Surgical tissue thickness measuring instrument

• US 4,312,363 A
• Filed: 02/26/1980
• Issued: 01/26/1982
• Est. Priority Date: 02/26/1980
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Ethicon Incorporated (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Senco Products Incorporated (Kyocera Corporation)
• Inventors: Rothfuss, Robert G., Stith, Edwin L. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Michell, Robert W.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Sykes, Angela D.
• Application Number:
  US06/124,955
• Time in Patent Office: 700 Days
• Field of Search: 128/774, 128/321-325, 128/361, 33/143 C, 33/174 D
• US Class Current: 600/587
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/10 for applying or removing wound clamps, e.g. containing only one clamp or staple A61B17/076 takes precedence; containing multiple wound clamps A61B17/068; Wound clamp magazines containers, packaging elements or packages specially adapted for particular articles or with special means for dispensing contents B65D83/00, B65D85/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/061 for measuring dimensions, e.g. length
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1075 for measuring dimensions by non-invasive methods, e.g. for determining thickness of tissue layer A61B8/0858 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6884 Clamps or clips
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 3/166 provided with a measuring scale
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 3/20 Slide gauges

Abstract

A tissue thickness measuring instrument for surgical purposes comprising a pair of opposed tissue engaging jaws. Manually graspable actuating means operatively connected to the jaws for shifting the jaws away from each other. A resilient means urges the jaws toward each other with a substantially constant predetermined force over a predetermined working range of separation distance between the jaws. At least one scale with cooperating indicator is provided in association with the jaw actuating means giving a direct reading of the thickness of the tissue being measured. The instrument may be provided with another scale by which the diameter of tubular body elements in the flaccid state can be determined.

Claims

1. A pliers-like tissue thickness measuring instrument for surgical purpose comprising a pair of first and second opposed tissue engaging jaws, first and second elongated handles pivotally joined together, said first handle terminating in said first jaw and said second handle terminating in said second jaw, said handles being so configured as to shift said first and second jaws away from each other over a predetermined working range of separation distance between said first and second jaws when said handles are pivoted toward each other, resilient means to urge said first and second jaws toward each other with a substantially constant predetermined force throughout said working range, a pair of arcuate members extending from the free end of said first handle in side-by-side parallel spaced relationship toward the free end of said second handle, a single arcuate member extending from said free end of said second handle toward said free end of said first handle, said single arcuate member having a first portion slidable between said pair of arcuate members of said first handle and a second portion slidable along those edges of said pair of members furthest from said jaws when said handles are shifted toward and away from each other to shift said jaws away from and toward each other, each of said pair of members bearing a scale representing said working range, said second portion of said single member having a pair of indicators each cooperating with one of said scales to give a direct reading of distance between said first and second jaws.

2. The structure claimed in claim 1 wherein said working range is from 0 to 4 mm and said resilient means is such as to cause said first and second jaws to exert a substantially constant pressure of tissue therebetween of 8 g/mm² throughout said working range whereby said instrument can be used to measure the thickness of intestinal tissue.

3. The structure claimed in claim 1 wherein at least one of said handles has a scale marked on at least one side thereof, said scale being so devised as to give a diameter reading of a tubular body organ laid therealong in flaccid state.

4. A pliers-like tissue thickness measuring instrument for surgical purposes comprising a pair of first and second opposed tissue engaging jaws, first and second elongated handles pivotally joined together, and first handle terminating in said first jaw and said second handle terminating in said second jaw, said handles being so configured as to shift said first and second jaws away from each other over a predetermined working range of separation distance between said first and second jaws when said handles are pivoted toward each other, a constant bias leaf spring located between said first and second handles with its ends affixed to said first and second handles to urge said first and second jaws toward each other with a substantially constant predetermined force throughout said working range, a pair of arcuate members extending from the free end of said first handle in side-by-side parallel spaced relationship toward the free end of said second handle, a single arcuate member extending from said free end of said second handle toward said free end of said first handle, said single arcuate member having a first portion slidable between said pair of arcuate members of said first handle and a second portion slidable along those edges of said pair of members furthest from said jaws when said handles are shifted toward and away from each other to shift said jaws away from and toward each other, each of said pair of members bearing a scale representing said working range, said second portion of said single member having a pair of indicators each cooperating with one of said scales to give a direct reading of the distance between said first and second jaws.

5. The structure claimed in claim 4 wherein at least one of said handles has a scale marked on at least one side thereof, said scale being so devised as to give a diameter reading of a tubular body organ laid therealong in flaccid state.

6. The structure claimed in claim 4 wherein said working range is from 0 to 4 mm and said resilient means is such as to cause said first and second jaws to exert a substantially constant pressure on tissue therebetween of 8 g/mm² throughout said working range whereby said instrument can be used to measure the thickness of intestinal tissue.