Surgical needle holder

Abstract

The surgical needle holder has a support body formed of an electrically conducting material and constituted by an outer cylindrical tube and an inner core. The outer cylindrical tube and the exposed parts of the core are surrounded by an insulating jacket. At one end of the core extends a blind bore or passageway into which the shank of the surgical needle is inserted. The blind bore or passageway crosses a cylindrical cavity formed in the core. The cavity has a vertical face and an opposing inclined face. The cavity is accessible through a slot formed in the surface of the outer cylindrical tube. A releasable locking device is formed by an electrically conducting plate having an insulated tab portion. The plate is mounted for pivotal movement from an upright position to a maximum forward inclined position and occupies the cavity with the insulated tab portion extending outwardly through the slot to the exterior of the support body. The plate also has a central aperture which, when in its upright pivotal position, is in alignment with the blind bore which has the same diameter. A coiled spring is housed in a groove formed in the inner core and surrounded by the outer cylindrical tube. The spring engages and urges the conducting plate to its maximum forward portion.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.