US 5,964,717 A · Biopsy forceps having detachable handle and distal jaws

Abstract

An endoscopic biopsy forceps instrument includes a distal jaws assembly detachable from a proximal handle assembly. The proximal handle assembly includes a centrally slotted shaft and a spool having a laterally seated cross block which passes through the central slot. The distal jaws assembly includes jaws mounted on a clevis at the distal end of a coil and coupled to a pull wire which extends through the coil to its proximal end. The proximal end of the coil is provided with a connecting sleeve provided with a frustoconical portion having double-helical threads for removably coupling the coil to a shaft having a distal frustoconical portion having double-helical threads. The proximal end of the pull wire is provided with a grooved mating member and the spool is provided with a locking assembly having a springbiased push button latch for releasably engaging the grooved mating member. The grooved mating member has an elongate cylindrical distal portion, a central cylindrical portion having a relatively larger diameter, a proximal cylindrical grooved portion, and a proximal conical portion having a rounded apex. The elongate distal portion has a bore into which the pull wire is secured. The mating member end of the pull wire can be snapped into the locking assembly and the coil can be quickly and securely coupled to the shaft.

Claims21

Dependent claims

An endoscopic biopsy forceps instrument, comprising:

a) a tubular member having a proximal end and a distal end, said proximal end having a threaded connecting member, said threaded connecting member having one of a male and a female frustoconical double helically threaded portion and a throughbore;
b) a control member extending through said tubular member;
c) a shaft member having a proximal end, a distal end, a central slot and a bore extending from said central slot through said distal end, said distal end having the other of a male and a female frustoconical double helically threaded portion;
d) a sliding member slidably mounted on said shaft member, said sliding member provided with means for detachably coupling to said control member;
and
e) an end effector coupled to said distal ends of said control member and tubular member such that movement of said sliding member relative to said shaft member moves said end effector from an open position to a closed position, wherein threading said threaded connecting member to said distal end of said shaft member couples said tubular member to said shaft member.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Biopsy forceps having detachable handle and distal jaws

Life of this patent

Biopsy forceps having detachable handle and distal jaws

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims21