Surgical grasping and holding forceps

• US 6,280,458 B1
• Filed: 03/22/1999
• Issued: 08/28/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 07/22/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Karl Storz Se & Co. Kg
• Original Assignee: Karl Storz Se & Co. Kg
• Inventors: Boche, Hartmut, Scherieble, Hans
• Primary Examiner(s): Thaler, Michael H.
• Application Number:
  US09/274,419
• Time in Patent Office: 890 Days
• Field of Search: 606/206, 606/208, 606/205, 606/210, 600/564, 813/18, 294/116, 294/106
• US Class Current: 606/206
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/062 Needle manipulators
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/29 Forceps for use in minimally invasive surgery
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/2909 Handles
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2913 cams or guiding means
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2916 pins in guiding slots
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2919 details of linkages or pivot points
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/292 connection of actuating rod to handle, e.g. ball end in recess
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2929 with a head rotatable about the longitudinal axis of the shaft
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2946 Locking means
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/032 pressure limiting, e.g. hydrostatic
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/03 Automatic limiting or abutting means, e.g. for safety

Abstract

A surgical grasping and holding forceps has a shaft, at least two mouth parts and a grip. A mechanism for opening and closing the mouth parts is in working engagement with the grip. The mechanism is acted upon by spring force in such a way that the mouth parts are pushed in a closing direction. A device, configured as a rigid linkage and engaging into said mechanism with which device said mouth parts are positively movable into a defined final closed position in which they exert a predefined holding force on an object received between them is provided. Said device has a stop which prevents overshooting of said final closed position, even when greater force is applied.

Claims

1. A surgical grasping and holding forceps comprising:

a shaft with at least two mouth parts which are arranged at a distal end of said shaft;

a grip which is arranged at a proximal end of said shaft;

a mechanism, in working engagement with said grip and with said mouth parts, for opening and closing said mouth parts,

a spring acting on said mechanism in such a way that said mouth parts are thereby pushed in a closing direction, and said mechanism is movable against said spring by manipulation at said grip, in such a way that said mouth parts open, and

a force limiting device, configured as a rigid link-age and engaging into said mechanism, with which force limiting device said mouth parts are positively movable into a defined final closed position in which they exert a predefined holding force on an object received between said mouth parts, said force limiting device having a stop which prevents any further movement of said mechanism and therefore any further movement of said mouth parts in said closing direction thereby preventing overshooting of said final closed position, even when a greater force is applied, and a lock for locking said mouth parts in that final closed position, said grip having a section rotatable about said shaft axis and connected to said force limiting device which is configured such that said mouth parts are movable into said final closed position by way of said rotary movement of said grip.

2. The surgical grasping and holding forceps of claim 1, wherein said grip is configured as a longitudinal grip extending in direction of a longitudinal axis of said shaft, and said mechanism and said device are received within said grip.

3. The surgical grasping and holding forceps of claim 1, wherein a slotted guide is configured in said grip, by way of which slotted guide said rotary movement of said rotatable section of said grip can be converted into an axial displacement movement of an actuation element of said mechanism, said actuation element is connected to said mouth parts.

4. The surgical grasping and holding forceps of claim 3, wherein said actuation element is displaceable in one direction along said shaft against a force of a spring, and a displacement along that direction allows said mouth parts to open to a maximum opening position.

5. The surgical grasping and holding forceps of claim 4, wherein said actuation element is joined to a connecting element which engages into a hollow-cylindrical part of said rotatable section of said grip.

6. The surgical grasping and holding forceps of claim 5, wherein said gate is configured as a hollow-cylindrical rotatable section of said grip which surrounds said gate body.

7. The surgical grasping and holding forceps of claim 5, wherein said connecting element has two diametrically opposite, radially extending projecting pins, each of which engages into a circumferential groove rising in an axial direction of said hollow-cylindrical part of said rotatable section of said grip.

8. The surgical grasping and holding forceps of claim 7, wherein each rising groove has an axially extending section.

9. The surgical grasping and holding forceps of claim 8, wherein each groove has an end section which slopes downward slightly in said axial direction with respect to said rising section of said respective groove.

10. The surgical grasping and holding forceps of claim 9, wherein a closed end of said end section of said groove forms the stop.

11. The surgical grasping and holding forceps of claim 10, wherein said lock acts between a stationary grip section and said rotatable section of said grip in such a way that said lock automatically closes when said pins of said gate body have reached said stop.

12. The surgical grasping and holding forceps of claim 11, wherein said lock has a spring-loaded axially extending stud which, when said rotatable grip section is in its final closed position, can be moved in an axially inhibiting fashion and inhibits any relative rotation between said stationary grip section and said rotatable grip section.

13. The surgical grasping and holding forceps of claim 12, wherein said stud is joined to a slide element that is movable from the outside but is adapted to an outer contour of said grip.

