Surgical instrument with offset handle

• US 5,893,877 A
• Filed: 07/16/1997
• Issued: 04/13/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 04/10/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Stryker Corporation
• Original Assignee: Synergetics Incorporated
• Inventors: Gampp, Kurt W. Jr., Auld, Michael D., Scheller, Gregg D., Spetzler, Robert F.
• Primary Examiner(s): Jackson, Gary
• Assistant Examiner(s): TRINH, HOA B
• Application Number:
  US08/920,349
• Time in Patent Office: 636 Days
• Field of Search: 606/205, 606/139, 606/142, 606/144, 606/167, 606/170, 606/171, 606/174, 606/175, 606/206-210
• US Class Current: 606/205
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/2909 Handles
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/3201 Scissors for biopsy A61B10/02
• 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 2017/00738 part of the tool being offset with respect to a main axis, e.g. for better view for the surgeon
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2919 details of linkages or pivot points
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2929 with a head rotatable about the longitudinal axis of the shaft
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/293 with means preventing relative rotation between the shaft and the actuating rod
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/305 Tweezer like handles with tubular extensions, inner slidable actuating members and distal tools, e.g. microsurgical instruments

Abstract

A surgical instrument comprises an instrument head and an instrument handle. The instrument head has a proximal end, a distal end, a head static part at the proximal end, a reciprocative part generally at the proximal end, and a moveable distal part at the distal end. The reciprocative part is operatively connected to the moveable distal part so that movement of the reciprocative part between forward and rearward positions causes movement of the moveable distal part between first and second positions. The instrument handle has a handle body attachable to the head static part of the instrument head, a handle plunger configured for reciprocating relative to the handle body generally along the instrument axis, and a lever arm. The handle plunger is operatively engageable with the reciprocative part of the instrument head when the head static part is attached to the handle body. Movement of the handle plunger between forward and rearward positions causes movement of the reciprocative part of the instrument head between its forward and rearward positions. The lever arm is connected to the handle body is engaged and laterally reciprocated by a hand of a surgeon. It is operatively connected to the handle plunger for moving the handle plunger between its forward and rearward positions as the lever arm is moved between inward and outward positions. The instrument handle is configured so that the lateral movement of the lever arm is in a plane spaced below the handle plunger to provide a forward line of sight generally along the instrument axis to the distal end of the instrument head as viewed from behind the handle plunger for permitting the surgeon'"'"'s hand to reciprocate the lever arm without blocking the line of sight.

Claims

1. A surgical instrument handle for use with an elongate surgical instrument head, the surgical instrument head having a proximal end, a distal end forward of the proximal end and insertable into a patient, a head static part at the proximal end attachable to the surgical instrument, a reciprocative part generally at the proximal end, and a moveable distal part at the distal end, the moveable distal part being moveable relative to the head static part between a first position and a second position for enabling a surgeon to perform a surgical procedure on the patient, the reciprocative part being reciprocally moveable relative to the head static part generally along an instrument axis X between a forward position and a rearward position, said reciprocative part being operatively connected to said moveable distal part so that movement of the reciprocative part between its forward and rearward positions causes movement of the moveable distal part between its first and second positions, the surgical instrument handle comprising:

a handle body comprising a handle stationary part and a handle rotor rotatably connected to the handle stationary part for rotation about the instrument axis X, the handle rotor being configured for fixedly receiving the head static part of the surgical instrument head so that rotation of the handle rotor relative to the handle stationary part causes like rotation of the surgical instrument head when the head static part is attached to the handle rotor;

a handle plunger configured for reciprocating motion relative to the handle body generally along the instrument axis X between forward and rearward positions, the handle plunger being operatively engageable with the reciprocative part of the surgical instrument head when the head static part is attached to the handle body, the handle plunger being configured so that movement of the handle plunger between its forward and rearward positions causes movement of the reciprocative part of the surgical instrument head between its forward and rearward positions; and

at least one lever arm connected to the handle body for lateral movement thereof relative to the handle axis between inward and outward positions, said at least one lever arm being configured for being engaged and laterally reciprocated between its inward and outward positions by a hand of a surgeon, said at least one lever arm being operatively connected to the handle plunger for moving the handle plunger between its forward and rearward positions as said at least one lever arm is moved between its inward and outward positions;

said surgical instrument handle being configured so that said lateral movement of said at least one lever arm is in a plane spaced below the handle plunger to provide a forward line of sight generally along the instrument axis X to the distal end of the surgical instrument head as viewed from behind the handle plunger for permitting the surgeon'"'"'s hand to move said at least one lever arm between its inward and outward positions without blocking the line of sight.

2. A surgical instrument handle as set forth in claim 1 further comprising a handle bore in the handle stationary part for receiving the handle plunger, said handle bore and said handle plunger being configured so that movement of said at least one lever arm between its inward and outward positions causes the handle plunger to move in the handle bore between its forward and rearward positions.

3. A surgical instrument handle as set forth in claim 1 wherein the handle plunger is linearly moveable between its forward and rearward positions.

