Fingertip Surgical Instrument
OwnerJames W. Voegele, Robert P. Gill +1inventors
InventorsJames W. Voegele, Robert P. Gill, Wayne L. Poll
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Disclosed is a minimally invasive surgical instrument that may be used in hand-assisted laparoscopic surgeries. The device is a multifunctional surgical instrument that may be mounted directly on a surgeon's fingertip and inserted through an incision to allow the surgeon to manipulate tissue during a surgical procedure. Versions show a self-righting suture needle holder and a version with a dual pivoting jaw (e.g., grasper, cutter) that has an elongate neck to enhance the reach of the instrument. In addition, an elongate neck of an actuated fingertip instrument enhances the range reachable through a single incision.
Claims9
A fingertip-mounted minimally invasive surgical instrument comprising:
- a first jaw comprising a concave contacting surface;
- a second jaw comprising a convex contacting surface;
- a finger mounting portion supporting the first and second jaws;
- and
- a finger actuated member supported for movement by the finger mounting portion and connected to a selected one of a group consisting of the first and second jaw to effect closure to a spacing sufficient to orient and grip a suture needle.
A fingertip-mounted minimally invasive surgical instrument comprising:
- a finger mounting portion;
- pair of pivotally attached jaws;
- an elongate neck spacing the pair of pivotally attached jaws from the finger mounting portion;
- and
- a finger actuated member coupled for movement to the finger mounting portion and to the pair of pivotally attached jaws to effect opening and closing of the pair.
A fingertip-mounted minimally invasive surgical instrument comprising:
- a pair of grasping jaws;
- a finger mounting portion supporting the first and second jaws;
- a finger actuated member supported for movement by the finger mounting portion operable to open and to close the jaws;
- and
- a locking member positionable to maintain the finger actuated member in a selected one of a group consisting of a jaws open state and a jaws closed state.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.