Cleanable, inspectable, and replaceable surgical instrument

A surgical instrument comprising:

• a handle including a movable trigger;
• an elongated support member having a proximal end coupled to the handle and a distal end for insertion into a patient's body, the elongated support member including a curved portion located in close proximity to the distal end, the elongated support member being formed to include a slot extending from the proximal end to the distal end;
• an operating unit coupled to the distal end of the support member;
• a drive actuator configured to be positioned in the slot of the support member, the drive actuator having a distal end and a proximal end, the distal end of the drive actuator being coupled to the operating unit and the proximal end of the drive actuator being configured to engage the trigger so that the drive actuator moves the operating unit relative to the support member in response to movement of the trigger;
• and
• wherein the drive actuator has a predetermined thickness and the drive actuator includes a relieved section having a reduced thickness located adjacent the curved portion of the support member to permit the drive actuator to bend as it moves through the curved portion of the support member.

A surgical instrument comprising;

• a handle including a movable trigger;
• an elongated support member having a proximal end coupled to the handle and a distal end for insertion into a patient's body, the elongated support member including a curved portion located in close proximity to the distal end, the elongated support member being formed to include a slot extending from the proximal end to the distal end;
• an operating unit coupled to the distal end of the support member;
• a drive actuator configured to be positioned in the slot of the support member, the drive actuator having a distal end and a proximal end, the distal end of the drive actuator being coupled to the operating unit and the proximal end of the drive actuator being configured to engage the trigger so that the drive actuator moves the operating unit relative to the support member in response to movement of the trigger;
• wherein a proximal end of the support member is inserted into a slot formed in the handle to couple the support member to the handle, and further comprising a locking mechanism for removably coupling the support member to the handle;
• and
• wherein the releasable locking mechanism includes a semi-cylindrical member for engaging a notch formed in the support member to secure the support member to the handle and means coupled to the semi-cylindrical member for rotating the semi-cylindrical member to release the support member from the handle.

A surgical instrument comprising:

• a handle including a movable trigger;
• an elongated support member having a proximal end coupled to the handle and a distal end for insertion into a patient's body;
• an operating unit pivotably coupled to the distal end of the support member;
• a drive actuator having a distal end and a proximal end, the proximal end of the drive actuator being configured to engage a portion of the movable trigger, and the distal end of the drive actuator being pivotably coupled to the operating unit for moving the operating unit relative to the support member in response to movement of the trigger;
• in addition to the pivotal connection, a first stop formed on the operating unit to prevent disengagement of the distal end of the drive actuator from the operating unit;
• and
• a second stop formed on the support member to prevent disengagement of the operating unit from the support member.

A surgical instrument kit comprising:

• a first removable tip assembly including a straight support member having a proximal end configured to be coupled to a handle and a distal end for insertion into a patient's body, the distal end of the support member being coupled to an operating unit by an arcuate groove and notch arrangement;
• a second removable tip assembly including a curved support member having a proximal end configured to be coupled to the handle and a distal end for insertion into the patient's body, the distal end of the curved support member being coupled to an operating unit by an arcuate groove and notch arrangement;
• and
• a handle having a body portion configured to receive the proximal end of a selected one of the first and second tip assemblies therein, a movable trigger connectable to actuate the operating unit of the selected tip assembly, and a locking mechanism for removably coupling the selected tip assembly to the handle, the locking mechanism being movable from a first position to hold the selected tip assembly in a locked position relative to the handle to a second position to release the selected tip assembly from the handle and permit the removal of the selected tip assembly from the handle.

A surgical instrument comprising:

• a removable tip assembly including an elongated support member having a proximal end configured to be coupled to a handle and a distal end for insertion into a patient's body, an operating unit coupled to the distal end of the support member, and a drive actuator having a distal end and a proximal end, the distal end of the drive actuator being pivotably coupled to the operating unit for moving the operating unit relative to the support member;
• a handle having a body portion formed to include an opening for slidably receiving the proximal end of the tip assembly therein, a movable trigger connectable to actuate the operating unit of the tip assembly, and a locking mechanism for removably coupling the tip assembly to the handle, the locking mechanism being movable from a first position to hold the tip assembly in a locked position relative to the handle to a second position to release the tip assembly from the handle and permit the removal of the tip assembly from the handle;
• and
• wherein the releasable locking mechanism includes a semi-cylindrical member for engaging a notch formed in the support member to secure the support member to the handle and means coupled to the semi-cylindrical member for rotating the semi-cylindrical member to release the support member from the handle.

A surgical instrument comprising;

• a removable tip assembly including an elongated support member having a proximal end configured to be coupled to a handle and a distal end for insertion into a patient's body, an operating unit coupled to the distal end of the support member, and a drive actuator having a distal end and a proximal end, the distal end of the drive actuator being pivotably coupled to the operating unit for moving the operating unit relative to the support member;
• a handle having a body portion formed to include an opening for slidably receiving the proximal end of the tip assembly therein, a movable trigger connectable to actuate the operating unit of the tip assembly and a locking mechanism for removably coupling the tip assembly to the handle, the locking mechanism being movable from a first position to hold the tip assembly in a locked position relative to the handle to a second position to release the tip assembly from the handle and permit the removal of the tip assembly from the handle;
• and
• wherein the support member is formed to include a curved portion located in close proximity to the distal end and an open trough slot extending from the proximal end to the distal end of the support member for receiving the drive actuator therein.

A surgical instrument comprising:

• a removable tip assembly including an elongated support member having a proximal end configured to be coupled to a handle and a distal end for insertion into a patient's body, an operating unit coupled to the distal end of the support member, and a drive actuator having a distal end and a proximal end, the distal end of the drive actuator being pivotably coupled to the operating unit for moving the operating unit relative to the support member;
• a handle having a body portion formed to include an opening for slidably receiving the proximal end of the tip assembly therein, a movable trigger connectable to actuate the operating unit of the tip assembly, and a locking mechanism for removably coupling the tip assembly to the handle, the locking mechanism being movable from a first position to hold the tip assembly in a locked position relative to the handle to a second position to release the tip assembly from the handle and permit the removal of the tip assembly from the handle;
• and
• wherein the body portion of the handle is formed to include first and second elongated tracks in the opening for engaging first and second notched sections formed in the proximal end of the support member to align the support member relative to the body portion and to prevent rotation of the support member relative to the body portion.

A surgical instrument comprising:

• a removable tip assembly including an elongated support member having a proximal end configured to be coupled to a handle and a distal end for insertion into a patient's body;
• an operating unit coupled to the distal end of the support member using an arcuate groove and follower connection wherein the groove is located on one of the operating unit and support member and the follower is located on the other of the operating unit and support member and wherein the follower rides in the groove;
• a drive actuator having a distal end and a proximal end, the distal end of the drive actuator being releasably and pivotably coupled to the operating unit for moving the operating unit relative to the support member through a notch and projection connection wherein the drive actuator can be disconnected from the moveable trigger to be pivoted with respect to the operating unit to a point where the projection can be released from the notch;
• and
• a handle having a body portion formed to include an opening for releasably receiving the proximal end of the tip assembly therein and a movable trigger connectable to actuate the proximal end of the drive actuator.