4. A surgical instrument handle as set forth in claim 1 wherein the lever arm has a forward portion projecting forwardly beyond the handle body.

5. A surgical instrument handle as set forth in claim 4 wherein the forward portion of the lever arm projects forwardly beyond the head static part of the surgical instrument head when the head static part is attached to the handle body.

6. A surgical instrument handle for use with an elongate surgical instrument head, the surgical instrument head having a proximal end, a distal end forward of the proximal end and insertable into a patient, a head static part at the proximal end attachable to the surgical instrument, a reciprocative part generally at the proximal end, and a moveable distal part at the distal end, the moveable distal part being moveable relative to the head static part between a first position and a second position for enabling a surgeon to perform a surgical procedure on the patient, the reciprocative part being reciprocally moveable relative to the head static part generally along an instrument axis X between a forward position and a rearward position, said reciprocative part being operatively connected to said moveable distal part so that movement of the reciprocative part between its forward and rearward positions causes movement of the moveable distal part between its first and second positions, the surgical instrument handle comprising:

a handle body attachable to the head static part of the surgical instrument head;

a handle plunger configured for reciprocating motion relative to the handle body generally along the instrument axis X between forward and rearward positions, the handle plunger being operatively engageable with the reciprocative part of the surgical instrument head when the head static part is attached to the handle body, the handle plunger being configured so that movement of the handle plunger between its forward and rearward positions causes movement of the reciprocative part of the surgical instrument head between its forward and rearward positions;

at least one lever arm connected to the handle body for lateral movement thereof relative to the handle axis between inward and outward positions, said at least one lever arm being configured for being engaged and laterally reciprocated between its inward and outward positions by a hand of a surgeon, said at least one lever arm being operatively connected to the handle plunger for moving the handle plunger between its forward and rearward positions as said at least one lever arm is moved between its inward and outward positions; and

at least one protrusion;

said surgical instrument handle being configured so that said lateral movement of said at least one lever arm is in a first plane spaced below the handle plunger to provide a forward line of sight generally along the instrument axis X to the distal end of the surgical instrument head as viewed from behind the handle plunger for permitting the surgeon'"'"'s hand to move said at least one lever arm between its inward and outward positions without blocking the line of sight, the instrument axis X lying in a second plane spaced above the first plane, the protrusion extending up from said at least one lever arm and extending at least from said first plane to said second plane, said protrusion being operatively connected to the handle plunger.

7. A surgical instrument handle as set forth in claim 6 wherein said at least one lever arm comprises first and second lever arms connected to the handle body for lateral movement thereof relative to the handle axis between inward and outward positions and wherein said at least one protrusion constitutes first and second protrusions, the first protrusion extending up from the first lever arm, the second protrusion extending up from the second lever arm the first and second protrusions being operatively connected to the handle plunger for moving the handle plunger between its forward and rearward positions as said lever arms are moved between their inward and outward positions.

8. A surgical instrument handle as set forth in claim 7 further comprising a pair of links, each link having a first end connected to one of the protrusions and a second end connected to the handle plunger.

9. A surgical instrument handle as set forth in claim 6 wherein the handle body comprises a handle stationary part and a handle rotor rotatably connected to the handle stationary part for rotation about the instrument axis X, the handle rotor being configured for fixedly receiving the head static part so that rotation of the handle rotor relative to the handle stationary part causes like rotation of the surgical instrument head when the head static part is attached to the handle rotor.

10. A surgical instrument comprising:

a surgical instrument head having a proximal end, a distal end forward of the proximal end and insertable into a patient, a head static part at the proximal end, a reciprocative part generally at the proximal end, and a moveable distal part at the distal end, the moveable distal part being moveable relative to the head static part between a first position and a second position for enabling a surgeon to perform a surgical procedure on the patient, the reciprocative part being reciprocally moveable relative to the head static part generally along an instrument axis X between a forward position and a rearward position, said reciprocative part being operatively connected to said moveable distal part so that movement of the reciprocative part between its forward and rearward positions causes movement of the moveable distal part between its first and second positions; and

a surgical instrument handle having a handle body attachable to the head static part of the surgical instrument head, a handle plunger configured for reciprocating motion relative to the handle body generally along the instrument axis X between forward and rearward positions, and at least one lever arm;

the handle body comprising a handle stationary part and a handle rotor rotatably connected to the handle stationary part for rotation about the instrument axis X, the handle rotor being configured for fixedly receiving the head static part so that rotation of the handle rotor relative to the handle stationary part causes like rotation of the surgical instrument head when the head static part is attached to the handle rotor;

the handle plunger being operatively engageable with the reciprocative part of the surgical instrument head when the head static part is attached to the handle body, the handle plunger being configured so that movement of the handle plunger between its forward and rearward positions causes movement of the reciprocative part of the surgical instrument head between its forward and rearward positions;

said at least one lever arm being connected to the handle body for lateral movement thereof relative to the handle axis between inward and outward positions, said at least one lever arm being configured for being engaged and laterally reciprocated between its inward and outward positions by a hand of a surgeon, said at least one lever arm being operatively connected to the handle plunger for moving the handle plunger between its forward and rearward positions as said at least one lever arm is moved between its inward and outward positions;

said surgical instrument handle being configured so that said lateral movement of said at least one lever arm is in a plane spaced below the handle plunger to provide a forward line of sight generally along the instrument axis X to the distal end of the surgical instrument head as viewed from behind the handle plunger for permitting the surgeon'"'"'s hand to move said at least one lever arm between its inward and outward positions without blocking the line of sight.

