The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Mar. 18, 1997
Filed:
Apr. 28, 1995
Philip R Lichtman, Newton, MA (US);
Microsurge, Inc., Needham, MA (US);
Abstract
A surgical instrument is provided of the type having first and second telescoping shafts, a jaw assembly comprising two jaws carried by the front end of the first shaft, and a novel handle mechanism, and connecting member for connecting the rear ends of the two shafts to the novel handle mechanism, so that manipulation of the handle mechanism by the surgeon will cause relative reciprocal axial motion of the two shafts, thereby resulting in opening and closing of the jaws. In a preferred embodiment, the novel handle mechanism comprises a first fixed handle member, a second movable handle member, gear member connecting the two handle members so that when the handles are moved relative to one another in a first direction, the jaws will be squeezed into clamping relation with tissue by the collet-like action of the second shaft moving in a first direction relative to the second shaft, and spring member for urging the second shaft to move in a direction to open the jaws. The instrument may include a device member for conducting electrosurgery, releasable locking member for locking the two handle members so that the jaws are releasably locked in gripping engagement with tissue, a reversing gear for reversing the effect of movement of the two handle members on the two jaws so as to accommodate jaw mechanisms of different designs, and/or device for conducting cleaning of the instrument or irrigation of the surgical site.