Device with variable rigidity and surgical gripping device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12575846-B2
Application number	US-202118012244-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 15, 2021
Priority date	Jun 22, 2020
Publication date	Mar 17, 2026
Grant date	Mar 17, 2026

Abstract

In order to provide a device with variable rigidity and a surgical gripping device that make it possible to increase the range of change in rigidity by means of a simple structure, this device with variable rigidity is configured so as to comprise two flexible sheets ( 12, 14 ) that include: a base material ( 20 ) formed using a sheet-like elastic material and having a plurality of recesses ( 20 B) and a plurality of protrusions ( 20 A) formed on one surface thereof; a low rigidity section ( 22 ) that is formed using an elastic material with a lower modulus of elasticity than the base material ( 20 ) and that is arranged in the recesses ( 20 B) and joined to the recesses ( 20 B) so that one surface of said low rigidity section ( 22 ) becomes flat; and a friction material ( 24 ) provided to the one surface. In addition, the two flexible sheets ( 12, 14 ) are covered by a bag-like cover with the two pieces of friction material ( 24 ) facing each other and are configured so as to have a ventilation port ( 18 ) whereby it is possible to suction the air within the flexible sheets ( 12, 14 ) and the cover ( 16 ) from the exterior of the cover ( 16 ).

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A device with variable rigidity, the device comprising two flexible sheets each having:
a base material structured by a sheet-shaped elastic material, one surface of which has a plurality of recesses and a plurality of protrusions; a low rigidity portion disposed at the recesses and joined to the recesses such that the one surface is flat, and structured by an elastic material of a lower modulus of elasticity than the base material; and a friction material provided at the one surface, wherein the two flexible sheets are covered by a bag-shaped cover in a state in which the friction materials face one another, and wherein the device with variable rigidity further has a vent hole that enables suction of a fluid, which is between the flexible sheets and within the cover, from an exterior of the cover.

2 . The device with variable rigidity of claim 1 , wherein, due to reinforcing materials that extend in a predetermined direction, extension/contraction of the base materials in the predetermined direction is suppressed, and the base materials can deform by bending.

3 . The device with variable rigidity of claim 1 , wherein the friction material of one of the flexible sheets has a groove that communicates with the vent hole without contacting another of the flexible sheets at a time of suction of fluid that is between the flexible sheets.

4 . The device with variable rigidity of claim 1 , wherein:
a through-hole that passes through in a thickness direction is formed in one of the flexible sheets, and an adsorbing member, which is air permeable overall and which can adsorb a gripped object, is provided at a surface, which is at a side opposite from the friction material, of the one of the flexible sheets.

5 . The device with variable rigidity of claim 4 , wherein the cover covers the entire device other than the adsorbing member, so as to prevent flowing-in of air from an exterior of the device at a time of adsorption and so as to maintain negative pressure within the device due to suction at a time of adsorption.

6 . The device with variable rigidity of claim 1 , wherein a handle for manipulation is provided at the flexible sheet.

7 . A surgical gripping device comprising two flexible sheets each having:
a base material structured by a sheet-shaped elastic material, one surface of which has a plurality of recesses and a plurality of protrusions; a low rigidity portion disposed at the recesses and joined to the recesses such that the one surface is flat, and structured by an elastic material of a lower modulus of elasticity than the base material; and a friction material provided at the one surface, wherein the two flexible sheets are covered by a bag-shaped cover in a state in which the friction materials face one another, wherein the surgical gripping device further has a vent hole that enables suction of a fluid, which is between the flexible sheets and within the cover, from an exterior of the cover, wherein a through-hole that passes through in a thickness direction is formed in one of the flexible sheets, wherein an adsorbing member, which is air permeable overall and which can adsorb a gripped object, is provided at a surface, which is at a side opposite from the friction material, of the one of the flexible sheets, and wherein the surgical gripping device can cause the adsorbing member to adsorb an organ, and can grip the organ.

8 . The surgical gripping device of claim 7 , wherein, due to reinforcing materials that extend in a predetermined direction, extension/contraction of the base materials in the predetermined direction is suppressed, and the base materials can deform by bending.

9 . The surgical gripping device of claim 7 , wherein the friction material of one of the flexible sheets has a groove that communicates with the vent hole without contacting another of the flexible sheets at a time of suction of fluid that is between the flexible sheets.

10 . The surgical gripping device of claim 7 , wherein the cover covers the entire device other than the adsorbing member, so as to prevent flowing-in of air from an exterior of the device at a time of adsorption and so as to maintain negative pressure within the device due to suction at a time of adsorption.

11 . The surgical gripping device of claim 7 , wherein a handle for manipulation is provided at one of the flexible sheets.

Assignees

• Univ Nat Corp Tokyo Medical & Dental

Inventors

• Nakajima Yoshikazu

Classifications

• A61B2017/00862

  elastic or resilient · CPC title

• A61B2017/00858

  high friction or non-slip · CPC title

• A61M1/74

  Suction control (underwater drainage A61M1/61) · CPC title

• A61B2217/005

  with suction drainage system · CPC title

• A61B2017/2926

  Details of heads or jaws · CPC title