11. A surgical instrument as set forth in claim 10 wherein said at least one lever arm comprises a pair of lever arms connected to the handle body for lateral movement thereof relative to the handle axis between inward and outward positions, said lever arms being operatively connected to the handle plunger for moving the handle plunger between its forward and rearward positions as said lever arms are moved between their inward and outward positions.

12. A surgical instrument as set forth in claim 11 further comprising a pair of protrusions, each protrusion extending up from one of the lever arms and being operatively connected to the handle plunger.

13. A surgical instrument as set forth in claim 12 further comprising a pair of links, each link having a first end connected to one of the protrusions and a second end connected to the handle plunger.

14. A surgical instrument as set forth in claim 13 wherein the handle body comprises a handle stationary part and a handle rotor rotatably connected to the handle stationary part for rotation about the instrument axis X, the handle rotor being configured for fixedly receiving the head static part so that rotation of the handle rotor relative to the handle stationary part causes like rotation of the surgical instrument head when the head static part is attached to the handle rotor.

15. A surgical instrument handle for use with an elongate surgical instrument head, the surgical instrument head having a proximal end, a distal end forward of the proximal end and insertable into a patient, a head static part at the proximal end attachable to the surgical instrument, a reciprocative part generally at the proximal end, and a moveable distal part at the distal end, the moveable distal part being moveable relative to the head static part between a first position and a second position for enabling a surgeon to perform a surgical procedure on the patient, the reciprocative part being reciprocally moveable relative to the head static part generally along an instrument axis X between a forward position and a rearward position, said reciprocative part being operatively connected to said moveable distal part so that movement of the reciprocative part between its forward and rearward positions causes movement of the moveable distal part between its first and second positions, the surgical instrument handle comprising:

a handle body attachable to the head static part of the surgical instrument head;

a handle plunger configured for reciprocating motion relative to the handle body generally along the instrument axis X between forward and rearward positions, the handle plunger being operatively engageable with the reciprocative part of the surgical instrument head when the head static part is attached to the handle body, the handle plunger being configured so that movement of the handle plunger between its forward and rearward positions causes movement of the reciprocative part of the surgical instrument head between its forward and rearward positions; and

at least one lever arm connected to the handle body for lateral movement thereof relative to the handle axis between inward and outward positions, said at least one lever arm being configured for being engaged and laterally reciprocated between its inward and outward positions by a hand of a surgeon, said at least one lever arm being operatively connected to the handle plunger for moving the handle plunger between its forward and rearward positions as said at least one lever arm is moved between its inward and outward positions, the lever arm having a forward portion projecting forwardly beyond the head static part of the surgical instrument head when the head static part is attached to the handle body;

said surgical instrument handle being configured so that said lateral movement of said at least one lever arm is in a plane spaced below the handle plunger to provide a forward line of sight generally along the instrument axis X to the distal end of the surgical instrument head as viewed from behind the handle plunger for permitting the surgeon'"'"'s hand to move said at least one lever arm between its inward and outward positions without blocking the line of sight.

16. A surgical instrument handle as set forth in claim 15 wherein the handle body comprises a handle stationary part and a handle rotor rotatably connected to the handle stationary part for rotation about the instrument axis X, the handle rotor being configured for fixedly receiving the head static part so that rotation of the handle rotor relative to the handle stationary part causes like rotation of the surgical instrument head when the head static part is attached to the handle rotor.

17. A surgical instrument handle as set forth in claim 16 further comprising a handle bare in the handle stationary part for receiving the handle plunger, said handle bore and said handle plunger being configured so that movement of said at least one lever arm between its inward and outward positions causes the handle plunger to move in the handle bore between its forward and rearward positions.

18. A surgical instrument handle as set forth in claim 15 further comprising at least one protrusion extending up from said at least one lever arm and being operatively connected to the handle plunger.

19. A surgical instrument handle as set forth in claim 18 wherein said at least one lever arm comprises first and second lever arms connected to the handle body for lateral movement thereof relative to the handle axis between inward and outward positions and wherein said at least one protrusion constitutes first and second protrusions, the first protrusion extending up from the first lever arm, the second protrusion extending up from the second lever arm, the first and second protrusions being operatively connected to the handle plunger for moving the handle plunger between its forward and rearward positions as said lever arms are moved between their inward and outward positions.

20. A surgical instrument handle as set forth in claim 15 wherein the forward portion of the lever arm projects forwardly beyond the handle body.