1. A coupling apparatus for transmitting a torque from a drive shaft to an output shaft, said coupling apparatus comprising:
a spacer shaft;
two couplings each including a primary part and a secondary part, said two couplings including a plurality of springs, a first coupling, a second coupling, a plurality of support plates, a plurality of carriers, two screws, and a locating pin, said primary part and said secondary part being twistable to a certain extent relative to one another against a force of said plurality of springs, said secondary part of said first coupling being in a drive connection via said spacer shaft with said primary part of said second coupling, said plurality of springs including a plurality of spring plates made of rubber-elastic material, said plurality of support plates being arranged between said plurality of spring plates, said plurality of carriers being for carrying said plurality of spring plates and said plurality of support plates and being arranged in a distributed manner over a circumference of a respective one of said two couplings, when seen in a top view of a coupling axis of the coupling apparatus each of said plurality of carriers has a contour of a wedge which tapers radially inwardly, each of said plurality of carriers including two wedge surfaces, said plurality of spring plates and said plurality of support plates forming at least one packet of said plurality of spring plates and said plurality of support plates which alternate with one another, said packet of said plurality of spring plates and said plurality of support plates which alternate with one another being disposed on either side of each of said plurality of carriers adjacent to said two wedge surfaces, said plurality of support plates including a plurality of outer support plates which are outer ones of said plurality of support plates and said plurality of spring plates as seen in a circumferential direction, said plurality of outer support plates of one coupling part including one of a guide strip and a guide groove which cooperate with a respective one of a guide strip and a guide groove of said plurality of outer support plates of another coupling part, as seen in a direction of said coupling axis each of said two couplings includes a star-shaped base body, said star-shaped base body including a plurality of projections extending radially to an outside, each of said plurality of projections carrying respectively one of said plurality of carriers, each of said plurality of carriers being fixed to an associated one of said plurality of projections by way of said two screws, said locating pin being between said two screws for positioning a respective one of said plurality of carriers, said locating pin being axially parallel with respect to said two screws, one of said two couplings being in a drive connection with the drive shaft and another of said two couplings being in a drive connection with the output shaft, one of said primary part and said secondary part including a recess, each of said plurality of carriers which can be inserted into a respective said recess in one of said primary part and said secondary part of a respective one of said two couplings forming a premounted spring unit together with said plurality of spring plates carried by said respective one of said plurality of carriers.
2. The coupling apparatus according to claim 1, wherein each of said plurality of support plates includes a surface, said plurality of spring plates being respectively vulcanized onto a respective one of said two wedge surfaces of said respective one of said plurality of carriers and onto a respective said surface of a following one of said plurality of support plates.
3. The coupling apparatus according to claim 1, further including a plurality of said packet, said plurality of outer support plates of one said coupling part including one of said guide strip and said guide groove which cooperate with a respective one of said guide strip and said guide groove of said plurality of outer support plates of said plurality of packets of said other coupling part.
4. The coupling apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said locating pin is guided through said respective one of said plurality of carriers and is introduced into a respective one of said plurality of projections.
