Surgery – Instruments – Forceps
Reexamination Certificate
2000-08-17
2002-12-03
Nerbun, Peter (Department: 3768)
Surgery
Instruments
Forceps
Reexamination Certificate
active
06488695
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates generally to the field of surgical probes and, more particularly, to ophthalmologic surgical probes.
During ophthalmologic microsurgery, it is often necessary to dissect, cut, delaminate or otherwise manipulate delicate tissues within the eye. Microsurgical tools, such as microscissors, micro forceps and other devices generally are used for such manipulations. Many of these devices require some sort of actuation (i.e., the blades of a scissors must be rotated across each other in order to cut, the grasping tips of a forceps must be bought together in order to grasp, etc.).
Many prior art devices use plunger-like devices actuated by a finger operated levers (U.S. Pat. No. 4,258,716 (Sutherland)). Other prior art devices use a handle that is squeezed to operate the probe tip (U.S. Pat. No. 4,433,687 (Burke, et al.).
These prior art devices all require a relatively expensive drive mechanism, making the cost of these devices prohibitive for a single-use, disposable device.
Therefore, a need continues to exist for a simple, inexpensive actuator handle for microsurgical probes.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention improves upon the prior art by providing a probe having an actuation handle made from springy material having a memory. Squeezing the handle causes the actuation device to elongate, thereby causing movement in the probe tip. The probe handle of the present invention may be held and actuated in any position.
Accordingly, one objective of the present invention is to provide a simple probe actuation handle.
Another objective of the present invention is to provide an inexpensive probe actuation handle.
Still another objective of the present invention is to provide a probe actuation handle that may be held and actuated in any position.
These and other advantages and objectives of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description and claims that follow.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4201213 (1980-05-01), Townsend
patent: 4258716 (1981-03-01), Sutherland
patent: 4433687 (1984-02-01), Burke et al.
patent: 4877026 (1989-10-01), de Laforcade
patent: 5263958 (1993-11-01), deGuillebon et al.
patent: 5275607 (1994-01-01), Lo et al.
patent: 5290302 (1994-03-01), Pericic
patent: 5350391 (1994-09-01), Iacovelli
patent: 5355871 (1994-10-01), Hurley
patent: 5395386 (1995-03-01), Slater
patent: 5443476 (1995-08-01), Shapiro
patent: 5562693 (1996-10-01), Devlin et al.
patent: 5562699 (1996-10-01), Heimberger
patent: 5634918 (1997-06-01), Richards
patent: 5695521 (1997-12-01), Anderhub
patent: 5897507 (1999-04-01), Kortenbach et al.
patent: 35 26 821 (2001-10-01), None
Alcon® Vision Care Brochure Providing Product Information for New Tears Naturale™ Punctal Plugs, 1278 OPP (1998).
Grieshaber Switzerland Brochure Providing Product Information for The Grieshaber Sutherland Round Handle (02.97).
Grieshaber Switzerland Brochure Providing Product Information for The Grieshaber Foreign Body Forceps (03.99).
Alcon Inc.
Moran Katerine
Nerbun Peter
Schira Jeffrey S.
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