Clamp installation tool

Abstract

A clamp installation tool is provided. The tool may include a longitudinal main body, a selectable retention mechanism, and a tip manipulation member. The longitudinal main body may have an elongate member with a longitudinal support platform to support a clamp. The selectable retention mechanism may have a plurality of bosses to be received into corresponding apertures of the clamp, and the tip manipulation member may be coupled to a distal end of the longitudinal main body and arcuately articulable relative to the longitudinal main body. The tool may be operable to install a clamp inside a body cavity.

1 . A clamp installation tool comprising:
 a longitudinal main body comprising an elongate member having a longitudinal support platform configured to support a clamp;   a selectable retention mechanism comprising a plurality of bosses configured to be received into corresponding apertures of the clamp; and   a tip manipulation member coupled to a distal end of the longitudinal main body and articulable relative to the longitudinal main body.   
     
     
         2 . The clamp installation tool according to  claim 1 , wherein the longitudinal main body is made of plastic. 
     
     
         3 . The clamp installation tool according to  claim 1 , wherein the longitudinal main body is made of metal. 
     
     
         4 . The clamp installation tool according to  claim 1 , wherein the tool is a single-use tool. 
     
     
         5 . The clamp installation tool according to  claim 1 , wherein the tool is reusable. 
     
     
         6 . The clamp installation tool according to  claim 1 , wherein the selectable retention mechanism comprising a plurality of bosses comprises:
 a distal boss extending from the longitudinal main body at a position closer to the tip manipulation member than an intermediate boss; and   the intermediate boss extending from the longitudinal main body at a position farther from the tip manipulation member than the distal boss.   
     
     
         7 . The clamp installation tool according to  claim 1 , wherein the longitudinal main body further comprises:
 a control rod channel configured to receive a control rod extending through the longitudinal main body and connecting the tip manipulation member to a control aspect;   a main body attachment mechanism configured to attach to the tip manipulation member.   
     
     
         8 . The clamp installation tool according to  claim 7 , wherein the main body attachment mechanism comprises:
 a cantilevered boss extending from the longitudinal main body;   a first main body side flange and a second main body side flange extending from the cantilevered boss and defining a main body flange channel disposed between the first main body side flange and the second main body side flange; and   a retention pin configured to retain the tip articulation member in attachment to the main body attachment mechanism.   
     
     
         9 . The clamp installation tool according to  claim 7 , wherein the tip manipulation member comprises:
 a manipulation member main body extending outwardly from an attachment mechanism configured to connect to the main body attachment mechanism; and   a retention hook extending from the manipulation member main body and configured to receive a tip retention aperture of the clamp.   
     
     
         10 . The clamp installation tool according to  claim 9 , wherein the tip manipulation member comprises an attachment mechanism comprising:
 a first side flange and a second side flange extending outwardly from the manipulation member main body and spaced apart to provide a flange channel;   an attachment mechanism flange web connecting the first side flange and the second side flange;   a retention aperture disposed through the first side flange and the second side flange and configured to receive the retention pin of the main body attachment mechanism to permit articulation of the tip manipulation member about an axis provided by the retention pin and along an articulation path; and   an offset articulation aperture spaced an articulation offset radius from the retention aperture and configured to connect to the control rod.   
     
     
         11 . The clamp installation tool according to  claim 10 , wherein the tip manipulation member comprises an angled tip comprising a safety dome at the outermost distal end of the tip manipulation member, the safety dome comprising a half-hemisphere. 
     
     
         12 . The clamp installation tool according to  claim 1 , further comprising a sealing channel comprising a cylindrical tube receivable over the clamp installation tool and insertable into a trocar. 
     
     
         13 . The clamp installation tool according to  claim 1 , wherein the clamp is a bariatric clamp. 
     
     
         14 . The clamp installation tool according to  claim 1 , further comprising a control aspect configured to articulate the tip manipulation member,
 wherein the control aspect comprises a single use grip comprising:
 an actuator configured to articulate the tip manipulation member; and 
 a safety configured to inhibit operation of the actuator. 
   
     
     
         15 . A method of constructing a clamp installation tool comprising:
 providing a longitudinal main body comprising an elongate member having a longitudinal support platform configured to support a clamp;   providing a selectable retention mechanism comprising a plurality of bosses configured to be received into corresponding apertures of the clamp; and   providing a tip manipulation member coupled to a distal end of the longitudinal main body and articulable relative to the longitudinal main body.   
     
     
         16 . The method of constructing the clamp installation tool according to  claim 15 , wherein the providing the selectable retention mechanism comprising the plurality of bosses comprises:
 providing a distal boss extending from the longitudinal main body at a position closer to the tip manipulation member than an intermediate boss; and   providing the intermediate boss extending from the longitudinal main body at a position farther from the tip manipulation member than the distal boss.   
     
     
         17 . The method of constructing the clamp installation tool according to  claim 15 , further comprising providing a sealing channel comprising a cylindrical tube receivable over the clamp installation tool and insertable into a trocar. 
     
     
         18 . A method of bariatric clamp installation using a clamp installation tool, the method comprising:
 connecting a distal retention aperture of a bariatric clamp to a distal boss of a selectable retention mechanism of the clamp installation tool;   connecting an intermediate retention aperture of the clamp to an intermediate boss of the selectable retention mechanism of the clamp installation tool;   connecting a tip retention aperture of the bariatric clamp to a retention hook of a tip manipulation member of the clamp installation tool,   wherein the clamp installation tool is configured in a coaxial configuration wherein the tip manipulation member is at least partially coaxial with a longitudinal main body of the clamp installation tool;   inserting the clamp installation tool through an incision and proximate to an organ to be clamped;   actuating the clamp installation tool by a control aspect to an actuated configuration wherein the tip manipulation member is not at least partially coaxial with the longitudinal main body of the clamp installation tool;   grasping the clamp proximate to the tip retention aperture and selectably disconnecting the tip retention aperture from the clamp installation tool;   actuating the clamp installation tool by the control aspect to the coaxial configuration; and   retracting the clamp installation tool from the body cavity leaving the clamp emplaced within the body cavity.   
     
     
         19 . The method according to  claim 18 , further comprising:
 inserting the clamp installation tool through a sealing channel comprising a cylindrical tube receivable over the clamp installation tool and insertable into a trocar within the incision; and   inserting the combination of the sealing channel disposed over the clamp installation tool into the trocar.   
     
     
         20 . A method of providing a bariatric clamp and clamp installation tool, the method comprising:
 connecting a distal retention aperture of a bariatric clamp to a distal boss of a selectable retention mechanism of the clamp installation tool;   connecting an intermediate retention aperture of the clamp to an intermediate boss of the selectable retention mechanism of the clamp installation tool;   connecting a tip retention aperture of the bariatric clamp to a retention hook of a tip manipulation member of the clamp installation tool, and   wherein the clamp installation tool is configured in a coaxial configuration wherein the tip manipulation member is at least partially coaxial with a longitudinal main body of the clamp installation tool.   
     
     
         21 . A clamp installation tool comprising:
 a longitudinal main body comprising an elongate member having a longitudinal support platform configured to support a clamp;   a selectable retention mechanism comprising a plurality of clips configured to receive the clamp; and   a tip manipulation member coupled to a distal end of the longitudinal main body and articulable relative to the longitudinal main body.