Surgery – Instruments – Tweezers
Reexamination Certificate
2000-01-10
2001-08-07
Recla, Henry J. (Department: 3731)
Surgery
Instruments
Tweezers
C606S107000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06270514
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates generally to forceps apparatus with sensitive adjustment, and more specifically, concerns improvements in surgical forceps instruments responsive to finger pressure.
There is continual need for improvements in surgical forceps adjustability and sensitivity to manual adjustment; and in particular for improvements as are described herein, to provide unusual advantages as will appear.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is a major object of the invention to provide improved instrumentation meeting the above-described need.
Basically, the herein-described apparatus is used for manipulation of a gripped element employed in surgery, which includes:
a) two elongated lever arms, each of which has a distal first zone, and a second zone or zones rearward of said distal first zone, and a handle from which the arms extend forwardly,
b) the arms extending so that the first distal zones are yieldably urged toward one another by the arms to hold the gripped element therebetween,
c) at least one of the arm second zones configured to move relative to the other arm in response to controllable force exertion between the arms, thereby to cause such first zones to relatively separate, enabling gripping or release of the element.
As will be seen, the gripped element may be positioned between the forceps arm first distal zones, to be released or gripped in response to arm pivoting. In an example, the gripped element may comprise an artificial lens to be inserted into the eye, positioned, and released.
Another object is to provide a device located externally of the eye and in association with the arms to exert force on the arms causing arm release of the element in the eye. Such a device may, in one preferred form, comprise a pusher having camming engagement with at least one of the arms, at the second zone or zones. The pusher may be carried or positioned between the arms, for such camming engagement, as for example with slide camming surfaces of both arms.
A further object is to provide a space between the arms, to receive the pusher; and a space may also be provided to receive the user's finger usable to push the pusher, for adjusting the spreading of the arms, in infinitely and sensitively adjustable manner. If desired, a spring may be provided to yieldably urge the pusher in a position restoration direction.
An additional object is to provide a method of manipulating an element to be gripped for use in surgery, which includes
a) providing two elongated lever arms, each of which has a distal first zone, and a second zone or zones rearward of the distal first zone, and providing a handle from which the arms extend forwardly,
b) the arms supported so that the first distal zones are yieldably urged toward one another by the arms to hold the gripped element therebetween,
c) at least one of the arm second zones configured to pivot relative to the other arm in response to controllable force exertion between the arms,
d) and exerting controlled force between the arms to cause at least one arm to move relative to the other arm for enabling gripping or release of the element by the first distal zones.
As referred to, an arm pusher may be provided via which such controllable force is applicable to the arms to cause at least one arm to pivot relative to the other arm; and the pusher may be positioned between the second zones of the two arms to have sliding engagement with the arms, in response to finger pressure.
A yet further object is to exert controllable force on the pusher to cause the pusher to controllably and relatively spread the arms in response to sliding engagement therewith, and with space provided between the arms to receive the user's finger to operate the pusher. The method may also include accurate release of the element, such as an artificial lens, in the eye, by exerting highly sensitively adjustable force on the pusher externally of the eye.
A further object is to provide for pusher camming engagement with at least one of the arms so as to provide mechanical advantage whereby pusher displacement by an amount d
1
exceeds relative spreading of the two arm distal zones by an amount d
2
, expressed as d
1
>d
2
.
Another object is to provide finger slide surfaces extending longitudinally along the arms at said second zones, said surfaces tapering laterally toward a longitudinally elongated space between said arms. Such slide surfaces may typically include first and second slide surfaces at opposite sides of the elongated space. The arms may also define third and fourth slide surfaces at opposite sides of the elongated space, the first and third slide surfaces located on one of said two arms, and said second and fourth slide surfaces located on the other of said two arms. The arms may also define laterally extending domes extending longitudinally along the respective arms, said slide surfaces located proximate said domes, respectively. Accordingly, finger pressure may be exerted against the slide surface, as between the domes, and while displacing the loci of finger pressure longitudinally along said surfaces to controllably effect separation of said arm distal zones.
REFERENCES:
patent: 902726 (1908-11-01), Greer
patent: 2533801 (1950-12-01), Heilig
patent: 5236436 (1993-08-01), Koros et al.
patent: 5292324 (1994-03-01), McDonald
patent: 5776139 (1998-07-01), McDonald
Haefliger William W.
Ho Tan-Uyen T.
Recla Henry J.
Surgical Concepts, Inc.
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