SURGICAL INSTRUMENT FOR RUPTURING MEMBRANES

• US 3,624,747 A
• Filed: 05/01/1969
• Issued: 11/30/1971
• Est. Priority Date: 05/01/1969
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Anita L. Gilbert, Charles Allen Mcknight
• Original Assignee: Anita L. Gilbert, Charles Allen Mcknight
• Inventors: McKnight, Charles Allen, Gilbert, Anita L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Pace, Channing L.
• Application Number:
  US04/820,882
• Time in Patent Office: 943 Days
• Field of Search: 30/2,165,286,345,366 128/305,329,361
• US Class Current: 606/125
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/4208 Instruments for rupturing the amniotic membrane

Abstract

A surgical instrument for rupturing membranes such as the amniotic membrane, said instrument having a head portion that represents an improvement over the head portion of an instrument used for similar purposes covered by copending U.S. Pat. application Ser. No. 656,210, filed July 26, 1967 now U.S. Pat. No. 3,533,411, dated Oct. 13, 1970 by the same inventors. The improved head portion includes means to limit the amount of penetration of the hook portion thereof into the membrane and the subject device is constructed to make it safer to use and to provide more controlled incision of the membrane. The subject instrument is a relatively simple inexpensive instrument preferably of one piece construction and is well suited for packaging in a sterile condition.

Claims

1. A one piece surgical instrument comprising an elongated member having an elongated handle portion with a head portion formed integrally therewith at one end, said head portion having a relatively blunt surface defining one end of the instrument and another relatively flat surface on a side thereof substantially at right angles to the blunt end surface and in a plane substantially parallel to the length of the instrument, and an integral hook member attached to the head portion and extending substantially at right angles to the length of the instrument from said flat side surface adjacent to the blunt end surface, said hook member having a substantially smaller cross-sectional size in the plane where it is joined to the subject side surface than the area of the flat side surface, and said hook member being curved and terminating in a relatively sharply pointed end that extends in a direction generally back toward the handle portion of the instrument, said flat side surface extending outwardly from around at least about half of the hook member to form an abrupt termination thereof and to control the depth that the hook member can penetrate.

2. The surgical instrument defined in claim 1 wherein said hook member has a relatively sharp cutting edge formed thereon extending from the pointed end thereof toward and terminating adjacent to the flat side surface on the head portion, said cutting edge being located on the side of the hook member that faces the handle portion.

3. The surgical instrument defined in claim 1 wherein said hook member is located centrally laterally on the flat side surface and on an extension of the blunt end surface, said flat side surface forming an abrupt termination of the hook member to substantially limit the depth that the hook member can penetrate.

4. The surgical instrument defined in claim 1 wherein said handle portion is gradually tapered from end to end of the instrument being smaller in cross section adjacent to the head portion.

5. The surgical instrument defined in claim 1 wherein said instrument is formed of a plastic substance and wherein said handle portion has a recess formed on at least one side thereof.

6. The surgical instrument defined in claim 1 wherein said flat side surface on the head portion extends around more than one-half of the hook member at the place where the hook member is connected thereto.

7. An instrument for surgically rupturing amniotic membranes in obstetrical cases comprising an elongated plastic member defined by a handle with a membrane-rupturing portion formed integrally at one end of the handle, said membrane-rupturing portion including a first portion which forms an extension of the handle and a second portion attached to the first portion on a side thereof that is in a plane substantially parallel to the length of the handle, said second portion including a generally curved shape hook member having a first larger end and a sharply pointed end opposite the larger end and extending from the larger end thereof adjacent to the one side of the first portion in a direction substantially at right angles to the length of the handle and Part way backwardly therefrom toward the handle terminating in said pointed end, the larger end of the hook member being substantially smaller than the said attached one side of the first portion so that the said one side operates to limit the penetration depth of the hook member.

8. The instrument defined in claim 7 wherein the membrane-rupturing portion is formed into a relatively blunt surface on the side thereof opposite from the handle.

9. The instrument defined in claim 8 wherein said hook member has a curved side surface which is formed on an extension of said blunt surface.

10. The instrument defined in claim 7 wherein said hook-shaped member includes a cutting edge formed on the side thereof closest to the handle.

11. An instrument for use in surgically rupturing an amniotic membrane comprising an elongated member defining an instrument handle and a membrane rupturing portion formed integrally with one end of the handle, said membrane rupturing portion having a first end which is connected to the handle, a surface opposite to the first end thereof connected to the handle forming a relatively blunt end surface of the instrument, a relatively blunt side surface formed on one side of the membrane-rupturing portion in a plane substantially parallel to the length of the handle, and a hook portion attached to the blunt side surface and extending therefrom substantially at right angles to the length of the handle and in a direction away from the blunt end surface and terminating in a relatively sharply pointed end, the connection between the hook portion and the said blunt side surface being relatively abrupt such that the side surface operates to limit the depth that the hook portion can penetrate.

12. The instrument defined in claim 11 wherein said hook portion has a relatively sharp cutting edge formed on the side thereof opposite from the blunt end surface of the instrument.