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:
Oct. 15, 2002
Filed:
May. 02, 2001
Volker Bartel, Bodelshausen, DE;
Elektromedizin GmbH, Tubingen, DE;
Abstract
The invention relates to a surgical instrument for minimally invasive surgery, in particular in the form of pincers or forceps. The instrument comprises at least two gripping elements, which for the purpose of gripping can be moved like forceps towards one another in a gripping direction or apart from one another in the opposite direction. At least one gripping element comprises at one end a first limb and a second limb, and at least one flexible bending region. The limbs are spaced apart from one another in the gripping direction with at least the first limb of each gripping element disposed within a guide sleeve and movable in a longitudinal direction of the guide sleeve, relative to the second limb of the gripping element in such a way that during a relative movement of the limbs with respect to one another the associated gripping element can be moved in the gripping direction.