Ultrasonic forceps

• US 20040064151A1
• Filed: 09/27/2002
• Published: 04/01/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 09/27/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Starion Instruments Corp. (Hoya Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Starion Instruments Corp. (Hoya Corporation)
• Inventors: Mollenauer, Kenneth H.
• Application Number:
  US10/256,950
• Publication Number:
  US 20040064151A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/205
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/2812 with a single pivotal connection A61B17/29 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/30 Surgical pincettes without pivotal connectionsfor holding suture needles or materials A61B17/0483; wound clamps A61B17/08 ; hand-held gripping tools without pivotal connections in general B25B9/02
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/320093 additional movable means performing cutting operation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/320095 with sealing or cauterizing means

Abstract

Ultrasonic forceps adapted for use in open surgical forceps. The device is provided in the form of traditional open surgery forceps or tweezers, and the transmitting rod which transmits ultrasonic vibration from a proximally located transducer to the distally mounted welding horn runs through a lumen in one of the arms of the forceps.

Claims

1. A surgical device comprising:

tweezer-style forceps comprising a handle section, a first grasping arm and a second grasping arms extending from the handle section;

said first grasping arm being substantially rigid, said first grasping arm having a lumen extending from the distal end to the proximal end thereof;

a rod extending through the lumen of the first grasping arm, said rod having a distal segment extending distally from the lumen to form a first grasping tip for the first grasping arm;

a transducer operably connected to the rod such that operation of the transducer causes vibration in the rod;

said second grasping arm being movably mounted to the handle, said second grasping arm having a second grasping tip disposed on the distal end;

said first and second grasping arms being operable by hand to bring the first and second grasping tips into opposition;

means for driving the transducer to cause vibration of the distal segment of the rod.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the first grasping tip is characterized by a grasping face and an outer surface, and the second grasping tip is characterized by a grasping face and an outer surface, and wherein the device further comprises:

a resilient surface on the grasping face of the second grasping arm.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the first grasping tip is characterized by a grasping face and a outer surface, and the second grasping tip is characterized by a grasping face and an outer surface, and wherein the device further comprises:

a insulating cover disposed over the outer surface of the first grasping tip.

4. The device of claim 1 wherein the distal segment of the rod is cylindrical and has a diameter of 1 to 5 mm.

5. The device of claim 2 wherein the distal segment of the rod is cylindrical and has a diameter of 1 to 5 mm.

6. The device of claim 3 wherein the distal segment of the rod is cylindrical and has a diameter of 1 to 5 mm.

7. An ultrasonic surgical apparatus comprising:

a housing;

a transducer carried by the housing for generating ultrasonic vibration;

tweezers comprising a first blade and a second blade, wherein the first blade is substantially rigid, and the second blade is flexible and operable to be forced by hand toward the first blade;

a first grasping tip extending from the first blade and a second grasping tip extending from the second blade;

a rod extending through the first blade, said road coupled to the ultrasonic element for receiving ultrasonic vibration therefrom and transmitting the vibration to the first grasping tip.

8. The device of claim 7, wherein the first grasping tip is characterized by a grasping face and an outer surface, and the second grasping tip is characterized by a grasping face and an outer surface, and wherein the device further comprises:

a resilient surface on the grasping face of the second grasping arm.

9. The device of claim 7, wherein the first grasping tip is characterized by a grasping face and a outer surface, and the second grasping tip is characterized by a grasping face and an outer surface, and wherein the device further comprises:

a insulating cover disposed over the outer surface of the first grasping tip.

10. The device of claim 7 wherein the distal segment of the rod is cylindrical and has a diameter of 1 to 5 mm.

11. The device of claim 8 wherein the distal segment of the rod is cylindrical and has a diameter of 1 to 5 mm.

12. The device of claim 9 wherein the distal segment of the rod is cylindrical and has a diameter of 1 to 5 mm.

13. A medical device comprising:

a pair of tweezers characterized by a first arm and a second arm, each of said arm having a proximal end and distal end, said first arm having a first gripping face disposed on the distal end thereof, said second arm having second gripping face disposed on the distal end thereof, said gripping faces defining surfaces generally perpendicular to a plane defined by the grasping arms, said surfaces being movable into apposition with each other upon closing of the tweezers;

a vibrating element disposed on the distal end of the gripping face of the first arm;

means for vibrating the vibrating element.

14. The device of claim 13, wherein the device further comprises a resilient surface on the second gripping face of the second grasping arm.

15. The device of claim 13 wherein the device further comprises a insulating cover disposed over the outer surface of the distal end of the second arm.

16. The device of claim 13 wherein the distal segment of the rod is cylindrical and has a diameter of 1 to 5 mm.

17. The device of claim 14 wherein the distal segment of the rod is cylindrical and has a diameter of 1 to 5 mm.

18. The device of claim 15 wherein the distal segment of the rod is cylindrical and has a diameter of 1 to 5 mm.

19. A medical device comprising:

a pair of forceps characterized by a first arm and a second arm, each of said arm having a proximal end and distal end, each of said arm being rotatably fixed to the other at a midpoint thereof, said first arm having a first gripping face disposes on the distal end thereof, said second arm having second gripping face disposed on the distal end thereof, said gripping faces defining surfaces generally perpendicular to a plane defined by the grasping arms, said surfaces being movable into apposition with each other upon closing of the forceps;

a vibrating element disposed on the distal end of the gripping face of the first arm;

means for vibrating the vibrating element.

20. The device of claim 19, wherein the device further comprises a resilient surface on the second gripping face of the second grasping arm.

21. The device of claim 19 wherein the device further comprises a insulating cover disposed over the outer surface of the distal end of the second arm.

22. The device of claim 19 wherein the distal segment of the rod is cylindrical and has a diameter of 1 to 5 mm.

23. The device of claim 20 wherein the distal segment of the rod is cylindrical and has a diameter of 1 to 5 mm.

24. The device of claim 20 wherein the distal segment of the rod is cylindrical and has a diameter of 1 to 5 mm.