# US 11,026,710 B2 · Surgical instruments and methods of manufacturing surgical instruments for performing tonsillectomy, adenoidectomy, and other surgical procedures > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,026,710 B2 - Document ID: US11026710B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/244,810 - Filed: 2019-01-10 - Published: 2020-07-16 - Granted: 2021-06-08 - Earliest claimed: 2019-01-10 - Assignees: Covidien LP - Applicants: Covidien LP - Inventors: Stephen J. Stamm; Subhadeep Saha; Purvishkumar H. Soni; Jessica E. C. Olson; Alyssa M. Sawyer - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11026710B2 ## CPC - A61B 17/26: Tonsillotomes, with or without means for stopping bleeding - A61B 17/285: combined with cutting implements - A61B 17/295: combined with cutting implements - A61B 18/1445: {at the distal end of a shaft, e.g. forceps or scissors at the end of a rigid rod} - A61B 2017/00353: {one mechanical instrument performing multiple functions, e.g. cutting and grasping} - A61B 2017/2919: {details of linkages or pivot points} - A61B 2017/2925: {Pistol grips} - A61B 2018/00327: {Ear, nose or throat} - A61B 2018/00577: {Ablation} - A61B 2018/00601: {Cutting} - A61B 2018/1455: {having a moving blade for cutting tissue grasped by the jaws} - A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D) ## Abstract A surgical instrument includes a housing having a movable handle operably coupled to the housing and movable relative thereto between an initial position and a compressed position. A trigger is operably coupled to the housing within a slot defined therein and movable relative to the housing and the movable handle between an un-actuated position and an actuated position. A flange is disposed on the trigger and configured to extend distally therefrom. The flange is dimensioned to cover the slot when the trigger is moved between the un-actuated and actuated positions to avoid creating a potential pinch point between the trigger and the slot. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A surgical instrument, comprising: a housing; a movable handle operably coupled to the housing and movable relative thereto between an initial position and a compressed position; a trigger operably coupled to the housing within a slot defined therein, the trigger movable relative to the housing and the movable handle between an un-actuated position and an actuated position; and a flange disposed on the trigger and extending distally therefrom, the flange dimensioned to cover the slot when the trigger is moved between the un-actuated and actuated positions to avoid creating a potential pinch point between the trigger and the slot. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The surgical instrument according to claim 1, wherein movement of the trigger from the un-actuated position to the actuated position deploys a knife. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The surgical instrument according to claim 1, wherein the flange is made from the same material as the trigger. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The surgical instrument according to claim 1, wherein the flange is made from material selected from the group consisting of plastic, polymer, rubber and silicone. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The surgical instrument according to claim 1, wherein the movable handle and the trigger are pivotably coupled to the housing. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The surgical instrument according to claim 5, wherein the movable handle and the trigger are pivotably coupled to the housing about a common pivot. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The surgical instrument according to claim 1, wherein the trigger at least partially surrounds the movable handle. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The surgical instrument according to claim 1, wherein the trigger and the movable handle define complementarily-contoured abutting surfaces. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The surgical instrument according to claim 1, wherein the flange and an underside of the housing define complementarily-contoured facing surfaces. ### Claim 10 A surgical instrument, comprising: a housing; a movable handle operably coupled to the housing and movable relative thereto between an initial position and a compressed position; a trigger operably coupled to the housing within a slot defined therein, the trigger movable relative to the housing when the movable handle is disposed in the compressed position between an un-actuated position and an actuated position; and a flange disposed on the trigger and extending distally therefrom, the flange dimensioned to cover the slot when the trigger is moved between the un-actuated and actuated positions to avoid creating a potential pinch point between the trigger and the slot. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The surgical instrument according to claim 10, wherein movement of the trigger from the un-actuated position to the actuated position deploys a knife. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The surgical instrument according to claim 10, wherein the flange is made from the same material as the trigger. ### Claim 13 (depends on 10) The surgical instrument according to claim 10, wherein the flange is made from material selected from the group consisting of plastic, polymer, rubber and silicone. ### Claim 14 (depends on 10) The surgical instrument according to claim 10, wherein the movable handle and the trigger are pivotably coupled to the housing. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The surgical instrument according to claim 14, wherein the movable handle and the trigger are pivotably coupled to the housing about a common pivot. ### Claim 16 (depends on 10) The surgical instrument according to claim 10, wherein the trigger at least partially surrounds the movable handle. ### Claim 17 (depends on 10) The surgical instrument according to claim 10, wherein the trigger and the movable handle define complementarily-contoured abutting surfaces. ### Claim 18 (depends on 10) The surgical instrument according to claim 10, wherein the flange and an underside of the housing define complementarily-contoured facing surfaces.