GB2119696A - Surgical forceps - Google Patents

Abstract

Surgical forceps have arms (6,7) joined by a hinge comprised of a boss (17) formed as an integral part of a leaf spring(s) (18a, 18b) securely seated in a longitudinal recess (14) in one arm (6). Interlocking catches (11, 12) are released by the exertion of opposite forces on grips (4, 5) which causes the boss (17) to be slightly displaced from a seat (24) in the arm (6) and which in turn allows the leaf spring(s) (18a, 18b) to exert a force normal to the arms, thus separating the catches. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Surgical forceps This invention relates to surgical forceps having two grips operated by interconnected, hinged forcep arms and interlocking catches on each arm.

Known surgical forceps of this type generally have rigid forcep arms, with two catch halves rigidly constructed and integral with the grips. This leads to the serious disadvantage that for disengaging the catch halves, it is necessary to exert considerable manual pressure at right angles to the operating direction of the two grips.

To obviate this, forceps are known which have an oscillating lever retaining catch. For releasing this type of catch, it is necessary to use a second finger, for example the index finger. The grips are then generally operated by the thumb and middle finger, so that the index finger is free from releasing the oscillating lever catch. The manual pressure required is then very limited, so that the aforementioned disadvantage is completely avoided. However, doctors generally find it strange to work with a thumb and index finger,. as in the additional operation of the retaining catch with the index finger. This is, among other things, due to the fact that all other known forceps without a catch are operated in the manner described in connection with the first-mentioned forceps.

The problem of the invention is to so improve surgical forceps of the first type that the manual pressure needed by a doctor is reduced, but without having to change the normal conventional operating mode for the catch.

According to the invention, this problem is solved by incorporating springs between the forcep arms which exert a force at right angles to the longitudinal direction of the arms. Thus, actuation of the grips takes place in spring-loaded manner at right angles to the longitudinal direction of the forcep arms. According to a further development of the invention, the springs are two leaf springs fitting a recess in one of the forcep arms. Thus, the construction is not only extremely simple, but has the advantage that a recess in one of the arms is essentially filled by leaf springs which are not externally visible. This result is achieved by having the lower ends of the leaf springs in positive retaining engagement with a portion of the recess. Thus, no mechanical attachment is necessary or required for the leaf springs.

According to another characteristic of the invention, a boss for receiving a hinge bolt to hinge the two forcep arms forms a part of the leaf springs, greatly simplifying the construction.

In a first aspect of the invention, there is provided surgical forceps, in which forcep arms having two grips are interconnected in a hinge-like manner by a hinge bolt and are provided with catch halves, whose catches engage in one another in a closed position to retain the forceps, the disengagement of said catches being brought about by manual pressure in opposite directions on said two grips at right angles to the direction of movement of the forcep arms, wherein the receiving means for said hinge bolt of at least one forcep arm is connected to at least one spring in the arm arranged and disposed at right angles to the longitudinal direction of the arm.

In a second aspect of the invention there is provided surgical forceps having two arms hinged together, two grips on said arms and interlocking catches on each arm for locking the forceps wherein said two arms are hingedly joined by a boss integrally formed on one or more leaf springs; said boss being securely fastened to one arm; said leaf springs being securely seated in a recess in the other of said arms whereby said interiocking catches may be released by exerting a force on said grips which causes said boss to be displaced from said other arm so that said leaf springs exert a force normal to said arms which disengages said interlocking catches.

The invention is described in greater detail hereinafter relative to non-limitative embodiments and the attached drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a side view of the assembled forceps, Fig. 2 is a side view of one of the two arms having an offset grip, Fig. 3 is a side view similar to Fig. 1, of the other forcep arm with an offset grip, Fig. 4 is a view looking in the direction of arrow A of the forcep arm of Fig. 2, Fig. 5 is a side view of a leaf spring incorporated in the invention in accordance with the preceding drawings, Fig. 6 is an end view of the leaf spring of Fig. 5.

