FORCEPS FOR PERFORMING ENDOSCOPIC OR ARTHROSCOPIC SURGERY

• US 20060259070A1
• Filed: 04/28/2006
• Published: 11/16/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 04/29/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Steve Livneh
• Original Assignee: Bovie Medical Corporation
• Inventors: Livneh, Steve
• Granted Patent: US 7,871,423 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/205
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/1608 the two jaw elements being linked to two elongated shaft elements moving longitudinally relative to each other
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/2909 Handles
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1442 Probes having pivoting end effectors, e.g. forceps
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00137 Details of operation mode
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00473 Distal part, e.g. tip or head A61B2017/00464 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2902 characterized by features of the actuating rod
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2913 cams or guiding means
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2919 details of linkages or pivot points
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/292 connection of actuating rod to handle, e.g. ball end in recess
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2933 camming or guiding means
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2946 Locking means
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/347 Locking means, e.g. for locking instrument in cannula
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/034 abutting on parts of the device itself
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/035 preventing further rotation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2218/007 Aspiration

Abstract

Forceps for performing endoscopic or arthroscopic surgery include a body assembly, a tube assembly, and a pair of handles that pivot with respect to the body. The tube assembly is removably attached to the body assembly. The tube assembly includes a hollow tube and a tip assembly. The tip assembly includes an electrode or a blade for performing the surgery. The tip assembly and the blade are connected to the body and the handles by a cable. As the handles pivot, the cable slides within the tube to move the blade. When a different tube assembly (i.e., a bipolar or a monopolar electrode) or another style of tip assembly are desired, the installed one is removed and replaced by a new tube assembly or tip assembly as desired.

Claims

1. A body assembly (42) for retaining an adapter (58) of a tube assembly (46), said body assembly (42) comprising;

a housing (134) having an axial bore (140),

said housing (134) including a top surface (96) with said top surface (96) defining a transverse bore (148) extending along an axis (BB) and opening to said axial bore (140),

said housing (134) defining a lateral bore (160) extending along a locking axis (AA) with said lateral bore (160) intersecting said transverse bore (148),

a lock (150) disposed in said transverse bore (148) and including a locking contact (156), and a locking pin (154) spaced axially from said locking contact (156),

a plunger (166) including a plunger shaft (168) with said plunger shaft (168) disposed in said lateral bore (160) and intersecting said transverse bore (148), and

said plunger shaft (168) including a plunger contact (174) slidably interfacing with said locking contact (156) of said lock (150) for imparting a force on said locking contact (156) as said plunger (166) is moved along said locking axis (AA) to move said locking pin (154) along said plunger axis (BB) and into said axial bore (140) to engage the adapter (58) and retain the tube assembly (46) to said body assembly (42).

2. A body assembly (42) as set forth in claim 1 wherein said plunger contact (174) further comprises as a plunger ramp (174) sloping relative to said plunger axis (BB) with said locking contact (156) slidably interfacing with said plunger ramp (174) to move said locking pin (154) along said plunger axis (BB) as said locking contact (156) slides along said plunger ramp (174).

3. A body assembly (42) as set forth in claim 1 wherein said locking contact (156) is further defined as a locking ramp (156) sloping relative to said plunger axis (BB) in opposition to said plunger ramp (174) with said plunger ramp (174) and said locking ramp (156) slidably interfacing.

4. A body assembly (42) as set forth in claim 3 wherein said locking ramp (156) slopes at a first angle relative to said plunger axis (BB) and said plunger ramp (174) slopes at a second angle relative to said plunger axis (BB).

5. A body assembly (42) as set forth in claim 4 wherein said first angle and said second angle are equal and said locking ramp (156) includes a locking ramp (156) surface and said plunger ramp (174) includes a plunger ramp (174) surface with said surfaces in sliding contact.

6. A body assembly (42) as set forth in claim 1 wherein said plunger shaft (168) defines a slot (177) with said locking pin (154) of said lock (150) extending through said slot (177).

