Forceps
First Claim
1. A surgical instrument for handling an object, the instrument having a distal end and a proximal end, comprising:
- a pair of jaws disposed at the distal end of the instrument for gripping the object;
an actuatable handle disposed at the proximal end of the instrument; and
a reversibly deformable force transfer and limiting member for transferring to said jaws a force imparted to said member by actuation of said handle, said force transfer and limiting member having a distal end operatively connected to said pair of jaws for operatively effecting movement of said jaws relative to one another, and said member having a proximal end operatively connected to said handle for imparting the force from actuation of said handle to said force transfer and limiting member, said force transfer and limiting member comprising a pseudoelastic material through which the force is transferred from said handle to said jaws and selected so that the force transferred by said member to said jaws is no greater than a predetermined value defined by a stress plateau of said pseudoelastic material such that the object gripped between said jaws is not damaged by the force imparted to said member by actuation of said handle.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A surgical instrument such as a forceps having a handle at its proximal end, a pair of jaws at its distal end for gripping an object, and a connecting member for transmitting user-applied force from the handle to the pair of jaws. The connecting member includes a force transmitting and limiting member for transmitting the closure force imparted by the jaws upon the object to a predetermined value. The force transmitting and limiting member is preferably made of a material that is superelastic (i.e. reversibly deformable such that it returns to its original physical shape or form after the material has been deformed substantially) and is comprised of a rod, a spring or a portion of a scissors-shaped forceps. The extent of relative movement of the handle grips is limited by a stop to prevent the superelastic material from undergoing excessive deformation.
410 Citations
11 Claims
-
1. A surgical instrument for handling an object, the instrument having a distal end and a proximal end, comprising:
-
a pair of jaws disposed at the distal end of the instrument for gripping the object; an actuatable handle disposed at the proximal end of the instrument; and a reversibly deformable force transfer and limiting member for transferring to said jaws a force imparted to said member by actuation of said handle, said force transfer and limiting member having a distal end operatively connected to said pair of jaws for operatively effecting movement of said jaws relative to one another, and said member having a proximal end operatively connected to said handle for imparting the force from actuation of said handle to said force transfer and limiting member, said force transfer and limiting member comprising a pseudoelastic material through which the force is transferred from said handle to said jaws and selected so that the force transferred by said member to said jaws is no greater than a predetermined value defined by a stress plateau of said pseudoelastic material such that the object gripped between said jaws is not damaged by the force imparted to said member by actuation of said handle. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
-
Specification