14. The surgical grasping and holding forceps of claim 1, wherein said grip has a cylindrical stationary section, joined immovably to said shaft and coaxial with it, onto which a hollow-cylindrical rotatable element is slid, said rotatable element and said cylindrical-stationary section being secured against axial removal via a releasable interlock.

15. The surgical grasping and holding forceps of claim 14, wherein a closure cap is immovably mounted on said rotatable element.

16. The surgical grasping and holding forceps of claim 1, wherein two grasping mouth parts are provided, a cross-sectional profile of each one being approximately semi-oval in shape, and wherein said closed mouth parts form approximately an oval.

17. The surgical grasping and holding forceps of claim 16, wherein one mouth part has an axially extending V-groove and the other mouth part has a tooth which can engage into said V-groove.

18. A surgical instrument comprising:

an actuating element extending along a longitudinal axis and displaceable in opposite axial opening and closing directions and having axially spaced apart distal and proximal ends;

a pair of mouth parts mounted on the distal end and movable relative to each other selectively between an open position, at least one intermediate closed position and a final closed position, the actuating element being displaceable in the opening direction upon applying an external force to bring the mouth parts in the open position, wherein an object is held between the mouth pieces, the actuating element being displaceable in the closing direction upon removing the external force as the mouth parts gradually assume the one intermediate closed position;

a resilient element connected to the mouth pieces which urge against the object with a first force;

a grip having a proximal end spaced radially outwardly from the proximal end of the actuating element to form a space between the proximal ends of the actuating element and the grip;

a connecting element displaceable axially in said space and operatively engaging the actuating element for synchronous axial displacement with the actuating element;

a force limiting element rotatably mounted on the grip and provided with a continuous channel having an axial segment and a curved segment, which extends angularly from the axial segment toward the proximal end of the actuating element and has an end stop surface spaced from the axial segment; and

a pin attached to the connecting element and extending radially outwardly therefrom to slide along the axial segment of the channel of the force limiting element as the actuating and connecting elements move in the closing direction to bring the mouth parts in the one intermediate closed position;

the force-limiting element being rotated upon applying an external torque to guide the radial pin along the curved segment so as to enable the connecting and actuating elements to further linearly move in the closing direction until the radial pin abuts the end stop surface of the curved segment arresting further axial displacement of the actuating and connecting elements in a position corresponding to the final closed position of the mouth pieces, wherein the mouth pieces exert a predetermine holding force on the object greater than the first force.

19. The surgical instrument defined in claim 18, wherein the proximal end of the grip has an undercut allowing the pin to engage the channel of the force-limiting element.

20. The surgical instrument defined in claim 18, wherein the curved segment of the channel of the force-limiting element has an intermediate region located closer to the proximal end of the actuating element than the end stop surface so as the pin is guided along the intermediate region the connecting and actuating elements are in an axial position, wherein the mouth pieces exert an intermediary force upon the object greater than the final force, the actuating and connecting elements being displaceable in the opening direction to reach the position corresponding to the final closed position of the mouth pieces.

21. The surgical instrument defined in claim 18, wherein the connecting element has a cylindrical proximal part radially juxtaposed with an inner surface of the grip and a frustoconical distal part narrowing toward the distal end of the of the actuating element.

22. The surgical instrument defined in claim 18 further comprising a sleeve attached to the proximal end of the actuating element and provided with a flange which engages the frustoconical part of the connecting element to provide the synchronous axial displacement of the actuating and connecting elements.

23. A surgical instrument comprising:

an actuating element linearly displaceable in opposite opening and closing directions and having spaced apart proximal and distal ends;

a pair of mouth pieces pivotally mounted on the distal end to move away from and toward each other between an open position, at least one intermediate closed position and a final closed position in response to sequential displacement of the actuating element in the opening and closing directions;

a grip extending along and spaced radially outwardly from the proximal end of the actuating element to form a space between the grip and proximal end;

a connector introduced into the space and operatively connected to the actuating element for synchronous linear displacement with the actuating element;

a force-limiting element rotatably mounted on the grip and provided with a continuous guide channel which has a straight segment extending parallel to the actuating element and running into a curved segment, which extends toward the proximal end of the actuating element and has an end stop surface; and

a pin extending radially from the connector and engaging the channel to slide along the straight segment as the actuating element is linearly displaced in the closing direction to bring the mouth parts in the intermediate closed position;

the force-limiting element being rotatable upon reaching the intermediate closing position of the mouth pieces to guide the pin along the curved segment while transmitting an external torque applied to the force-limiting element to a linear thrust of the actuating element displaceable further in the closing direction toward a final position, wherein the pin abuts the end stop surface of the curved segment to arrest further displacement of the actuating element in the closing direction.