Forceps with guide wire

• US 5,571,136 A
• Filed: 01/29/1996
• Issued: 11/05/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 08/15/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide Incorporated (Kimberly-Clark Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Medical Innovations Corporation (Kimberly-Clark Corporation)
• Inventors: Weaver, George W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Buiz, Michael Powell
• Assistant Examiner(s): LEWIS, WILLIAM W
• Application Number:
  US08/593,541
• Time in Patent Office: 281 Days
• Field of Search: 606/51, 606/52, 606/170, 606/174, 606/159, 606/205-210, 128/4, 128/6, 128/657, 128/749-755, 128/772, 604/22, 604/96
• US Class Current: 606/205
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 10/04 Endoscopic instruments
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 10/06 Biopsy forceps , e.g. with cup-shaped jaws
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/22038 with a guide wire
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2905 flexible

Abstract

Forceps for mounting on a substantially flexible guide wire include a first jaw defining a longitudinal lumen therethrough for mounting of the first jaw on a guide wire and for sliding longitudinal movement of the first jaw along the guide wire. A second jaw is pivotably secured to the first jaw. A flexible longitudinally-extending drive is secured to the second jaw and extends generally parallel to the guide wire. The drive is longitudinally movable between an open position wherein the jaws assume an open orientation enabling tissue to enter therebetween and a closed position wherein the jaws assume a closed orientation such that any tissue which entered intermediate the jaws in the open orientation is grasped therebetween for movement therewith.

Claims

1. An assembly of forceps and a substantially flexible guide wire, comprising:

(A) a substantially flexible solid guide wire;

(B) a non-pivotable rigid jaw defining a longitudinal lumen therethrough, said lumen of said non-pivotable jaw being mounted on said guide wire for sliding longitudinal movement of said non-pivotable jaw along said guide wire;

(C) a rigid jaw pivotably secured to said non-pivotable jaw; and

(D) flexible longitudinally-extending drive means secured to said pivotable jaw and extending generally parallel to said guide wire such that said drive means is longitudinally movable between an opening position wherein said jaws assume an open orientation enabling tissue to enter there-between and a closing position wherein said jaws assume a closed orientation such that any tissue which entered intermediate said jaws in said open orientation is grasped therebetween for movement therewith.

2. The assembly of claim 1 wherein longitudinal movement of said drive means causes a pivotal movement of said pivotable jaw.

3. The assembly of claim 1 wherein each of said jaws is generally linear.

4. The assembly of claim 3 wherein said pivotable jaw is secured to said drive means with a coupling pivotable at both ends and at a point between said ends, one of said coupling ends being secured to said drive means for movement therewith and the other of said coupling ends being secured to said pivotable jaw for movement therewith.

5. The assembly of claim 1 wherein said pivotable jaw is formed substantially on a radius of a partial circle.

6. The assembly of claim 5 wherein said pivotable jaw is secured to said drive means with a rigid coupling pivotable at both ends thereof, one of said coupling ends being secured to said drive means for movement therewith, and the other of said coupling ends being secured to said pivotal jaw for movement therewith.

7. The assembly of claim 5 wherein said pivotable jaw is pivotably secured to said drive means with a coupling pivotable therewith.

8. An assembly of forceps and a substantially flexible guide wire, comprising:

(A) a substantially flexible guide wire;

(B) a non-pivotable rigid jaw defining a longitudinal lumen therethrough, said lumen of said non-pivotable jaw being mounted on said guide wire for sliding longitudinal movement of said non-pivotable jaw along said guide wire;

(C) a rigid jaw pivotably secured to said non-pivotable jaw;

(D) flexible longitudinally-extending drive means secured to said pivotable jaw and extending generally parallel to said guide wire such that said drive means is longitudinally movable between an opening position wherein said jaws assume an open orientation enabling tissue to enter therebetween and a closing position wherein said jaws assume a closed orientation such that any tissue which entered intermediate said jaws in said open orientation is grasped therebetween for movement therewith; and

(E) a coupling securing said pivotable jaw and said drive means together, said coupling being pivotable at both ends and at a point between said ends, one of said coupling ends being secured to said drive means for movement therewith and the other of said coupling ends being secured to said pivotable jaw for movement therewith.

9. An assembly of forceps and a substantially flexible guide wire, comprising:

(A) a substantially flexible guide wire;

(B) a non-pivotable rigid jaw defining a longitudinal lumen therethrough, said lumen of said non-pivotable jaw being mounted on said guide wire for sliding longitudinal movement of said non-pivotable jaw along said guide wire;

(C) a rigid jaw pivotably secured to said non-pivotable jaw; and

(D) flexible longitudinally-extending drive means secured to said pivotable jaw and extending generally parallel to said guide wire such that said drive means is longitudinally movable between an opening position wherein said jaws assume an open orientation enabling tissue to enter therebetween and a closing position wherein said jaws assume a closed orientation such that any tissue which entered intermediate said jaws in said open orientation is grasped therebetween for movement therewith; and

(E) a coupling securing said pivotable jaw and said drive means together, said coupling being rigid and pivotable at both ends thereof, one of said coupling ends being secured to said drive means for movement therewith, and the other of said coupling ends being secured to said pivotable jaw for movement therewith.