US 4,147,443 AGranted

Handle for a medical instrument

AssigneeS&S Medical Products, LLC

InventorBarry A. Skobel

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Abstract

A handle for a medical instrument having a handle portion. The handle portion is fabricated from metal, preferably stainless steel, and is provided with at least one annular channel disposed completely around the handle portion. An elastomer material, preferably silicone rubber, is molded on the handle portion to completely cover the handle portion, where the elastomer material extends into and fills the channel. The elastomer material provides pressure within the channel when the medical instrument is heated during steam sterilization thereof so that the elastomer material defines a seal within the channel to prevent moisture from passing between the covered handle portion and the elastomer material. Additionally, the handle portion may be provided with holes extending therethrough which are filled with the elastomer material to additionally secure the elastomer material to the handle portion.

Claims10

Dependent claims

A handle for a medical instrument comprising a handle portion of the medical instrument, said handle portion being fabricated from metal, said handle portion including at least one annular channel spaced from an end of the medical instrument, said channel being disposed completely around said handle portion, elastomer sealing means having a coefficient of expansion greater than coefficient of expansion of said metal handle portion, said elastomer sealing means being disposed against sidewalls of said channel and filling said channel, a major portion of said elastomer sealing means extending from said channel and being disposed against said metal handle portion for covering said metal handle portion, said elastomer sealing means providing pressure within said channel and preventing moisture from passing through said channel and from penetrating between said metal handle portion and said elastomer sealing means when the medical instrument is heated during steam sterilization thereof.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.