SINGLE PIECE BIOPSY FORCEPS
First Claim
1. Biopsy forceps comprising:
- a pair of opposed jaw portions, each jaw portion including a jaw and a generally U-shaped channel section having opposed side portions, the opposed jaw portions joined by a self-hinge, wherein the opposed jaw portions and the self-hinge are formed as a single unitary structure, the channel sections disposed between the jaws and the self-hinge;
each pair of opposed side portions including first and second pairs of opposed aligned slots sized to receive first and second pins respectively.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Single piece biopsy forceps having jaws that are caused to open and close in response to longitudinal movement of an actuation rod. The single piece forceps are formed from a single metal blank with opposing jaw sections connected via a self-hinge. The metal blank includes a self-hinge portion, a channel section on either end of the hinge portion and a jaw section on distal ends of the channel sections. The jaws are formed from the jaw section of the metal blank and the channel sections are bent to provide generally U-shaped channel sections. The hinge portion is bent so that the jaws are oriented in opposed aligned relation. A fixed and a movable pin are disposed through slots in the channel sections. Movement of the movable pin with respect to the fixed pin via an actuator rod or wire causes the jaws of the biopsy forceps to open and close.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. Biopsy forceps comprising:
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a pair of opposed jaw portions, each jaw portion including a jaw and a generally U-shaped channel section having opposed side portions, the opposed jaw portions joined by a self-hinge, wherein the opposed jaw portions and the self-hinge are formed as a single unitary structure, the channel sections disposed between the jaws and the self-hinge; each pair of opposed side portions including first and second pairs of opposed aligned slots sized to receive first and second pins respectively. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method of making biopsy forceps comprising the steps of:
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forming a metal blank having a longitudinal centerline, the metal blank having a hinge portion with opposing ends, the longitudinal centerline extending through the hinge portion, the hinge portion having a hinge centerline orthogonal to the longitudinal centerline, the metal blank having first and second sections extending from opposing ends of the hinge portion, the first and second sections including first and second channel sections coupled to respective ends of the hinge portion and first and second jaw sections extending from the first and second channel sections respectively, the first and second channel sections each being generally symmetrical about the longitudinal centerline, the first and second channel sections each having a first pair of slots disposed generally symmetrically about the longitudinal centerline, the first and second sections including a second pair of slots disposed generally symmetrically about the longitudinal centerline, the first pair of slots being more distal from the hinge centerline than the second pair of slots; forming first and second jaws respectively from the first and second jaw sections of the metal blank; bending the first channel section along a pair of form lines substantially parallel to and generally symmetrically spaced on from the longitudinal centerline by a first distance to form a first generally U-shaped channel section having opposed first side portions; bending the second channel section along a pair of form lines substantially parallel to and generally symmetrically spaced on from the longitudinal centerline by a second distance that is less than the first distance to form second generally U-shaped channel section having opposed second side portions; and bending the hinge portion about the second centerline so that the first and second jaws are in opposed aligned relation with the side portions of the second generally U-shaped channel section disposed at least partially between the side portions of the first generally U-shaped channel section. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification