Elastomeric controller for endoscopic surgical instruments
First Claim
1. A hand-held surgical instrument comprising:
- a housing having an open end and a longitudinal axis;
an instrument body disposed in the housing, the instrument body terminating in a working end, the instrument body and working end being movable relative to the housing between a first position and a second position;
a handle secured to the housing, the handle including a flexible portion located for engagement by an operator, said flexible portion overlying at least a portion of said instrument body; and
control means coupled between the handle and the instrument body and underlying the flexible portion for moving the instrument head between the first and second positions responsive to compression of the flexible portion by the operation in a direction substantially normal to the longitudinal axis of the housing.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A body controller is provided for an endoscopic surgical instrument having a cylindrical housing and an instrument body concentrically disposed interior of the housing and moveable between first and second positions. The controller is designed to accommodate and be activated by light grasping and, preferably, compressive application of, a finger or thumb of the human operator to a section which preferably includes a flexible dome-like or other similarly shaped portion which is substantially immediately responsive to the application of the hand of the surgeon or other operator to activate a surgical instrument carried within the housing, such as a retractable needle, or the like, to one position. By withdrawing the finger or thumb of the surgeon from the flexible means, the instrument body may be moved to a second, or original, position.
175 Citations
8 Claims
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1. A hand-held surgical instrument comprising:
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a housing having an open end and a longitudinal axis; an instrument body disposed in the housing, the instrument body terminating in a working end, the instrument body and working end being movable relative to the housing between a first position and a second position; a handle secured to the housing, the handle including a flexible portion located for engagement by an operator, said flexible portion overlying at least a portion of said instrument body; and control means coupled between the handle and the instrument body and underlying the flexible portion for moving the instrument head between the first and second positions responsive to compression of the flexible portion by the operation in a direction substantially normal to the longitudinal axis of the housing. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A hand-held surgical instrument comprising:
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a housing having an open end; an instrument body disposed in the housing and axially moveable relative to the housing, the instrument body terminating in a working end, the working end normally being in a retracted position within the housing; a handle secured to the housing, the handle including a flexible portion located for engagement by an operator; and at least one flexible rib coupled between the handle and the instrument body, wherein compression of the flexible portion deforms and elongates the rib to move the instrument body relative to the housing, wherein the working end extends beyond the open end of the housing. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8)
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Specification