Ringed forceps

• US 20060122592A1
• Filed: 01/11/2006
• Published: 06/08/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 03/05/1997
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Trustees Of Columbia University In The City Of New York (Columbia University)
• Original Assignee: Trustees Of Columbia University In The City Of New York (Columbia University)
• Inventors: Treat, Michael R.
• Granted Patent: US 7,211,079 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/27
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 10/02 Instruments for taking cell samples or for biopsy A61B10/0038 and A61B10/0045 take precedence; needle locating or guiding means A61B17/3403; samplers for enzymology or microbiology C12M1/26; sampling or preparing biological specimens G01N33/48
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/072 for applying a row of staples in a single action , e.g. the staples being applied simultaneously
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/32 Surgical cutting instruments A61B18/042 takes precedence; suture cutters A61B17/0467; instruments for ligaturing or cutting A61B17/128; instruments for rupturing the amniotic membrane A61B17/4208; specially adapted knives for eye surgery A61F9/0133
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/085 Forceps, scissors
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1445 at the distal end of a shaft, e.g. forceps or scissors at the end of a rigid rod
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/20 using laser
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00734 battery operated
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/07214 Stapler heads
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/320069 for ablating tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/32007 with suction or vacuum means
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/320071 with articulating means for working tip
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00083 low, i.e. electrically insulating
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00095 high, i.e. heat conducting
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/0022 Balloons
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00595 Cauterization
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00601 Cutting
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/0063 Sealing
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00666 using a threshold value
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00684 using lookup tables
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00761 Duration
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00886 : Duration
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/0091 : Handpieces of the surgical instrument or device
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1462 : Tweezers
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/064 : for measuring force, pressure or mechanical tension
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2007/0078 : with a battery
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 27/08 : of synthetic resin
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/249981 : Plural void-containing components
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/249984 : Adhesive or bonding component contains voids
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/249985 : Composition of adhesive or bonding component specified
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/31544 : Addition polymer is perhalogenated

Abstract

A surgical instrument comprises two oppositely-positioned working numbers each having proximal and distal ends and each having a working surface. The instrument also comprises at least one ring member affixed to a least one of the working members to encompass one or more of a user'"'"'s fingers. In one embodiment at least one working surface has a heating element to cut or seal and cut tissue.

Claims

1. A surgical instrument which comprises two oppositely-positioned working members each having proximal and distal ends and each having a working surface, said instrument comprising at least one ring member affixed to at least one of said working members to encompass one or more of a user'"'"'s fingers.

2. The instrument of claim 1, wherein at least one working surface has a heating element to cut or seal and cut tissue.

3. The instrument of claim 2, wherein the instrument also comprises a battery pack electrically connected to the heating element.

4. The instrument of claim 2, wherein a working surface contains one heating element.

5. The instrument of claim 2, wherein the heating element is an electrically resistant wire, a printed circuit, thin film, or electrically conductive coating.

6. The instrument of claim 2, wherein a heating element actuator is operatively connected to a heater element.

7. The instrument of claim 1, wherein the opposing working surfaces apply pressure and approximate tissue.

8. The instrument of claim 2, wherein the heating element is capable of being heated to a temperature to first seal and then cut tissue.

9. The instrument of claim 2, wherein the heating element has lower ohmic resistance than body tissue.

10. The instrument of claim 2, wherein a sleeve extends over the distal end of one or both working members.

11. The instrument of claim 2, wherein each heating element is substantially thermally insulated from the working members.

12. The instrument of claim 1, wherein each working surface comprises a thermal conducting material.

13. The instrument of claim 1, wherein each working surface comprises thermally reflective material.

14. The instrument of claim 2, wherein the heating element is a heater wire comprising material selected from the group consisting of nichrome, stainless steel, nitinol, and metallic alloys.

15. The instrument of claim 2, wherein each heating element is operatively connected to a power source.

16. The instrument of claim 15, wherein the power source is a portable DC power source.

17. The instrument of claim 15, wherein the power source is an RF power source.

18. The instrument of claim 15, wherein the power source is a low frequency AC power source.

19. The instrument of claim 2, which also comprises a heating element actuator responsive to a predetermined pressure to activate the heating element.

20. The instrument of claim 1, wherein each ring member affixed to a working member is rigidly affixed.

21. The instrument of claim 1, wherein one or more ring members affixed to a working member are slidingly affixed and may be positioned by the user at any point along a working member.

