Endoscopic surgical instrument

• US 5,626,609 A
• Filed: 12/16/1994
• Issued: 05/06/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 10/05/1990
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: United States Surgical Corporation (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: United States Surgical Corporation (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Aranyi, Ernie, Zvenyatsky, Boris
• Primary Examiner(s): Shay, David M.
• Application Number:
  US08/357,536
• Time in Patent Office: 872 Days
• Field of Search: 606/205-211, 128/751, 128/752
• US Class Current: 606/208
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/29 Forceps for use in minimally invasive surgery
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1445 at the distal end of a shaft, e.g. forceps or scissors at the end of a rigid rod
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1815 using microwaves
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0046 with a releasable handle; with handle and operating part separable for prosthetic joint-implanting tools A61F2/4603
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2837 with a locking ratchet
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/292 connection of actuating rod to handle, e.g. ball end in recess
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2926 Details of heads or jaws
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2929 with a head rotatable about the longitudinal axis of the shaft
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2936 Pins in guiding slots
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2945 Curved jaws
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1253 monopolar
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1432 curved

Abstract

An endoscopic surgical instrument having a handle assembly, a body portion, and a tool mechanism in which a pivoting handle pivots about a stationary handle to open and close the tool mechanism. The instrument includes a rotatable body portion, in which a rotation knob is provided on the instrument at the stationary handle so that the user may rotate the body portion, and consequently the tool mechanism, using a single hand. Furthermore, an electrocautery connection is provided which is positioned out of the line of sight of the surgeon, so that the surgeon may have an unobstructed view to the surgical site. The pivoting handle is provided with a rotatable connection point for connecting the slidable rod member to essentially eliminate radial deflection of the rod within the outer tube during opening and closing of the handles. The tool mechanism may include grasping jaws having rounded, interdigitating teeth for grasping and securely holding tissue or organs for removal through a cannula.

Claims

1. An endoscopic surgical instrument comprising:

a handle assembly including a barrel portion, a stationary handle and a pivoting handle extending from said barrel portion, said barrel portion having an interior cavity accommodating at least a portion of said pivoting handle;

a housing assembly extending distally from said handle assembly and defining a longitudinal axis, said housing assembly having a pair of coaxial members including an inner rod member reciprocatingly slidable longitudinally within an outer tube member in response to movement of said handle assembly;

a tissue gripping mechanism positioned at a distal end of said housing assembly pivotably secured to said outer tube member and operatively attached to said inner rod member, said tissue gripping mechanism including a pair of jaw members reciprocatingly movable between open and closed positions in response to movement of said inner rod member and said handle assembly;

wherein each of said jaw members of said gripping mechanism includes a camming portion attached to said inner rod member, a gripping portion at a distal end and a curved transition portion sloping with respect to said longitudinal axis between said camming portion and said gripping portion, said gripping portion tapering from said distal end towards said transition portion to form a triangular shaped portion having at least two substantially equal sides and said distal end forms a base of said triangular shaped portion perpendicular to said longitudinal axis, said triangular shaped portion having a corresponding triangular shaped central opening, and a plurality of parallel ribs extending transverse to said longitudinal axis for enhancing gripping of tissue therebetween, and wherein said curved transition portion is offset from said gripping portion such that said camming portion and said gripping portion are in substantially parallel planes when said jaw members are in said closed position; and

a ratchet mechanism at least partially positioned within said interior cavity of said barrel portion of said handle assembly, said ratchet mechanism being operatively associated with at least one of said pair of coaxial members of said housing assembly to provide incremental movement of said tissue gripping mechanism.

2. An endoscopic surgical instrument according to claim 1, wherein said ribs contact each other when said jaw members are closed.

3. An endoscopic surgical instrument according to claim 1, wherein said ribs mesh adjacent each other when said jaw members are closed.

4. An endoscopic surgical instrument according to claim 1, wherein said handle mechanism includes a ratchet mechanism positioned within said handle mechanism, said ratchet mechanism engaging said inner rod member to provide for incremental positioning of said jaw members between open and closed positions.

5. An endoscopic instrument according to claim 1 wherein said camming portion includes a pivot aperture and a cam slot.

6. An endoscopic instrument according to claim 5 wherein said housing assembly extends in a first plane from said camming portion and said tissue gripping portion extends in a second plane from said housing assembly, said first plane and said second plane being substantially parallel.

7. An endoscopic surgical instrument having a handle mechanism including a barrel portion, a stationary handle and a pivoting handle extending from said barrel portion, said barrel portion having an interior cavity accommodating at least a portion of said pivoting handle, a housing assembly extending at a first end from said handle mechanism, said housing assembly defining a longitudinal axis and having a pair of coaxial members including an inner rod reciprocatingly slidable longitudinally in an outer tube in response to movement of said handle mechanism, and a jaw mechanism extending from said housing assembly at a second end and being movable between open and closed positions in response to movement of said inner rod, said jaw mechanism being pivotably secured to said outer tube and operatively attached to said inner rod, said jaw mechanism comprising a pair of tissue gripping members in opposed relation, said gripping members each including a proximal end which is operatively secured to said inner rod and positioned at said second end of said housing assembly, said gripping members each terminating in a distal end having a triangular shaped gripping portion, each gripping member further having a plurality of parallel ribs extending in a direction transverse to said longitudinal axis, and a triangular shaped opening generally central of said triangular shaped gripping portion, each gripping member further having a curved transition portion between said proximal end and said gripping portion, said transition portion sloping with respect to a plane defined by said longitudinal axis, such that said gripping portions contact each other at at least one location in said closed position while said transition portions remain spaced from each other, said gripping members further including means for enhancing gripping of tissue therebetween;

and

a ratchet mechanism at least partially positioned within said interior cavity of said barrel portion of said handle mechanism, said ratchet mechanism being operatively associated with at least one of said pair of coaxial members of said housing assembly to provide incremental movement of said pair of tissue gripping members.

8. An endoscopic instrument according to claim 7, wherein said gripping enhancing means comprises an opening in at least one of said tissue gripping members.

9. An endoscopic instrument according to claim 7, wherein said gripping enhancing means comprises a plurality of ribs, said ribs meshing adjacent each other when said jaw mechanism is closed.

10. An endoscopic instrument according to claim 7, wherein said gripping enhancing means comprises a plurality of ribs, said ribs abutting against each other when said jaw mechanism is closed.

11. An endoscopic instrument according to claim 7, wherein said gripping enhancing means comprises a triangular shaped opening in said tissue gripping members and a plurality of ribs surrounding said opening.