Pin-less surgical instrument

• US 6,599,309 B1
• Filed: 08/22/2000
• Issued: 07/29/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 09/09/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Aspen Surgical Products Incorporated (Aspen Surgical Products Holdings Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Tnco, Inc. (Symmetry Medical Inc)
• Inventors: Gilman, Brian W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Calvert, John J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Hoey, Alissa L
• Application Number:
  US09/642,822
• Time in Patent Office: 1,071 Days
• Field of Search: 606/207, 606/206, 606/174, 606/184, 606/51, 606/157, 606/208, 606/170, 606/52, 606/209, 606/210, 606/211, 606/83, 606/167, 606/22, 606/205
• US Class Current: 606/205
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/1608 the two jaw elements being linked to two elongated shaft elements moving longitudinally relative to each other
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/29 Forceps for use in minimally invasive surgery
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2902 characterized by features of the actuating rod
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/292 connection of actuating rod to handle, e.g. ball end in recess
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2934 arcuate shaped guiding means
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/294 Connection of actuating rod to jaw, e.g. releasable

Abstract

A miniature articulated tip instrument for surgical and like uses, comprising: a thumb housing with an elongated fixed jaw assembly mounted thereto and extending therefrom. A movable jaw actuator member is slidably mounted in a groove formed in the said fixed jaw assembly, the proximal end of the actuator member being seated in a finger housing which is mounted to and spring biased from the thumb housing. A movable jaw defining at least one arcuate projection extending therefrom for pivotal engagement with the actuator member is additionally provided with a second arcuate projection and a concnetric cutout on its opposite side from the second arcuate projection to engage the fixed jaw member and provide a pivot point. The actuator member drives the movable jaw member in a pivoting motion within a throughgoing slot formed in the fixed jaw member within a range of movement with respect to the fixed jaw assembly between extended and retracted positions for effecting selective user controlled working movement.

Claims

1. A miniature articulated tip instrument for surgical and like uses, comprising:

a thumb housing with a fixed jaw assembly mounted thereto and extending therefrom, an actuator member slidably mounted to said fixed jaw assembly, said actuator member comprising an elongated body with a distal end portion constructed with an arcuate cutout shaped to hold a complimentary shaped portion of a moveable jaw, means to drive said actuator member mounted on said thumb housing, a movable jaw defining at least one semi-cylindrical projection extending therefrom for pivotal engagement with said actuator member, said movable jaw defining and a second arcuate projection and a complimentary formed stepped cutout located on its opposite side from said second arcuate projection engaging said fixed jaw member to form a pivot point, said movable jaw member having a range of movement with respect to said fixed jaw assembly between extended and retracted positions for effecting selective user controlled pivotal working movement.

2. A miniature articulated tip instrument as claimed in claim 1 wherein said movable jaw comprises a tip housing defining a curved cutout on one side adapted to be mounted over a curved projection defined by said fixed jaw assembly and a curved projection adapted to be mounted in a curved cutout of said actuator member.

3. A miniature articulated tip instrument as claimed in claim 1 wherein said actuator member defines a slide guide which is moveably seated in a groove defined in said fixed jaw assembly.

4. A miniature articulated tip instrument as claimed in claim 1 wherein said movable jaw comprises a body with a grasping edge and defines an arcuate projection and a camming surface spaced from said arcuate projection which is inclined upwards to a peak and downward from the peak to form two intersecting curved sides.

5. A miniature articulated tip instrument as claimed in claim 1 where said fixed jaw assembly has an elongated housing which defines a throughgoing slot at its distal end portion which receives said movable jaw.

6. A miniature articulated tip instrument as claimed in claim 5 wherein said throughgoing slot has curved ends.

7. A miniature articulated tip instrument as claimed in claim 5 wherein said housing defines an arcuate projection which extends into said slot and defines a arcuate cutout which is concentric to said arcuate projection to receive a complimentary cutout and projection formed on each side of said moveable jaw assembly.