7. A body assembly (42) as set forth in claim 6 wherein said lock (150) further includes a base (152) with said base (152) movably extending through said slot (177) and said locking pin (154) and said locking contact (156) positioned on opposite sides of said plunger shaft (168).

8. A body assembly (42) as set forth in claim 7 wherein said plunger contact (174) is further defined as a plunger ramp (174) sloping relative to said plunger axis (BB) with said locking contact (156) slidably interfacing with said plunger ramp (174) to move said locking pin (154) along said plunger axis (BB) as said locking contact (156) slides along said plunger ramp (174).

9. A body assembly (42) as set forth in claim 8 wherein said plunger ramp (174) is further defined as being formed in said plunger shaft (168) to define a V-shaped notch.

10. A body assembly (42) as set forth in claim 9 wherein said plunger ramp (174) is further defined as a pair of plunger ramps (174) formed in said plunger shaft (168) on opposing sides of said slot (177) in parallel.

11. A body assembly (42) as set forth in claim 10 wherein said locking contact (156) is further defined as a pair of locking contacts (156) for slidably interfacing with said corresponding plunger ramp (174).

12. A body assembly (42) as set forth in claim 11 wherein said locking contacts (156) are further defined as a pair of locking ramps (156) sloping in parallel relative to said plunger axis (BB) and in opposition to said plunger ramps (174).

13. A body assembly (42) as set forth in claim 1 wherein said transverse bore (148) and said lateral bore (160) are generally perpendicular.

14. A body assembly (42) as set forth in claim 1 wherein said transverse bore (148) and said axial bore (140) are generally perpendicular.

15. A body assembly (42) as set forth in claim 1 wherein said plunger (166) further includes a head (170) extending from said plunger shaft (168) for pushing said head (170) to move said plunger (166) along said locking axis (AA).

16. A body assembly (42) as set forth in claim 1 further including a spring cap (162) attached to said top surface (96) of said body covering said transverse bore (148) to retain said lock (150) within said transverse bore (148).

17. A body assembly (42) as set forth in claim 16 further including a spring disposed between said spring cap (162) and said lock (150) with said spring imparting a force on said lock (150) along said plunger axis (BB) to bias said locking pin (154) into said axial bore (140) and provide resistance to said plunger (166) when moving said plunger (166) along said locking axis (AA).

18. A body assembly (42) as set forth in claim 17 wherein said lock (150) defines a spring pocket (159) opposite said locking pin (154) with a portion of said spring seated in said spring pocket (159) for nesting said spring within said lock.

19. A body assembly (42) as set forth in claim 17 wherein said spring cap (162) defines an orifice (199) with a portion of said spring seated in said orifice (199) for nesting said spring within said spring cap (162).

20. A body assembly (42) as set forth in claim 16 wherein said spring cap (162) further includes an electrode (249) for connection to an external power supply with said electrode (249) contacting said lock (150) to transmit current through said locking pin (154) and into the tube assembly (46).

21. A body assembly (42) as set forth in claim 20 further including a second electrode (249) for transmitting bipolar current through said locking pin (154) and into the tube assembly (46).

22. A body assembly (42) as set forth in claim 1 wherein said plunger (166) further includes an end (172) with a screw cap (179) disposed on said end (172) for retaining said plunger (166) within said lateral bore (160).

23. A body assembly (42) as set forth in claim 1 further including a cap (173) extending from said body and covering said lateral bore (160) for grasping said body assembly (42) and moving said plunger (166) along said locking with one hand.

24. A body assembly (42) as set forth in claim 1 wherein said body is formed from insulating material to isolate said body from an electrical current.

25. A body assembly (42) for retaining a cable (70) of a tube assembly (46), said body assembly (42) comprising;

a housing (134) defining a bore (142) extending along a tube axis (DD),

a grabbing assembly (175) disposed in said bore (142) for sliding in said bore (142) along said tube axis (DD),

said grabbing assembly (175) including a plurality of fingers (184) with said fingers (184) movable between a closed position when said fingers (184) are disposed in said bore (142) and an open position when said fingers (184) are outside of said bore (142) for grasping and releasing a retainer end (251) of a tube assembly (46) in response to sliding said grabbing assembly (175) and said fingers (184) along said tube axis (DD).

