Disposable bipolar instrument
First Claim
1. A disposable bipolar instrument for ophthalmic surgery comprising:
- a first shell half having a proximal end and a distal end;
a second shell half having a proximal end and a distal end; and
a means for connecting said first and said second shell halves at respective proximal ends thereof so that they can function as forceps;
said means for connecting including a support portion for maintaining said respective proximal ends in substantially fixed relative relationship, so that said first and second shell halves are cantilevered thereabout;
said proximal ends being spaced apart a predetermined distance when no manual force is being applied to said first and second shell halves;
said first shell half including a first pair of upstanding wall-like projections;
said second shell half including a second pair of upstanding wall-like projections;
said first pair of upstanding wall-like projections being in sliding engagement with said second pair of upstanding wall-like projections during manual flexure of said first and second shell halves;
said first pair of upstanding wall-like projections being guided, during flexure of said first shell half toward said second shell half, by said second pair of upstanding wall-like projections;
said first pair of wall-like projections including a sloped region; and
said second pair of wall-like projections including a sloped region;
said sloped regions of said first pair of wall-like projections and said second pair of wall-like projections being disposed such that the respective said distal ends of said first and second shell halves can be urged manually toward each other by resilient bending flexure of said first and second shell halves in cantilevered bending;
said resilient bending flexure causing a progressive increase in resistive force to further flexure, thereby providing tactile feedback to an operator during manual operation of said first and second shell halves;
a first electrode carried by said first shell half;
a second electrode carried by said second shell half;
a connector means for connecting said first and second electrodes to a voltage source;
said first and second electrodes projecting beyond said respective distal ends for simultaneous use as forcep tips and as operational electrodes during ophthalmic surgery;
whereby said first electrode and said second electrode can be guided toward and away from one another by manual urging of said first and second shell halves.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A disposable bipolar instrument for ophthalmic surgery has a pair of shell halves carrying electrodes. A collar connects the shell halves together, and electrical conductors supply current to and from the respective electrodes. The shell halves are composed of disposable plastic material, as is the connecting collar and cap which connect the parts and hold the wires in place. Squeezing of the shell halves together is guided by a tongue-and-groove type of joint formed between the shell halves by pairs of upstanding walls, the walls having sloped surfaces in respective facing regions to permit deformation of the shell halves together at one end thereof, so as to permit movement of the electorde tips together to perform cauterization. The deformation of the plastic material causes a progressive resistance, thereby permitting a tactile feedback to the user, so that the instrument can be operated where the field of vision of the user is partially or totally obstructed.
89 Citations
8 Claims
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1. A disposable bipolar instrument for ophthalmic surgery comprising:
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a first shell half having a proximal end and a distal end;
a second shell half having a proximal end and a distal end; and
a means for connecting said first and said second shell halves at respective proximal ends thereof so that they can function as forceps;
said means for connecting including a support portion for maintaining said respective proximal ends in substantially fixed relative relationship, so that said first and second shell halves are cantilevered thereabout;
said proximal ends being spaced apart a predetermined distance when no manual force is being applied to said first and second shell halves;
said first shell half including a first pair of upstanding wall-like projections;
said second shell half including a second pair of upstanding wall-like projections;
said first pair of upstanding wall-like projections being in sliding engagement with said second pair of upstanding wall-like projections during manual flexure of said first and second shell halves;
said first pair of upstanding wall-like projections being guided, during flexure of said first shell half toward said second shell half, by said second pair of upstanding wall-like projections;
said first pair of wall-like projections including a sloped region; and
said second pair of wall-like projections including a sloped region;
said sloped regions of said first pair of wall-like projections and said second pair of wall-like projections being disposed such that the respective said distal ends of said first and second shell halves can be urged manually toward each other by resilient bending flexure of said first and second shell halves in cantilevered bending;
said resilient bending flexure causing a progressive increase in resistive force to further flexure, thereby providing tactile feedback to an operator during manual operation of said first and second shell halves;a first electrode carried by said first shell half;
a second electrode carried by said second shell half;a connector means for connecting said first and second electrodes to a voltage source;
said first and second electrodes projecting beyond said respective distal ends for simultaneous use as forcep tips and as operational electrodes during ophthalmic surgery;whereby said first electrode and said second electrode can be guided toward and away from one another by manual urging of said first and second shell halves. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. An instrument for ophthalmic surgery, comprising:
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a first shell half and a second shell half;
said first and second shell halves each having a proximal end and a distal end;
said first shell half being resiliently deformable and having a first wall-like projection which supports a second wall-like projection and a third wall-like projection;
said second and third wall-like projections being disposed generally perpendicularly to said first wall-like projection;
said second wall-like projection and said third wall-like projection being spaced apart and generally parallel to each other;
said second shell half being resiliently deformable and having a fourth wall-like projection which supports a fifth wall-like projection and a sixth wall-like projection, said fifth wall-like projection and said sixth wall-like projection being disposed generally perpendicularly to said fourth wall-like projection;
said fifth wall-like projection and said sixth wall-like projection being spaced apart and generally parallel to each other;said first shell half carrying a first electrode;
said second shell half carrying a second electrode;
said first and second electrodes each having a distal end which projects beyond distal ends of said first and second shell halves;a first conductor connected to said first electrode for supplying current to said first electrode, and a second conductor connected to said second electrode for carrying current away from said second electrode; a means for connecting said first shell half to said second shell half at said proximal ends thereof, so that said first and second shell halves can function as forceps;
said means for connecting including a portion for maintaining said respective proximal ends in substantially fixed relative relationship, so that said first and second shell halves are cantilevered thereabout;
said proximal ends being spaced apart a predetermined distance when no manual force is being applied to said first and second shell halves;during manual actuation of said first and second shell halves, said second wall-like projection being in sliding engagement with said fifth wall-like projection, and said third wall-like projection being in sliding engagement with said sixth wall-like projection; whereby manual engagement of said first shell half and said second shell half causes resilient flexural deformation of said first and second shell halves toward one another with a progressive resistance, so as to bring the exposed tips of said first electrode and said second electrode together;
whereby cauterization can be performed.
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Specification