According to one aspect of the invention, the forceps of Fig. 1 do not appear to have a different external appearance from conventional forceps. To the left of forcep shaft 1 can be seen two jaws or mouth halves 2, 3 in the open position. To the right, shaft 1 is followed by one forcep arm 7, provided at the top with a bore 22 as shown in Fig. 3 for the passage of an operating rod 10. The latter is fixed in a recess 16 by means of a spindle 23 attached to second forcep arm 6, on whose other end is provided an offset grip 4 having a catch half 1 1 integrally constructed therewith.

To the left of the arm 6 is the other corresponding forcep arm 7 having grip 5 and catch half 12, whose saw-like catches 1 3a are visible.

The two forcep arms 6 and 7 are interconnected in a hinge-like manner by means of hinge bolt 9. One arm 7 is provided with a boss 8, and the other arm 6 with a corresponding boss (not visible in Fig. 1) is provided with matching holes for receiving hinge bolt 9. This is fundamentally known and represents no change over the prior art. Thus, there is no need for a more detailed description of the forceps according to Fig. 1.

For operating such prior art forceps, it is necessary to exert additional manual pressure at right angles to the longitudinal direction of arms 6 and 7, (i.e. perpendicular to the plane of the drawings) to disengage the two catch halves 11, 12 from one another when the forceps are in the closed state (not shown).

The inventive features are shown in Figs. 2, 4, 5 and 6.

Fig. 2 shows, in broken lines, that forcep arm 6 has a recess, generally a countersunk recess 14 in the upper area of its left side. Into this countersunk recess two leaf springs 1 boa, 1 8b, are inserted.

These springs also have an integral boss 17 with an identical through-hole 15, as will be explained in greater detail hereinafter relative to Figs. 4 to 6.

At the top, there is shown the small receiving bore 19 for spindle 23 for securing operating rod 10 in a conventional manner. In this area, a countersunk recess 16 is provided as indicated by the broken lines, so that the operating rod 10 can move in this area, as is known in the art.

According to the invention, boss 17 is formed by two identical leaf springs 1 boa, 1 8b and in this area they are fitted in positively engaging manner and without any mechanical connection to corresponding recess 24 of forcep arm 6, in reference solely to the top area of boss 17.

Fig. 3 shows the aforementioned through-bore 22 for operating rod 11. Below it, is a boss 8 for receiving hinge bolt 9. For receiving the bolt head, bore 20 is made somewhat larger and in the centre thereof it is seen a tapped hole 21 at the rear portion of boss 8. Further toward the bottom of arm 7 there are shown saw-like catches 13a of catch half 12, which cooperate with similar catches of catch half 1 1 which are not visible here.

Forcep arm 7 with grip 5 is substantially the same as in prior art devices, so that no detailed description need be provided.

Fig. 4 shows the aforementioned recess 14 with the two leaf springs 1 boa, 1 8b arranged and positioned therein according to the invention. This view is in the direction of arrow A of Fig. 2.

At the top is shown the aforementioned countersunk recess 16 interfitting with operating rod 10. Below it is a countersunk recess 14 and an upper recessed area 24 into which are seated the bosses 1 7 of the two leaf springs 1 boa, 1 bob. The leaf springs are only held in a positive engaging manner by being seated in these recesses. There are no mechanical connections such as screws or soldering. This would actually impair the mobility of boss 17 of springs 1 8a, 1 bob. Further down from the bosses 17, there is a countersunk clearance between the sides of the two engaging springs 1 boa, 1 8b and recess 14. This is also necessary to allow the two leaf springs to move in the desired direction at right angles to the longitudinal direction thereof.It is only at the lower end of recess 14 in area b that the two leaf springs 1 boa, 1 8b are inserted in a positive frictionally engaging manner and retained. Further down on arm 6 is catch half 11, with saw-like catches 1 3b.