26. A body assembly (42) as set forth in claim 25 wherein said bore is further defined as an axial bore (140) and a collet chamber (142) extending along said tube axis (DD) with said axial bore (140) having a larger diameter than said collet chamber (142) for closing said fingers (184) to grasp the retainer end (251) of the tube assembly (46) when said fingers (184) are disposed in said collet chamber (142) and opening said fingers (184) to release the retainer end (251) when said fingers (184) are disposed in said axial bore (140).

27. A body assembly (42) as set forth in claim 25 wherein said fingers (184) are further defined as flexibly extending from said grabbing assembly (175).

28. A body assembly (42) as set forth in claim 25 wherein said grabbing assembly (175) includes a stem (178) adapted to extend from said fingers (184) with said stem (178) slidably disposed in said collet chamber (142) and extending from a rear (210) of said body for grasping said stem (178) to slide said grabbing assembly (175) along said tube axis (DD).

29. a body assembly (42) as set forth in claim 28 further including a handle (48) pivotally connected to said body and a link (196) pivotally connected to each of said handle (48) and said stem (178) of said grabbing assembly (175) for moving said grabbing assembly (175) along said tube axis (DD) in response to pivoting said handle (48) with respect to said body.

30. A body assembly (42) as set forth in claim 29 wherein said handle (48) is further defined as an upper handle (48) and a lower handle (50) with said stem (178) disposed therebetween and said link (196) is further defined as a top link (196) and a bottom link (198) with said top link (196) pivotally connecting said top handle and said stem (178) and said bottom link (198) pivotally connecting said bottom handle and said stem (178) for moving said grabbing assembly (175) along said tube axis (DD) in response to opening and closing said handles.

31. A body assembly (42) as set forth in claim 30 wherein closing said handles pulls said fingers (184) into said collet chamber (142) to close said fingers (184) for grasping the retainer end (251) of the tube assembly (46).

32. A body assembly (42) as set forth in claim 31 further including a resistance spring (195) disposed in said collet chamber (142) between said fingers (184) and said rear (210) of said body for imparting resistance when closing said handles and causing said handles to open in response to releasing said handles.

33. A body assembly (42) as set forth in claim 25 wherein said body further includes an arm portion (136) extending from said body with said axial bore (140) disposed in said body and said collet chamber (142) disposed in said arm portion (136).

34. A tip assembly for attachment to a body assembly (42), said assembly comprising;

a shaft (108) defining a cable opening (120) with said cable opening (120) extending along a tube axis (DD),

said shaft (108) defining a tip chamber (122) extending through said shaft (108) and intersecting said cable opening (120) with said shaft (108) including a hip (130),

a blade (90) pivotally attached to said shaft (108) for performing a cutting operation,

a cable (70) slidably disposed along said tube axis (DD) and extending into said cable opening (120) of said shaft (108) for sliding said cable (70) along said tube axis (DD) in said shaft (108),

a cable end (74) extending from said cable (70) with said cable end (74) pivotally attached to said blade (90) for opening said blade (90) relative to said shaft (108) when said cable (70) is slid toward said blade (90) and closing said blade (90) relative to said shaft (108) when said cable (70) is slid away from said blade (90),

a shoulder (80) protruding from said cable end (74) for limiting travel of said cable (70) as said cable (70) is moved along said tube axis (DD),

said cable end (74) including a front sloping edge (78) and a top edge (79) sloping relative to said front sloping edge (78),

said blade (90) including a first blade stop (107) and a second blade stop (107) sloped relative to said first blade stop (107) with said first blade stop (107) disposed against said front sloping edge (78) when said cable (70) is slid away from said blade (90) and said second blade stop (107) disposed against said top edge (79) when said cable (70) is slid toward said blade (90) to limit rotational travel of said blade (90) relative to said shaft (108).