5. The coupling apparatus according to claim 1, further including a plurality of said packet.
6. The method for mounting a coupling apparatus for transmitting a torque from a drive shaft to an output shaft, said method comprising the steps of:
providing:
a spacer shaft; and
two couplings each including a primary part and a secondary part, said two couplings including a plurality of springs, a first coupling, a second coupling, a plurality of support plates, a plurality of carriers, two screws, and a locating pin, said primary part and said secondary part being twistable to a certain extent relative to one another against a force of said plurality of springs, said secondary part of said first coupling being in a drive connection via said spacer shaft with said primary part of said second coupling, said plurality of springs including a plurality of spring plates made of rubber-elastic material, said plurality of support plates being arranged between said plurality of spring plates, said plurality of carriers being for carrying said plurality of spring plates and said plurality of support plates and being arranged in a distributed manner over a circumference of a respective one of said two couplings, when seen in a top view of a coupling axis of the coupling apparatus each of said plurality of carriers has a contour of a wedge which tapers radially inwardly, each of said plurality of carriers including two wedge surfaces, said plurality of spring plates and said plurality of support plates forming at least one packet of said plurality of spring plates and said plurality of support plates which alternate with one another, said packet of said plurality of spring plates and said plurality of support plates which alternate with one another being disposed on either side of each of said plurality of carriers adjacent to said two wedge surfaces, said plurality of support plates including a plurality of outer support plates which are outer ones of said plurality of support plates and said plurality of spring plates as seen in a circumferential direction, said plurality of outer support plates of one coupling part including one of a guide strip and a guide groove which cooperate with a respective one of a guide strip and a guide groove of said plurality of outer support plates of another coupling part, as seen in a direction of said coupling axis each of said two couplings includes a star-shaped base body, said star-shaped base body including a plurality of projections extending radially to an outside, each of said plurality of projections carrying respectively one of said plurality of carriers, each of said plurality of carriers being fixed to an associated one of said plurality of projections by way of said two screws, said locating pin being between said two screws for positioning a respective one of said plurality of carriers, said locating pin being axially parallel with respect to said two screws, one of said two couplings being in a drive connection with the drive shaft and another of said two couplings being in a drive connection with the output shaft, one of said primary part and said secondary part including a recess, each of said plurality of carriers which can be inserted into a respective said recess in one of said primary part and said secondary part of a respective one of said two couplings forming a premounted spring unit together with said plurality of spring plates carried by said respective one of said plurality of carriers;
guiding said locating pin through said respective one of said plurality of carriers and inserting said locating pin into a respective one of said plurality of projections; and
mounting on said star-shaped base body of one of said primary part and said secondary part said spring unit including said respective one of said plurality of carriers, respective ones of said plurality of spring plates, and respective ones of said plurality of support plates.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
What is claimed is:
1. An apparatus for delivering a closure device, comprising:
an elongate member comprising proximal and distal ends defining a longitudinal axis therebetween, and an outer surface extending between the proximal and distal ends;
a hub on the proximal end of the elongate member, the hub comprising one or more spacers spaced away from the outer surface of the elongate member;
a closure element comprising a generally annular-shaped body comprising proximal and distal ends and a plurality of tissue engaging portions extending from the distal end, the proximal end being held away from the outer surface of the elongate member by the one or more spacers; and
an actuator assembly comprising an elongate actuator member slidable between the one or more spacers and the outer surface of the elongate member, the actuator member comprising one or more protrusions for engaging the closure element, whereby distal movement of the actuator member advances the closure element towards the distal end of the elongate member.
2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the hub comprises an annular hub defining a passage between the annular hub and the outer surface of the elongate member.
3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the annular hub is attached to the elongate member by one or more radial spokes.
4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the actuator member comprises a tubular member defining a C shaped cross-section for inserting the tubular member through the passage around the one or more radial spokes.
5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the actuator member comprises a tubular member comprising a distal end, and wherein the one or more protrusions comprises a plurality of tabs extending radially outwardly from the distal end of the tubular member.
6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the closure element comprises a plurality of pockets for receiving respective tabs on the tubular member therein.
7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the closure element comprises a plurality of alternating diagonal elements extending between the proximal and distal ends of the closure element, and wherein the distal end of the closure element comprises curved elements connecting adjacent diagonal elements, the curved elements defining the pockets.
8. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the tissue engaging elements comprise tines extending distally from the distal end of the closure element, and wherein the closure element comprises offset elements on an inner surface of the curved elements on the distal end of the closure element for maintaining the tines away from the outer surface of the elongate member.
9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the actuator assembly is attachable to the hub.
10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the elongate member comprises a sheath comprising a lumen extending between proximal and distal ends thereof.
11. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a skin overlying at least a portion of the outer surface of the elongate member between the carrier assembly and the distal end of the elongate member, and at least partially overlying the closure element, the skin being separable from the outer surface as the closure element is advanced towards the distal end of the elongate member.
12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the skin comprises a weakened region extending axially along the skin, the weakened region configured to tear as the carrier assembly is advanced from the proximal end towards the distal end of the elongate member.
13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the weakened region comprises at least one of a thin region and a perforated region of the skin.
14. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the skin comprises a flap extending axially along the outer surface of the elongate member and overlying an adjacent region of the skin, the flap being bonded to the adjacent region such that the flap may be separated from the adjacent region as the carrier assembly is advanced towards the distal end of the elongate member.
