Collagen forceps

• US 6,174,321 B1
• Filed: 05/11/1999
• Issued: 01/16/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 08/06/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: EagleVision, Inc
• Original Assignee: EagleVision, Inc
• Inventors: Webb, Nicholas J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Buiz, Michael
• Assistant Examiner(s): NGO, LIEN M
• Application Number:
  US09/310,061
• Time in Patent Office: 616 Days
• Field of Search: 606/210, 606/205, 606/206, 606/207, 606/208, 606/209, 606/211, D28/55, D24/143
• US Class Current: 606/210
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/30 Surgical pincettes without pivotal connectionsfor holding suture needles or materials A61B17/0483; wound clamps A61B17/08 ; hand-held gripping tools without pivotal connections in general B25B9/02
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00353 one mechanical instrument performing multiple functions, e.g. cutting and grasping channel for multiple instruments A61B2017/3445; instrument channel A61B2017/22072; replaceable heads A61B2017/2931; suction A61M1/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 9/00772 Apparatus for restoration of tear ducts

Abstract

The collagen forceps includes two elongate members coupled at a proximal live hinge. The elongate members are each provided with a knurled finger pad ergonomically contoured to stably receive a finger or thumb of a physician, and a manipulation tip having an interior collagen rod gripping surfaces. The manipulation tip of the collagen forceps includes two gripping channels preferably oriented substantially orthoganally relative to each other. In addition, the manipulation tip is preferably angled relative to an axis of the collagen forceps. The proximal end of the forceps includes a shaft which is also preferably angled relative to the axis, and thereby facilitates grip and balance of the collagen forceps in the hand of the physician.

Claims

1. A collagen forceps having a longitudinal axis, said collagen forceps for use by a practitioner to insert a collagen rod having a longitudinal axis into a punctal opening of an eye, comprising;

a) a first elongate member having a proximal portion and distal portion provided with a first end, said first end including a first collagen rod gripping means having first channel, a second collagen rod gripping means having a second channel angled relative to said first channel;

b) a second elongate member having a proximal portion and a distal portion provided with a second end; and

c) coupling means for hingeably coupling said first and second elongate members,

wherein the collagen forceps is adapted to permit the practitioner to releasably securably grip the collagen rod within at least one of said first and second channels of said collagen forceps.

2. A collagen forceps according to claim 1, wherein:

said channels are substantially hemispherical in cross-section.

3. A collagen forceps according to claim 1, wherein:

said distal portions of said first and second elongate members are angled at substantially a same angle and in substantially a same direction relative to said proximal portions of said first and second elongate members.

4. A collagen forceps according to claim 3, wherein:

said distal portions are angled approximately 15°

-30°

relative to said proximal portions.

5. A collagen forceps according to claim 1, further comprising:

d) a proximal shaft coupled to said coupling means.

6. A collagen forceps according to claim 5, wherein:

said shaft is angled in a first direction relative to said proximal portions of said first and second elongate members.

7. A collagen forceps according to claim 5, wherein:

said distal portions of said first ad second elongate members are angled in a second direction relative to said proximal portions of said first and second elongate members and said shaft.

8. A collagen forceps according to claim 1, wherein:

said first elongate member includes a first finger engagement means for receiving one of a finger or thumb of the practitioner, and said second elongate member includes a second finger engagement means for receiving the other of a finger or thumb of the practitioner,

wherein the practitioner, by placement of his or her finger and thumb on said finger engagement means and by movement of his or her finger and thumb toward each other, is able to move said gripping means of said first elongate member toward said gripping means of said second elongate member.

9. A collagen forceps according to claim 1, wherein:

each of said first and second channels include a wall that contacts the collagen rod along more than two longitudinal lines parallel to the longitudinal axis of the collagen rod.

10. A collagen forceps having a longitudinal axis, said collagen forceps for use by a practitioner to insert a collagen rod having a longitudinal axis into a punctal opening of an eye, comprising:

a) a first elongate member having a proximal portion and distal portion;

b) a second elongate member having a proximal portion and a distal portion provided with a second end; and

c) coupling means for hingeably coupling said first and second elongate members,

at least one of said distal portions of said first and second elongate members having a first collagen rod gripping having a first channel, at least one of said distal portions of said first and second elongate members having a second collagen rod gripping means having a second channel angled relative to said first channel, each of said first and second collagen rod gripping means adapted to grip the collagen rod along more than two longitudinal lines parallel to the longitudinal axis of the collagen rod,

wherein said collagen forceps in adapted to permit the practitioner to releasably securably grip the collagen rod within either of said first and second channels of said collagen forceps.

11. A collagen forceps according to claim 10, wherein:

said channel are substantially hemispherical in cross-section.

12. A collagen forceps according to claim 10, wherein:

said distal portions of said first and second elongate members are angled at substantially a same angle and substantially a same direction relative to said proximal portions of said first and second elongate members.

13. A collagen forceps according to claim 12, wherein:

said distal portions are angled approximately 15°

-30°

relative to said proximal portions.

14. A collagen forceps according to claim 10, further comprising:

d) a proximal shaft coupled to said coupling means.

15. A collagen forceps according to claim 14, wherein:

said shaft is angled in a first direction relative to said proximal portions of said first and second elongate members.

16. A collagen forceps according to claim 14, wherein:

said distal portions of said first and second elongate members are angled in a second direction relative to said proximal portions of said first and second elongate members and said shaft.