Forceps, scalpel and blood coagulating surgical instrument

• US 4,375,218 A
• Filed: 05/26/1981
• Issued: 03/01/1983
• Est. Priority Date: 05/26/1981
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Ernest M. Digeronimo
• Original Assignee: Ernest M. Digeronimo
• Inventors: DiGeronimo, Ernest M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Cohen, Lee S.
• Application Number:
  US06/266,847
• Time in Patent Office: 644 Days
• Field of Search: 128/303.1, 128/303.13, 128/303.17, 128/305, 128/321, 128/322, 128/354, 81/43
• US Class Current: 606/52
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/30 Surgical pincettes without pivotal connectionsfor holding suture needles or materials A61B17/0483; wound clamps A61B17/08 ; hand-held gripping tools without pivotal connections in general B25B9/02
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/3213 with detachable blades
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1442 Probes having pivoting end effectors, e.g. forceps

Abstract

A composite tool having a preferred use as a surgical instrument has coacting resilient elongated members connected at one end to each other and movable towards and away from each other at the respective sized and shaped free ends to define a forceps or tweezers, and a scalpel blade supporting assembly slidably mounted between the coacting elongated members to move a scalpel therein from a retracted or concealed position between the coacting elongated members to an extended or cutting position, said forceps and scalpel blade supporting assembly including a locking assembly with a self-locking section for selectively, alternatively and interchangeably converting the forceps into a scalpel and vice versa wherein the forceps becomes the holder for the scalpel when the scalpel is moved from the retracted or non-cutting concealed position to the extended or cutting position, and an electrical connection on the coacting resilient elongated members to connect the composite tool to an electric circuit to permit the tool to become an electrical conductor and to be used for example as a coagulator.

Claims

1. A composite tool such as a surgical instrument comprising,

a. forceps having spaced resilient elongated coacting legs,

b. a scalpel blade supporting assembly having a scalpel blade therein slidably mounted between the coacting legs of the forceps and normally disposed so that the scalpel blade is in a retracted concealed position relative said coacting legs,

c. said scalpel blade supporting assembly slidable relative the forceps to move the scalpel blade to and to hold the same in an extended cutting cutting position relative said coacting legs, and

d. releasable locking means on said scalpel blade supporting assembly detachably connectible to the spaced coacting legs of the forceps to convert the forceps into a holder for the scalpel blade when the scalpel blade supporting assembly moves the scalpel blade to the cutting position.

2. In a composite tool as claimed in claim 1, including means on the scalpel blade supporting assembly for exerting frictional engagement on the associated forceps to hold the scalpel blade in the retracted concealed position.

3. In a composite tool as claimed in claim 1 wherein the releasable locking means on said scalpel blade supporting assembly includes, self-locking means to require positive force to move the scalpel blade from the extended cutting to the retracted concealed position.

4. In a composite tool as claimed in claim 1 including,

a. means on the scalpel blade supporting assembly for exerting frictional engagement on the associated forceps to hold the scalpel blade in the retracted concealed position, and

b. said releasable locking means including, a self-locking means to hold said scalpel blade supporting assembly and the scalpel blade therein in the cutting position so as to require positive force to move the scalpel blade from the cutting to the concealed position.

5. In a composite tool as claimed in claim 1 wherein,

a. the scalpel blade supporting assembly includes a scalpel blade holder, a switch plate, and means for aligning and connecting the scalpel blade holder and said switch plate to each other in assembled position on said forceps,

b. said switch plate having, sized projections thereon, and

c. threaded members extending through said sized projections in threaded engagement with the scalpel blade holder and operatively associated with the sized projections to establish frictional engagement between the scalpel blade supporting assembly and the forceps.

6. In a composite tool as claimed in claim 5 wherein,

a. the scalpel blade supporting assembly is mounted on at least one of said spaced legs of the forceps, and

b. said at least one leg being slightly bowed.

7. In a composite tool as claimed in claim 5 wherein,

a. the scalpel blade supporting assembly is mounted on at least one of said spaced legs of the forceps, and

b. said at least one leg having a thickness to cause the scalpel blade supporting assembly mounted thereon to form a force fit therewith when the scalpel blade and scalpel blade supporting assembly are in the retracted concealed position.

8. In a composite tool as claimed in claim 1 wherein said forceps is generally conductive and further includes,

a. an electrical connector on said forceps,

b. an electrical current generating means for delivering current having, means connected to said electrical connector on the forceps, and

c. a selectively operable switch in the electrical current generating means normally open and movable selectively to closed position to cause current to pass to said forceps as may be required.

9. In a composite tool as claimed in claim 1 wherein,

a. the releasable locking means so as to convert it to a holder for the scalpel blade is a stud having an enlarged head, and

b. said scalpel blade supporting assembly having a bayonet slot and a self-locking groove thereon disposed to coact with said stud and the enlarged head thereon during sliding movement of the scalpel blade to the extended cutting position.

10. In the composite tool as claimed in claim 1 including,

a. spaced stop shoulders on the forceps, and

b. said scalpel blade supporting assembly disposed on movement thereof to engage said spaced stop shoulders so as to limit the movement of the scalpel blade thereon to the concealed position and from the concealed position to the cutting position.