Grasping forceps
First Claim
1. A forceps comprising a handle, an elongate flexible shaft extending longitudinally from said handle, said shaft including a forward distal end with multiple claws diverging forwardly and terminating in radially spaced free ends to define an open position, said claws being resiliently moveable radially inward to a closed position wherein the claws are in substantially longitudinal alignment with the shaft, a closure sleeve extending forwardly of said handle and including a distal end for moving said claws to the closed position, said closure sleeve being closely received about and longitudinally reciprocal on said shaft between a retracted position rearward of said claws allowing resilient expansion of said claws to the open position, and an extended position engaged with and inwardly biasing said claws to the closed position, a sleeve control on said handle engaged with and for reciprocation of said closure sleeve between the retracted and extended positions thereof, a protective sheath extending forwardly of said handle and directly received about and longitudinally reciprocal on said closure sleeve between a retracted position rearward of said claws and the sleeve distal end, and an extended position forward of the sleeve distal end for enclosing and forwardly projecting beyond said claws and the free ends thereof, and sheath control means on said handle engaged with and for longitudinal reciprocation of said protective sheath between the retracted and extended positions thereof, and positioning means for automatically moving said closure sleeve to the extended position thereof in response to movement of the protective sheath to its extended position, and for automatically moving said protective sheath to its retracted position in response to movement of said closure sleeve to its retracted position, whereby enclosure of said claws by said sheath occurs only in the closed position of said claws.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A grasping forceps including a handle and an elongate cable with resiliently outwardly flared claws at the leading end thereof. The cable is of a fixed length relative to the handle. A closure sleeve surrounds the cable and is selectively manipulated from the handle, for movement to an extended position, relative to the handle, wherein the forward portion of the closure sleeve envelops and inwardly collapses all but the leading end portions of the claws. The closure sleeve in the retracted position, allowing for an outward springing of the claws into grasping position. The closure sleeve is surrounded by a sheath selectively extensible and relative to the handle and moveable to an extended position fully enclosing the closure sleeve and collapsed claws, the sheath projecting slightly forward thereof whereby the claw tips are recessed relative to the forward end of the sheath and are completely protectively enclosed thereby. The handle of the device, as well as the sheath controlling slide are of complementary rectangular configurations. Cooperating releasible interlocking elements can be provided to fix the sheath in the retracted position.
328 Citations
16 Claims
-
1. A forceps comprising a handle, an elongate flexible shaft extending longitudinally from said handle, said shaft including a forward distal end with multiple claws diverging forwardly and terminating in radially spaced free ends to define an open position, said claws being resiliently moveable radially inward to a closed position wherein the claws are in substantially longitudinal alignment with the shaft, a closure sleeve extending forwardly of said handle and including a distal end for moving said claws to the closed position, said closure sleeve being closely received about and longitudinally reciprocal on said shaft between a retracted position rearward of said claws allowing resilient expansion of said claws to the open position, and an extended position engaged with and inwardly biasing said claws to the closed position, a sleeve control on said handle engaged with and for reciprocation of said closure sleeve between the retracted and extended positions thereof, a protective sheath extending forwardly of said handle and directly received about and longitudinally reciprocal on said closure sleeve between a retracted position rearward of said claws and the sleeve distal end, and an extended position forward of the sleeve distal end for enclosing and forwardly projecting beyond said claws and the free ends thereof, and sheath control means on said handle engaged with and for longitudinal reciprocation of said protective sheath between the retracted and extended positions thereof, and positioning means for automatically moving said closure sleeve to the extended position thereof in response to movement of the protective sheath to its extended position, and for automatically moving said protective sheath to its retracted position in response to movement of said closure sleeve to its retracted position, whereby enclosure of said claws by said sheath occurs only in the closed position of said claws.
- 2. A forceps comprising a handle, an elongate flexible shaft extending longitudinally from said handle, said shaft including a forward distal end with multiple claws diverging forwardly and terminating in radially spaced free ends to define an open position, said claws being resiliently moveable radially inward to a closed position wherein the claws are in substantially longitudinal alignment with the shaft, a closure sleeve with a distal end for moving said claws to the closed position, said closure sleeve being closely received about and longitudinally reciprocal on said shaft between a retracted position rearward of said claws allowing resilient expansion of said claws to the open position, and an extended position engaged with and inwardly biasing said claws to the closed position, a sleeve control on said handle for reciprocation of said closure sleeve between the retracted and extended positions thereof, said distal end of said closure sleeve, in the extended position thereof, terminating rearwardly spaced from and out of direct contact with the free ends of the claws, a protective sheath received about and longitudinally reciprocal on said closure sleeve between a retracted position rearward of said claws and the sleeve distal end, and an extended position enclosing and forwardly projecting beyond said claws and the free ends thereof, sheath control means on said handle for longitudinal reciprocation of said protective sheath between the retracted and extended positions thereof, said sheath, in the extended position thereof, surrounding the claw free ends without end-compressing engagement therewith, and positioning means for automatically moving said closure sleeve to the extended position thereof in response to movement of the protective sheath to its extended position, and for automatically moving said protective sheath to its retracted position in response to movement of said closure sleeve to its retracted position, whereby enclosure of said claws by said sheath occurs only in the closed position of said claws.
- 15. A forceps comprising a handle, an elongate flexible shaft extending longitudinally from said handle, said shaft including a forward distal end with multiple claws diverging forwardly and terminating in radially spaced free ends to define an open position, said claws being resiliently moveable radially inward to a closed position wherein the claws are in substantially longitudinal alignment with the shaft, a closure sleeve with a distal end for moving said claws to the closed position, said closure sleeve being closely received about and longitudinally reciprocal on said shaft between a retracted position rearward of said claws allowing resilient expansion of said claws to the open position, and an extended position engaged with and inwardly biasing said claws to the closed position, a sleeve control on said handle for reciprocation of said closure sleeve between the retracted and extended positions thereof, said distal end of said closure sleeve, in the extended position thereof, terminating rearwardly spaced from and out of direct contact with the free ends of the claws, a protective sheath received about and longitudinally reciprocal on said closure sleeve between a retracted position rearward of said claws and the sleeve distal end, and an extended position enclosing and forwardly projecting beyond said claws and the free ends thereof, sheath control means on said handle for longitudinal reciprocation of said protective sheath between the retracted and extended positions thereof, said sheath, in the extended position thereof, surrounding the claw free ends without end-compressing engagement therewith, said handle including a distal end and a proximal end, said handle defining a longitudinally extending interior chamber opening through the distal end thereof, said shaft being longitudinally received within said chamber through the distal end of the handle and into fixed engagement with said handle at the proximal end, said closure sleeve extending into said handle chamber through the distal end of the handle, said sleeve control comprising a control knob engaged with that portion of the closure sleeve within the chamber, said handle including an elongate slot therein communicating with a length of said chamber, said control knob extending through said slot for external access thereto for a manual manipulation thereof, and means mounting said control knob on said housing for longitudinal reciprocation, said sheath control means comprising an elongate slide longitudinally received within said handle chamber through the distal end thereof, said slide extending longitudinally beyond said handle and terminating in a distal end, said shaft, closure sleeve and sheath being longitudinally received through said slide, said slide, within said handle chamber, having an opening defined longitudinally therealong corresponding to the handle slot for accommodation of the control knob therethrough and into engagement with the closure sleeve within said slide, said longitudinal opening providing for longitudinal reciprocation of the control knob relative to the slide, and sheath retaining means on the distal end of the slide fixing the sheath to the slide of control thereby.
Specification