Surgical grasping and holding forceps

• US 6,635,071 B2
• Filed: 08/24/2001
• Issued: 10/21/2003
• 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: Scherieble, Hans, Boche, Hartmut
• Primary Examiner(s): Thaler, Michael H.
• Application Number:
  US09/938,702
• Publication Number:
  US 20020002385A1
• Time in Patent Office: 788 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:

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, said mechanism having a spring exerting a spring force, said mechanism being acted upon by said spring force in such a way that said mouth parts are thereby pushed in a closing direction, and said mechanism is movable against said spring force by manipulation at said grip, in such a way that said mouth parts open;

a lock for locking said mouth parts in a definite position;

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 said mouth parts, said device having a stop which prevents overshooting of said final closed position, even when a greater force is applied, and wherein said lock locks said mouth parts in that final closed position; and

wherein said device has at least one lever, articulated on said grip, whose one end is in engagement with said mechanism for opening and closing, and whose other end is swung out laterally when said mouth parts are in an open position, the other end being swingable onto said grip in order to move said mouth arts into said final closed position.

2. The surgical grasping and holding forceps of claim 1, wherein in said final closed position the at least one lever extends along said elongated grip.

3. The surgical grasping and holding forceps of claim 2, wherein there is cut out from said grip a longitudinal groove into which said lever can be snugly received when said mouth parts are in said final closed position, so that it does not project beyond a contour of said grip.

4. The surgical grasping and holding forceps of claims 3, wherein two levers, arranged diametrically opposite one another, are provided.

5. The surgical grasping and holding forceps of claim 4 wherein said lock is configured as a slide bushing, which when said lever is swung onto said grip, can be slid over it and keeps it from swinging outward.

6. The surgical grasping and holding forceps of claim 5, wherein said slide bushing is locked by way of a ball catch when said mouth parts are in said final closed position.

7. The surgical grasping and holding forceps of claim 6, wherein said mechanism for opening and closing said mouth parts has an actuation element, axially displaceable in said shaft, which actuation element is connected to one end of said lever in such a way that a pivoting movement of said lever end can be converted into an axial displacement movement of said actuation element.