Coagulation forceps and method of fabricating the same

• US 5,108,392 A
• Filed: 08/14/1991
• Issued: 04/28/1992
• Est. Priority Date: 06/17/1987
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: United States Surgical Corporation (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: United States Surgical Corporation (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Spingler, Rolf A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Thaler, Michael H.
• Application Number:
  US07/746,141
• Time in Patent Office: 258 Days
• Field of Search: 606/210, 606/211, 606/51, 606/52, 606/131, 294/99.2, 433/162, 433/157, 76/119, 76/101.1, 76/DIG. 6
• US Class Current: 606/51
• 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 18/1402 Probes for open surgery
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1442 Probes having pivoting end effectors, e.g. forceps

Abstract

Tweezers or forceps, in particular coagulation forceps, comprising two forcep arms which each have a free gripping end and which delimit a slit-like space, preferably tapering from the gripping ends in the rest position, and which can be moved resiliently towards each other and which extend from a common closed zone, and a gripping element, is to be produced in a simple and inexpensive manner and is to provide a variety of uses. For that purpose the forceps comprise at least two shaped parts which subdivide the closed zone in the longitudinal direction and which are connected together with their inside surfaces bearing against each other. In addition the forceps are to be divided on their longitudinal axis and each of the shaped parts which are preferably of the same configuration comprise one half of both forcep arms.

Claims

1. A forceps having upper and lower forceps arms joined at a proximal end by a common closed zone and open at a distal end thereby defining a slit-like space therebetween, said forceps comprising:

a first longitudinal forceps element forming a portion of each of said upper and lower forceps arms and said common closed zone;

a second longitudinal forceps element forming a mating portion of said upper and lower forceps arms and said common closed zone; and

pin means for joining said first and second longitudinal forceps elements in a fixed position.

2. A forceps according to claim 1 wherein said first and second longitudinal forceps elements each define substantially one half of said forceps.

3. A forceps according to claim 1 further comprising separate gripping tips attached to said distal ends of said upper and lower forceps arms.

4. A forceps according to claim 1 further comprising alignment means formed in the upper and lower arm portions of said first and second longitudinal forceps elements.

5. A forceps according to claim 4 wherein said alignment means comprises at least one tab extending from each of said upper and lower forceps arms into said slit-like space therebetween such that as said arms are closed, said tabs serve to longitudinally align said upper and lower forceps arms.

6. A forceps according to claim 1 wherein the material of construction is moldable plastic.

7. A forceps according to claim 1 further comprising a gripping zone formed on each of said upper and lower forceps arms.

8. A forceps according to claim 7 wherein said gripping zone is formed of alternating peripheral grooves defining a plurality of annular ribs.

9. A forceps having grooved upper and lower forceps arms joined at a proximal end by a common closed zone and open at a distal end thereby defining a slit-like space therebetween, said forceps comprising:

a first longitudinal forceps element forming a portion of each of said grooved upper and lower forceps arms and said common closed zone;

a second longitudinal forceps element forming a mating portion of each of said grooved upper and lower forceps arms and said common closed zone; and

pin means for joining said first and second longitudinal forceps elements in a fixed position.

10. A forceps according to claim 9 wherein said grooved upper and lower forceps arms define two separate axial channels extending from the proximate to the distal ends thereof.

11. A forceps according to claim 10 further comprising separate gripping means insertable into said channels in the distal ends of said upper and lower forceps arms.

12. A forceps according to claim 11 wherein said gripping means is formed of an electrically conducting material and said first and second longitudinal forceps sections are formed from an electrically insulating material.

13. A forceps according to claim 12 further comprising a plug pin electrically connected through said channels to each of said gripping means.

14. A forceps according to claim 9 further comprising a gripping zone formed on each of said upper and lower forceps arms.

15. A forceps according to claim 9 further comprising alignment means for accurately guiding said upper and lower forceps arms together as they are closed.

16. A forceps according to claim 9 wherein said pin means for joining said first and second longitudinal forceps elements comprises a pair of pins inserted into said common closed zone.

17. A process for fabricating a forceps having upper and lower forceps arms joined at a proximal end of a common closed zone and open at a distal end thereby defining a slit-like space therebetween, said process comprising the steps of:

providing a first integrally formed longitudinal forceps element including a portion of each of said upper and lower forceps arms and a portion of said common closed zone;

providing a second integrally formed longitudinal forceps element including a mating portion of said upper and lower forcep arms and a mating portion of said common closed zone; and

fixedly joining said first and second longitudinal forceps elements.

18. A process according to claim 17 wherein said steps of joining said first and second longitudinal forceps elements is accomplished by inserting at least one pin into said portions of said common closed zone.

19. A process according to claim 17 further comprising the steps of forming an axial channel in each of said upper and lower forceps arms and inserting electrically conducting gripping means in each of said axial channels.

20. A forceps formed in accordance with the process of claim 17.