Stamped clevis for endoscopic instruments and method of making the same
First Claim
1. A clevis for use in an endoscopic instrument having a coil or tube, said clevis comprising at least one distally extending arm having a distal mounting hole and at least one proximal base, said clevis being formed by the process of cutting sheet material into a form with said at least one arm and said at least one base and rolling said at least one base to form a substantially cylindrical proximal portion of said clevis which couples to the coil or tube, whereinsaid at least one arm consists of one arm,said at least one base includes two bases extending on opposite sides of said one arm, andsaid two bases are wrapped to form said substantially cylindrical portion.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A stamped clevis is made from a stainless steel sheet which is cut (stamped) to form at least one relatively narrow distally extending arm and at least one relatively broad proximal base. The distal arm is provided with at least one mounting hole for receiving an axle pin and the proximal portion is wrapped to form a cylinder or a broken cylinder. In one embodiment, the sheet is cut to form two relatively broad proximal bases and two relatively narrow substantially parallel distal arms, one arm extending from each base and being provided with a mounting hole. The arms are joined by a cross member proximal of the mounting holes and a central tab having a third mounting hole extends distally from the cross member. The cut sheet is formed by bending the cross member on either side of the tab in an "S" configuration so that the mounting holes are aligned substantially coaxially. The two proximal bases are bent towards each other to form a bifurcated cylinder. The tab may be provided with an integral spike. In another embodiment, the sheet is cut to form a central tab with a mounting hole and a distally extending spike and a pair of relatively broad proximal bases. The bases are bent in opposite directions to form a substantially cylindrical member having an "S-shaped" section adjacent to the central tab. In another embodiment two arms extend from a single base.
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Citations
30 Claims
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1. A clevis for use in an endoscopic instrument having a coil or tube, said clevis comprising at least one distally extending arm having a distal mounting hole and at least one proximal base, said clevis being formed by the process of cutting sheet material into a form with said at least one arm and said at least one base and rolling said at least one base to form a substantially cylindrical proximal portion of said clevis which couples to the coil or tube, wherein
said at least one arm consists of one arm, said at least one base includes two bases extending on opposite sides of said one arm, and said two bases are wrapped to form said substantially cylindrical portion.
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8. A clevis for use in an endoscopic instrument, said clevis comprising:
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a) two substantially parallel arms, each having a distal mounting hole; b) a substantially cylindrical base with said two arms extending distally from said base; and c) a cross member coupling said two substantially parallel arms, said cross member being bent into an S configuration. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11)
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12. A clevis for use in an endoscopic instrument, said clevis comprising:
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a) a substantially cylindrical proximal base having a distal cross member which crosses through a substantially cylindrical space which is a longitudinal projection of said base; and b) an arm extending distally from said distal cross member. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A method of making a clevis for an endoscopic biopsy forceps instrument having a coil or tube with a distal end, said method comprising:
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a) cutting a sheet material to form at least one proximal base, at least one arm extending distally from the base, and a distal cross member, said at least one arm being relatively narrow as compared to said at least one base; b) forming a distal mounting hole in the at least one arm; and c) rolling the at least one base to form a substantially cylindrical portion of the clevis such that the distal cross member crosses through a substantially cylindrical space which is a longitudinal projection of the cylindrical portion of the clevis. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. An endoscopic instrument, comprising:
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a) a hollow tube having a proximal end and a distal end; b) a control member extending through said hollow tube and having a proximal end and a distal end; c) actuation means coupled to said proximal end of said hollow tube and said proximal end of said control member for effecting longitudinal displacement of said control member relative to said hollow tube; d) a stamped and rolled clevis having a substantially cylindrical proximal end and at least one distally extending arm, said substantially cylindrical proximal end being coupled to said distal end of said hollow tube, said substantially cylindrical proximal end defining a substantially cylindrical longitudinal space extending infinitely along a longitudinal axis of said clevis, said clevis including a cross member which crosses through said longitudinal space; and e) at least one end effector rotatably coupled to said at least one arm and coupled to said distal end of said control member. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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Specification