15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the skin comprises a tubular member extending around the outer surface of the elongate member, and wherein the flap comprises a region of the tubular member that is folded over itself to secure the tubular member to the outer surface of the elongate member.
16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the tubular member comprises a periphery that is larger than a periphery of the elongate member when the skin is separated from the outer surface.
17. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the closure element passes between the skin and the outer surface as it is advanced towards the distal end of the elongate member.
18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the protrusions have a height that is greater than a thickness of the closure element such that the protrusions extend radially outwardly from the outer surface of the elongate member a greater distance than the closure element.
19. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the skin is bonded to the outer surface of the elongate member by an adhesive, the adhesive having sufficient adhesive strength such that the skin may be peeled away from the outer surface as the carrier assembly is advanced towards the distal end of the elongate member.
20. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the closure element is carried on a distal end of the actuator member when the closure element is engaged by the one or more protrusions, and wherein the actuator assembly comprises an outer member slidable on the actuator member for deploying the closure element from the distal end of the actuator member.
21. A method for delivering a closure element to seal an opening through tissue, the closure element being carried on a proximal end of an elongate member such that a proximal end of the closure element is spaced apart from an outer surface of the elongate member, the method comprising:
inserting the distal end of the elongate member into an opening through tissue;
inserting a distal end of an actuator member between the proximal end of the closure element and the outer surface of the elongate member until the distal end of the actuator member is coupled with the closure element;
advancing the actuator member distally, thereby advancing the closure element towards the distal end of the elongate member;
engaging tissue adjacent the distal end of the elongate member with tissue engaging elements on the closure element; and
withdrawing the elongate member from the opening, thereby leaving the closure element to close the opening.
22. The method of claim 21, wherein the elongate member comprises a skin overlying at least a portion of the outer surface between the closure element and the distal end of the elongate member and at least partially overlying the closure element, and wherein the skin separates from the outer surface of the elongate member as the closure element is advanced towards the distal end.
23. The method of claim 22, wherein the skin comprises a weakened region extending towards the distal end of the elongate member, the weakened region tearing as the carrier assembly is advanced towards the distal end of the elongate member.
24. The method of claim 22, wherein the skin comprises a flap extending generally axially along the outer surface of the elongate member and overlying an adjacent region of the skin, and wherein the flap is released from the adjacent region as the carrier assembly is advanced towards the distal end of the elongate member, thereby allowing the skin to separate from the outer surface.
25. The method of claim 22, wherein the skin expands to a cross-section that is larger than a cross-section of the elongate member as the carrier assembly is advanced towards the distal end.
26. The method of claim 22, wherein the skin is bonded to the outer surface of the elongate member by an adhesive, and wherein the adhesive has sufficient adhesive strength such that the skin is peeled away from the outer surface as the carrier assembly is advanced towards the distal end.
27. The method of claim 22, wherein the skin comprises an outer surface that is substantially slippery for facilitating advancement of the elongate member into the opening through tissue.
28. The method of claim 22, wherein the opening through tissue extends through one or more layers of fascia, and wherein the skin facilitates advancing the closure element through the one or more layers of fascia.
29. The method of claim 21, wherein the opening through tissue communicates with a blood vessel, and wherein the deploying step comprises substantially sealing the opening from blood flow therethrough with the closure element.
30. The method of claim 29, wherein the elongate member comprises a lumen extending between the proximal and distal ends, and wherein the method further comprises inserting one or more instruments through the lumen into the blood vessel.
31. A method for delivering a closure element to seal an opening through tissue over an elongate member comprising a hub on its proximal end, the method comprising:
inserting a distal end of the elongate member into an opening through tissue;
inserting a distal end of an actuator member between the hub and the elongate member, the distal end of the actuator member carrying a closure element;
advancing the actuator member distally, thereby advancing the closure element towards the distal end of the elongate member;
engaging tissue adjacent the distal end of the elongate member with tissue engaging elements on the closure element; and
withdrawing the elongate member from the opening, thereby leaving the closure element to close the opening.
32. The method of claim 31, further comprising deploying the closure element from the distal end of the actuator member before withdrawing the elongate member.
33. The method of claim 32, wherein the closure element is deployed from the actuator element by advancing a pusher member relative to the actuator member to push the closure element off of the distal end of the actuator member.