Fig. 5 shows a side view of one of the two leaf springs 1 boa, 1 bob. The other leaf spring 1 8b is identical in construction and consequently need not be shown in detail.

Boss 17 with through-hole 15 is integrally constructed therewith, so that the boss really constitutes an integral part of each leaf spring 1 boa, 1 8b or is itself constructed as a spring.

Fig. 6 shows that the leaf springs have a small, constant wall thickness.

The operation of the invention is described hereinafter. As stated hereinbefore, during operation, the two forcep arms 6, 7 are subject to the manual pressure exerted by a doctor on the two grips 4, 5 for releasing the two catch halves 1 1, 12 and at right angles to the longitudinal direction thereof. This is known in the art and need not be further explained.

As a result of the present invention, boss 17 separates from the recess 24 in arm 6 so that the two leaf springs 1 boa, 1 8b may centrally bend at right angles to the right or left of the longitudinal direction of arm 6 as shown in Fig. 4. A large movement is not necessary in the upper area of recess 24 or in area b or recess 14 further below it. However, in the intermediate countersunk area of recess 14, the springs can bend until the indicated clearance between recess 14 and the two springs has been bridged. A more extensive spring movement is unnecessary and not required, because only a small movement is necessary to disengage the two catch halves 1 1, 12 from one another.Thus, the spring deflection of leaf springs 1 boa, 1 8b is intentionally greatly limited by the aforementioned countersunk clearance in recess 14 and the springs.

Furthermore, in spite of the countersunk portion of recess 1 4, the strength of forcep arm 6 is essentially maintained. This also permits the conversion of conventional forceps of this type into a form according to the invention with relatively limited expenditure. It is merely necessary to provide countersink recesses 14 and 24 on forcep arm 6 and then insert two leaf springs 1 boa, 1 bob.

As a result of this invention, the manual pressure needed to be applied by the doctor is greatly reduced, which significantly simplifies the operation, without there being any need to modify the hitherto conventional operation.

This invention is not to be limited by the embodiment shown in the drawings and described in the description, which are given by way of example and not of limitation, but only in accordance with the scope of the appended

Claims (9)

claims. CLAIMS

1. Surgical forceps, in which forcep arms having two grips are interconnected in a hinge-like manner by a hinge bolt and are provided with catch halves, whose catches engage in one another in a closed position to retain the forceps, the disengagement of said catches being brought about by manual pressure in opposite directions on said two grips at right angles to the direction of movement of the forcep arms, wherein the receiving means for said hinge bolt of at least one forcep arm is connected to at least one spring in the arm arranged and disposed at right angles to the longitudinal direction of the arm.

2. Surgical forceps as claimed in Claim 1, wherein said spring is a leaf spring retained by positive engagement in a recess of said forcep arm.

3. Surgical forceps as claimed in Claim 2, wherein only the end area of said leaf springs is retained by positive engagement in said recess.

4. Surgical forceps as claimed in any one of the preceding Claims, wherein there are two identical leaf springs having an integral boss with throughholes for receiving said hinged bolt.

5. Surgical forceps having two arms hinged together, two grips on said arms and interlocking catches on each arm for locking the forceps wherein said two arms are hingedly joined by a boss integrally formed on one or more leaf springs; said boss being securely fastened to one arm; said leaf springs being securely seated in a recess in the other of said arms whereby said interlocking catches may be released by exerting a force on said grips which causes said boss to be displaced from said other arm so that said leaf springs exert a force normal to said arms which disengages said interlocking catches.

6. Surgical forceps as claimed in Claim 5 in which said recess is countersunk to permit said leaf springs to pivot in a direction normal to said arms when said boss is displaced.

7. Surgical forceps as claimed in Claim 5 to Claim 6 in which there are two identical abutting leaf springs.

8. Surgical forceps as claimed in Claim 7 in which said other arm has an arcuate recess in which said boss normally seats.

9. Surgical forceps substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in the drawings.