US 5,234,453 AGranted

Cobalt base alloy end effectors for laparoscopic surgical scissors

AssigneeSymblosis Corporation

InventorsKevin W. Smith, Thomas O. Bales

Life of this patent

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Abstract

End effector scissor elements for laparoscopic surgical instruments are provided in the form of investment case cobalt base alloy elements. The cobalt base alloy scissor elements are homogeneous in composition. Each element has in its as-cast form an elongate portion having an integral cutting edge. At least on of the scissor elements also has a through-hole transverse to the elongate portion. The scissor elements are arranged as scissor cutting instruments by opposing their cutting edges, and by engaging the through-hole of each pivoting element with apparatus coupled to an actuating push-rod of the laparoscopic surgical instrument. The preferred cobalt base alloy is a cobalt base superalloy with at least 38% cobalt, and preferably 50% or more cobalt. The cobalt base alloy should be sufficiently hard to scratch stainless steel.

Claims29

Dependent claims

A scissors device comprising:

a) a pair of investment cast homogeneous scissor elements each comprised of a cobalt based alloy, each said investment cast homogeneous scissor element having in its as-cast form an elongate portion having an integral cutting edge and an adjacent base portion, and at least one of said investment cast homogeneous scissor elements having a through-hole in said base portion transverse to said elongate portion, wherein said pair of investment cast homogeneous scissor elements are laterally offset one to the other with respective said integral cutting edges oppositely adjacent each other, and each said scissor element has a length, a height, and a thickness, said height being less than about 0.4 inches, and said thickness being less than about 0.2 inches;
and
b) a pivot means extending transverse said pair of investment cast homogeneous scissor elements and extending through said through-hole of said at least one of said scissor elements, said pivot means for permitting pivoting of at least one of said pair of investment cast homogeneous scissor elements relative to the other or said pair of scissor elements.

In a surgical instrument for insertion through a trocar, tube, and having an outer tube having a longitudinal axis, first and second scissor end effector elements coupled to said outer tube, with at least one of said first and second scissor elements rotating around an axis perpendicular to said longitudinal axis, and an actuating means extending through said outer tube and coupled to at least said rotating scissor element for effecting rotation thereof by movement of said actuating means, an improvement comprising:

said first and second end effector elements are each comprised of a cobalt base alloy, each end effector in the form of a homogeneous cast blade having in its as-cast form an elongate portion, and at least one of said end effector elements having a through-hole transverse to said elongate portion, said first and second end effector elements being laterally offset relative to each other and having their respective cutting edges opposite each other wherein said rotation of at least one of said first and second end effector elements effects a scissoring action.

A surgical scissors, comprising:

a) a hollow tube having a first end and a second end;
b) a clevis coupled to said first end of said hollow tube;
c) two homogeneous cast end effector scissor elements, at least one of said scissor elements pivotally engaging said clevis, said scissor elements being laterally offset relative to each other and having respective cutting edges arranged opposite each other;
d) a rod extending at least partially through said hollow tube and having a first end and a second end, said first end of said rod being coupled to at least said scissor element which pivotally engages said clevis;
and
e) actuating means engaged to said second end of said rod for imparting reciprocal motion to said rod relative to said tube which is translated at said clevis to pivotal motion of said pivotally engaged scissor element, wherein
said at least one scissor element which pivotally engages said clevis has a base portion having a through-hole therethrough which is used to couple said rod to said at least one scissor element, and said at least one scissor element which pivotally engages said clevis has a length, a height, and a thickness, said height being less than about 0.4 inches, and said thickness being less than about 0.2 inches, and
said two cast end effector scissor elements are comprised of a cobalt base alloy.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 07/780,034Filed 21 Oct 1991 · continuation in part
Priority: 10 May 1990
Granted: 10 Aug 1993
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification17 codes

A61B 17/3201
Surgical cutting instruments: scissors
A61B 10/06
Instruments for taking cell samples or for biopsy: biopsy forceps , e.g. with cup-shaped jaws
A61B 17/320016
Surgical cutting instruments: endoscopic cutting instruments, e.g. arthroscopes, resectoscopes
A61B 2017/00398
Details of actuation of instruments, e.g. relations between pushing buttons, or the like, and activation of the tool, working tip, or the like:…