Combination end cap and clip for biopsy forceps instrument

Abstract

An end cap is provided for an endoscopic biopsy forceps instrument having a long coil and a jaw assembly. The end cap is provided with a cup portion, an attachment clip, and preferably a suction cup. The cup portion fits over the closed jaws of the biopsy forceps and has an open end and a closed end, and side walls. The attachment clip extends perpendicularly from the side walls of the cup portion and fits around one or more sections of the biopsy forceps coil, thereby stabilizing the forceps jaw and coil for packaging. The attachment clip can also be used for attaching the cap to the coil of the biopsy forceps instrument when the cap is off of the jaws so that the cap is readily available for later retrieval. The suction cup is coupled to the top of the cup portion and is used both to prevent misplacement and loss of the cap, and to expedite recapping after usage.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.