8. A miniature articulated tip instrument as claimed in claim 7 wherein said arcuate projection is frustum conical in shape.

9. A miniature articulated tip instrument as claimed in claim 1 wherein said actuator driving means is a finger housing assembly which is spring mounted to said thumb housing.

10. A miniature articulated tip instrument as claimed in claim 9 wherein said finger housing assembly defines a seat which holds the proximal end of said actuator member.

11. A miniature articulated tip instrument as claimed in claim 1 wherein said movable jaw member is provided with a serrated outer surface.

12. A miniature articulated tip instrument as claimed in claim 1 wherein said movable jaw member is provided with a blade cutting surface.

13. A miniature articulated tip instrument as claimed in claim 1 wherein said movable jaw member is provided with a grasping surface.

14. A surgical instrument comprising a first stationary jaw member, a second movable jaw member and a coupling actuator member that is movable relative to said first stationary jaw member and engages said moveable jaw member;

(a) said stationary jaw member defining at least one groove, said coupling actuator member defining a guide being slidably disposed in said at least one groove to allow axial movement along said at least one groove, said movable jaw member being mounted in a throughgoing slot defined in said first stationary jaw member and being capable of pivotal movement towards and away from said first stationary jaw member, said first stationary jaw member defining at least one arcuate projection which is mounted in a respective arcuate cutout of said moveable jaw member and an arcuate cutout which receives an arcuate projection of said movable jaw member to form a pivot point;

(b) said movable jaw member and said coupling actuator member being movably interconnected, said coupling member defining an arcuate cutout which receives an arcuate projection extending from said moveable jaw member body so as to couple said coupling member to said movable jaw member rotating said moveable jaw member relative to said first stationary jaw member;

said movable jaw member further defining a stepped open arcuate cutout on one side and a complimentary stepped arcuate projection on its other side and a spaced camming surface which is inclined upwards to a peak and downward to form two intersecting curved sides.

(c) whereby when said coupling actuator member is moved in a first direction relative to said first stationary jaw member, said second movable jaw member will open away from said first stationary jaw member and when said actuator coupling member is moved in a second opposite direction relative to said first stationary jaw member, said second movable jaw member will close towards said first stationary jaw member, said first and second jaw members being arranged so that body tissue located between said first and second jaw member may be severed in a punching motion as said jaw members are opened and closed relative to one another by movement of said coupling member relative to said first stationary jaw member.

15. A surgical instrument as claimed in claim 14 wherein said coupling actuator member comprises an elongated body with a distal end portion constructed with an arcuate cutout forming an arcuate wall and a stepped arcuate cutout.

16. A surgical instrument as claimed in claim 14 where said fixed jaw assembly has an elongated housing which defines a throughgoing slot at its distal end portion, an arcuate projection extending into said slot and an opposing arcuate chamber which is adapted to receive an arcuate projection of said movable jaw.

17. A miniature articulated tip instrument assembly comprising:

(a) a fixed jaw housing with an elongated member extending therefrom, said elongated member defining a channel therein and having a distal end portion provided with a throughgoing slot and a pivotal mounting integrally formed therein for a movable jaw member;

(b) an elongated drive member moveably mounted on said elongated member with its distal end being provided with at least one movable jaw member connecting means;

(c) means to drive said elongated drive member mounted to said fixed jaw housing;

(d) a movable jaw member mounted for rotation on said pivotal mounting of said fixed housing, said movable jaw member defining a semi-cylindrical projection which is mounted in a semi cylindrical cutout of said elongated drive member and an arcuate projection with a transverse sidewall which is positioned into a similarly shaped cutout cut through a wall of said movable jaw member into said throughgoing slot, said movable jaw member further defining a cutout positioned opposite said arcuate projection which is positioned over an arcuate projection extending from said fixed jaw housing into said throughgoing slot for rotating said jaw member towards or away from said fixed jaw housing elongated member to provide selective grasping, clamping, or cutting action.