Depuy

Other

Jeffrey G Shutt

George V Shutt

A surgical instrument includes a removable tip assembly having an elongated support member including a proximal end configured to be coupled to the handle and a distal end for insertion into a patient's body. The support member may either be straight or curved. The tip assembly also includes 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 is pivotably coupled to the operating unit for moving the operating unit relative to the support member. The surgical instrument also includes a handle having a body portion formed to include an opening for receiving the proximal end of the tip assembly therein, a movable trigger configured 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 is 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. The drive actuator can be rotated out of a slot in the handle while the tip assembly is assembled to the handle for cleaning, sterilization, and inspection. The support member, drive actuator, and operating unit cannot be disassembled from each other. Advantageously, the tip assembly may be removed and replaced. This permits replacement of a damaged tip assembly on site.

Cleanable, inspectable, and replaceable surgical instrument

Endoscopic surgical instrument handle

A multiple positionable hand tool holder, primarily intended to receive a tool for perforating an irrigation tube for the purpose of installing a drip emitter having a tubular inlet stem; the tool holder having an essentially oval configuration with a peripheral rim and a radial stem provided with a punch or the like, and capable of being held in a multiplicity of positions to permit frequent change in the manner in which the tool holder is held by the user's hand thereby materially reducing fatigue. Between use of the tool to perforate, the tool holder may be retained at the base ends of one or two fingers, permitting the fingers and thumb to pick up and manipulate a drip emitter so as to insert its inlet stem into the irrigation tube. By continued retension of the tool holder in the user's hand, the chance of losing or misplacing the tool holder in the course of installation of drip emitters is materially reduced.

Growing community of inventors

Running Springs, CA, United States of America

Jeffrey G Shutt