Insulated laparoscopic grasper with removable shaft
First Claim
1. A monopolar laparoscopic electrocautery laparoscope surgical instrument having an insulated removable shaft, which comprises:
- a rotatable combination shaft having a proximal end and a distal end;
said rotatable shaft combination comprising;
an outer hollow shaft having at least one slotted opening in its wall for allowing said shaft to be cleaned thoroughly after use;
an inner shaft slidably positioned axially in said outer hollow shaft;
grasping means at said distal end of said inner shaft;
anchor means at said proximal end of said inner shaft;
a removable and disposable shaft cover covering and insulating the body of said shaft combination other than said grasping means for preventing electrical arcing when the instrument is used as a cauterizer during use;
release means on said instrument for allowing said shaft combination and said removable and disposable shaft cover to be removed from said instrument for cleaning said shaft combination and for replacing said removable and disposable shaft cover with a new shaft cover;
a pair of distal and proximal squeeze handles pivotally secured together;
means on said handles and said instrument for receiving an electric cord and transmitting electric current to said grasping means on said distal end of said inner shaft;
means on said proximal handle for releasably securing said anchor means at said proximal end of said inner shaft;
said pair of squeeze handles, said shaft release means, and said housing being fabricated from non-electrically conductive material for protection against electric shock whenever electric current is passed through said instrument.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A laparoscopic instrument is formed by a removable shaft combination portion separable from a housing. The housing portion includes a pair of handles, a quick-release button, a clutch to quickly rotate the shaft during use, and a releaser. The socket is attached to the proximal handle. The shaft combination has a center shaft, a slotted outer shaft and a shaft cover insulator. The center shaft has a pair of graspers at the distal operating end. The other end of the center shaft has an anchor point for engaging with the socket at the other end of the instrument. The socket holds the end of the center shaft and causes the shaft to reciprocate slightly in response to the surgeon closing or opening the pair of handles. The graspers close or open in response to the squeezing action by the surgeon. The socket has a quick-release button and the housing has a release to allow the entire shaft combination to be quickly removed from the rest of the instrument, and cleaned or replaced with another shaft combination. The instrument does not have to be disassembled. The clutch allows the surgeon to quickly change the angular orientation of the graspers during the operation. A thumb wheel forming part of the clutch can be easily turned to make the adjustment. The instrument has a plug for connecting to an electric cord to allow the instrument to be used in cauterization techniques. Other than the grapsers, the exposed parts of the instrument are fabricated from an non-electrical conductive material to prevent electrical shock.
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Citations
7 Claims
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1. A monopolar laparoscopic electrocautery laparoscope surgical instrument having an insulated removable shaft, which comprises:
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a rotatable combination shaft having a proximal end and a distal end; said rotatable shaft combination comprising; an outer hollow shaft having at least one slotted opening in its wall for allowing said shaft to be cleaned thoroughly after use; an inner shaft slidably positioned axially in said outer hollow shaft; grasping means at said distal end of said inner shaft; anchor means at said proximal end of said inner shaft; a removable and disposable shaft cover covering and insulating the body of said shaft combination other than said grasping means for preventing electrical arcing when the instrument is used as a cauterizer during use; release means on said instrument for allowing said shaft combination and said removable and disposable shaft cover to be removed from said instrument for cleaning said shaft combination and for replacing said removable and disposable shaft cover with a new shaft cover; a pair of distal and proximal squeeze handles pivotally secured together; means on said handles and said instrument for receiving an electric cord and transmitting electric current to said grasping means on said distal end of said inner shaft; means on said proximal handle for releasably securing said anchor means at said proximal end of said inner shaft; said pair of squeeze handles, said shaft release means, and said housing being fabricated from non-electrically conductive material for protection against electric shock whenever electric current is passed through said instrument. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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Specification