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US 12,733,916 B2Granted
Modular forceps
OwnerWilliam J. Zinnantiinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A forceps system including a handle. The handle includes an immovable proximal handgrip and a lever resiliently pivotably coupled to the immovable proximal handgrip, such that exertion of a manual gripping force on the lever pivots the lever in a proximal direction toward the handgrip. A shaft and jaw assembly is releasably couplable to the handle, the shaft and jaw assembly including a pair of pivotable jaw members normally biased to an open configuration, the open configuration of the jaws corresponding to a released configuration of the handle, the jaws being moved to a closed configuration upon the exertion of the manual gripping force on the lever, pivoting the lever toward the handgrip.
Claims13
A forceps system, comprising:
- a handle, with proximal and distal handgrip sections pivotably coupled to one another at a pivot axis,
- a coupler structure disposed at an end of the proximal handgrip section,
- a biasing element mechanically disposed between the proximal and distal handgrip sections, such that proximal and distal handgrip sections are biased pivotably away from one another,
- the proximal handgrip section having a first end comprising a gripping portion and a second end opposite the first end comprising a coupling structure,
- the distal handgrip section having a first end comprising a gripping portion and a second end opposite the first end comprising a coupling structure, the pivot axis connecting the proximal and distal handgrip sections between their respective gripping portions and coupling structures, such that pivoting movement of the gripping portions of the proximal and distal handgrip sections toward one another against the biasing element corresponds to pivoting movement of the coupling structures of the proximal and distal handgrip sections away from one another;
- an extension, having a longitudinal axis, a first end releasably couplable to the coupling structures of the proximal and distal handgrip portions, and a second end having a connector disposed thereon;
- and
- an end effector releasably couplable to the second end of the extension;
- the end effector including a first jaw and a second jaw, wherein at least one of the first and second jaws is pivotable about a pivot axis extending substantially perpendicular to the extension longitudinal axis,
- the extension comprising a core surrounded by a sheath, the core and sheath being axially relatively movable, the core releasably couplable to the proximal handgrip portion and the sheath releasably couplable to the distal handgrip portion;
- the sheath being coupled to the distal handgrip section, so that the sheath is pushed in a distal direction, when the distal handgrip section is moved in a proximal direction toward the proximal handgrip section, the sheath directly contacting the first and second jaws to move them into a closed configuration,
- the core, in its operable configuration when coupled to the proximal handgrip section, being axially fixed and immovable relative to the proximal handgrip section.
9 more elements
A forceps system, comprising:
- a handle, with proximal and distal handgrip sections pivotably coupled to one another at a pivot axis,
- a coupler structure disposed at an end of the proximal handgrip section,
- a biasing element mechanically disposed between the proximal and distal handgrip sections, such that proximal and distal handgrip sections are biased pivotably away from one another,
- the proximal handgrip section having a first end comprising a gripping portion and a second end opposite the first end comprising a coupling structure,
- the distal handgrip section having a first end comprising a gripping portion and a second end opposite the first end comprising a coupling structure, the pivot axis connecting the proximal and distal handgrip sections between their respective gripping portions and coupling structures, such that pivoting movement of the gripping portions of the proximal and distal handgrip sections toward one another against the biasing element corresponds to pivoting movement of the coupling structures of the proximal and distal handgrip sections away from one another;
- an extension, having a longitudinal axis, a first end releasably couplable to the coupling structures of the proximal and distal handgrip portions, and a second end having a connector disposed thereon;
- and
- an end effector,
- permanently affixed to the extension;
- the end effector including a first jaw and a second jaw, wherein at least one of the first and second jaws is pivotable about a pivot axis extending substantially perpendicular to the extension longitudinal axis,
- the extension comprising a core surrounded by a sheath, the core and sheath being axially relatively movable, the core releasably couplable to the proximal handgrip portion and the sheath releasably couplable to the distal handgrip portion;
- the sheath being coupled to the distal handgrip section, so that the sheath is pushed in a distal direction, when the distal handgrip section is moved in a proximal direction toward the proximal handgrip section, the sheath directly contacting the first and second jaws to move them into a closed configuration,
- the core, in its operable configuration when coupled to the proximal handgrip section, being axially fixed and immovable relative to the proximal handgrip section.
10 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.