US 3,995,619 A · Combination subcutaneous suture remover, biopsy sampler and syringe

Abstract

A multi-purpose surgical instrument for subcutaneous use is described. The instrument includes a generally hollow inner tube which is provided at a probing free end with a crochet-type hook. The other end, or hand-held end, is fixedly joined to a finger grip. An inner clamping rod is slideably mounted within the hollow tube and can be selectively axially moved between clamping and releasing positions at the hook and be positively locked in the clamping condition thereof. An outside cutting sleeve receives the hollow tube therein and is provided with a rotary cutting edge which is adapted to angularly turn about the axis of the hollow tube to sweep at least a portion of the hook face to thereby cut an object clamped at the hook by the rod. A cutter actuator is connected to the outside cutting sleeve and cooperates with the handle finger grip to limit the relative angular turning or displacement between the hollow tube and the outside cutting sleeve to prevent the rotary cutting edge to sweep across the entire face of the hook. This assures that an object clamped within the hook is not totally released from the hook. By providing a helical-type cam-follower arrangement between the handle or finger grip and the cutter actuator, the cutting sleeve may be made to be linearly or axially displaced simultaneously with rotary or relative angular movement between the cutting sleeve and the hollow tube or hook. By utilizing only one, two or three of the operative members of the instrument, these being the hollow tube, elongate rod or outside cutting sleeve, the instrument may be utilized for different subcutaneous procedures.

Claims37

Dependent claims

A multi-purpose surgical instrument for subcutaneous use comprising probe means in the nature of an elongate and generally slender member having a generally uniform transverse cross-section along the longitudinal axis thereof and having a bearing surface portion at the probing free end thereof;

and clamping means arranged for movement in a direction generally parallel to said axis of said probe means and having an end portion thereof movable between a first clamping position wherein said end portion abuts against said bearing surface portion and a second releasing position wherein said end portion is removed or spaced from said bearing surface portion, whereby said bearing surface portion and end portion together form a clamping device in the nature of a vice which can be opened and closed by relative movement therebetween along a direction generally parallel to said axis of said probe means.

A subcutaneous suture extraction surgical instrument comprising:

a. an elongate and generally slender circular hollow tube having a longitudinal axis and provided with a crochet-type hook at a probing end thereof, said hook having a bearing surface portion generally facing the hand-held end thereof remote from said probing end;
b. a finger grip fixedly joined to said hand-held end of said hollow tube and configurated to facilitate gripping and handling of said hollow tube;
c. an elongate rod having an end portion and mounted within said hollow tube for slideable axial movements relative to said hollow tube between a clamping position wherein said end portion is in abutment against said bearing surface portion and a releasing position wherein said end portion is spaced from said bearing surface portion;
d. adjusting means mounted on said finger grip and coupled to said elongate rod for selectively adjusting the spacing between said bearing surface portion and said end portion to permit movement of said rod between said clamping and releasing positions, said bearing surface portion and end portion together forming a clamping device in the nature of a vice which can be opened and closed by relative movement between said hollow tube and elongate rod along a direction generally parallel to said axis;
e. a rotary cutter element in the nature of an outside sleeve which is coextensive with the outside surface of said hollow tube and covers the same substantially over the entire length thereof, said outside sleeve being mounted on said hollow tube for relative angular or rotary and axial movements with respect to said hollow tube and having circular cutting edge in the region of said hook, said cutter element being movable between a non-cutting position wherein said cutting edge fully exposes said hook for probing and engaging a suture, and a cutting position wherein said cutting edge sweeps over at least a portion of said hook to cut a suture clamped by said hollow tube bearing surface portion and said rod;
and
f. a cutter actuator fixedly connected to said cutter element at the end thereof remote from said cutting edge and being mounted on said finger grip for movement relative thereto between first and second portions respectively corresponding to said cutting and non-cutting positions of said cutter element, whereby relative movement between said hollow tube hook and cutter element cutting edge may be effected by corresponding relative movement between said finger grip and cutter actuator to cut a suture clamped within said hook by said elongate rod, and whereby subcutaneous hooking, clamping and cutting procedures can be performed by controlling said adjusting means and cutter actuator relative to said finger grip at the hand-held end of the instrument.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Combination subcutaneous suture remover, biopsy sampler and syringe

Life of this patent

Combination subcutaneous suture remover, biopsy sampler and syringe

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims37