radial flange 7 and longitudinal fingers 8, Fig. 2, which may be slid into or withdrawn from the grooves 5. The anvil 12 has anvil recess 14 corresponding to the grooves 5 in the guide and a radial flange 13. The jaws 20, 28 of each holder 17, 25 have arcuate grooves 20a, 28a which releasably engage the flanges 7, 13 of the clip driving assembly and the anvil respectively. The jaws 20, 28 of the holders are provided respectively by pairs of arms 18, 26, the free ends of each pair being connected by a toggle assembly 21, 29 which secures the jaws in closed position about the flanges 7, 13. A headed pin 30 on one holder snaps into a socket 34 on the other holder to secure the two holders together with the clip driving assembly and the anvil axially aligned. Complementary bosses 53, 55 and recesses 54 in the holders and the clip driving assembly or anvil respectively ensure alignment of the grooves 5 and anvil recesses 14. In use the guide 2 and sleeve 6 of the clip driving assembly are temporarily locked together by a spring clamp 61 or a wire and U-shaped clips 9 are placed in the grooves 5. The clip driving assembly and the anvil in their holders are placed around each end respectively of the severed blood vessel. The edges 59 of the blood vessel are everted and secured over projections 60 on the ends of the guide and the anvil. A press tool 38 is used to swing the jaws of one holder towards the jaws of the other holder so that, after removing the spring clamp 61, the sleeve 6 of the clip driving assembly approaches the anvil and the fingers 8 drive the clips 9 through the ends of the blood vessel and against the anvil recesses 14. The press tool 38 comprises pivotal arms 39 each having at one end jaws 41 abutting shoulders 42 on a holder, the other ends of the arms 39 respectively being connected to and threaded on a screw 43. By rotating the screw 43, the jaws on each arm 39 approach to an extent limited by an adjustable stop head 49. An alternative form of press tool (not shown) is operated in the manner of pliers.