22. A surgical instrument for sealing or welding tissue which comprises:

two oppositely-positioned working surfaces for compressing tissue, wherein at least one working surface has a heating element,

a heating element actuator responsive to a predetermined pressure to activate the heating element to seal or weld tissue, and

at least one ring member affixed to at least one of said working surfaces to encompass one or more of a user'"'"'s fingers.

23. The instrument of claim 22, wherein the instrument also comprises a battery pack electrically connected to the heating element.

24. The instrument of claim 22, wherein a working surface contains one heating element.

25. The instrument of claim 22, wherein the heating element is an electrically resistant wire, a printed circuit, thin film, or electrically conductive coating.

26. The instrument of claim 22, wherein a working surface has more than one heating element.

27. The instrument of claim 22, wherein both working surfaces have at least one heater element.

28. The instrument of claim 22, wherein a heating element actuator is operatively connected to a heater element.

29. The instrument of claim 22, which also comprises a working member actuator operatively connected to at least one working member.

30. The instrument of claim 22, wherein the working members are attached to each other at their respective proximal ends.

31. The instrument of claim 22, wherein the opposing working surfaces apply pressure and approximate tissue.

32. The instrument of claim 22, wherein the heating element is capable of being heated to a temperature to first seal and then cut tissue.

33. The instrument of claim 22, wherein the heating element has lower ohmic resistance than body tissue.

34. The instrument of claim 22, wherein one or both working surfaces is comprised of non-stick material.

35. The instrument of claim 22, wherein a sleeve extends over the distal end of one or both working members.

36. The instrument of claim 35, wherein each sleeve is comprised of a non-stick polymeric material.

37. The instrument of claim 22, wherein one or both working surfaces are comprised of resilient material.

38. The instrument of claim 22, wherein each heating element is substantially thermally insulated from the working members.

39. The instrument of claim 22, wherein each working surface comprises a thermal conducting material.

40. The instrument of claim 22, wherein each working surface comprises thermally reflective material.

41. The instrument of claim 22, wherein the heating element is a heater wire comprising material selected from the group consisting of nichrome, stainless steel, nitinol, and metallic alloys.

42. The instrument of claim 22, wherein the heating element is electrically insulated from the working surface.

43. The instrument of claim 22, wherein one opposing jaw has a resilient working surface that is wider than the heating element in the other jaw.

44. The instrument of claim 22, wherein the opposing jaws are electrically insulated from each other.

45. The instrument of claim 22, wherein the heating element loops around the distal position of a jaw member.

46. The instrument of claim 22, wherein a primary switch is actuated when the jaw members are approximated and a secondary switch is manually activated to apply energy to the heating element.

47. The instrument of claim 22, wherein each heating element is operatively connected to a power source.

48. The instrument of claim 47, wherein the power source is a portable DC power source.

49. The instrument of claim 47, wherein the power source is an RF power source.

50. The instrument of claim 47, wherein the power source is a low frequency AC power source.

51. The instrument of claim 22 which also comprises control circuitry.

52. An instrument for sealing, cutting, or sealing and cutting corporeal vessels or organ tissue comprising:

a housing section having a first and second forceps arms extending from the housing, said first and second forceps arms being resiliently mounted to the housing, each of said first and second forceps arms having a distal end with a grasping face,

a sleeve extending over the distal end of each forceps arm distal end,

a heating element adjacent the exterior surface of one sleeve on one forceps arm distal end and facing the interior surface of the other forceps arm, and

at least one ring member affixed to at least one of said forceps arms to encompass one or more of a user'"'"'s fingers.

53. The instrument of claim 52, which comprises at least one LED light source mounted on said housing such that light is emitted in the direction of the distal end of the forceps arms.

54. The instrument of claim 53, which comprises a power source operatively connected to the heating element and the LED light source.

55. The instrument of claim 52, wherein each sleeve is comprised of a non-stick polymeric material.

56. The instrument of claim 52, wherein the heating element is a heater wire comprising material selected from the group consisting of nichrome, stainless steel, nitinol, and metallic alloys.

57. The instrument of claim 52, wherein the housing comprises a guide to keep the forceps arms parallel to one another.

58. The instrument of claim 52, wherein the housing comprises a finger operated switch for controlling current to the heating element.

59. The instrument of claim 52, wherein the distal ends of the forceps arms are aligned to meet one another.

60. The instrument of claim 52, wherein the power source is a portable DC power source.

61. The instrument of claim 52, wherein the power source is an RF power source.

62. The instrument of claim 52, wherein the power source is a low frequency is AC power source.

63. The instrument of claim 52, which comprises control circuitry.

64. The instrument of claim 52, wherein the forceps arms each have finger gripping means.