Surgical forceps

Claim 2

A surgical forceps for engaging tissue in the body comprising an elongate probe including an outer tubular member having a proximal end and a distal end and an inner member movable within said outer probe member and having a proximal end and a distal end; jaw means for engaging tissue including a first jaw coupled with said outer probe member distal end and a second jaw coupled with said inner probe member distal end and mounted for pivotal movement relative to said first jaw in response to movement of said inner probe member within said outer probe member; handle means coupled with said outer probe member proximal end and said inner probe member proximal end for moving said inner probe member relative to said outer probe member and pivoting said second jaw relative to said first jaw, said handle means including hand grip members squeezable to impart a force to pivot said first jaw via movement of said inner probe member; and force diverting means coupled with said handle means for diverting at least a portion of a force applied to said grip members from said jaw means when the applied force exceeds a predetermined force.

Claim 3

A surgical forceps as recited in claim 1 wherein said force diverting means is coupled with said grip members for providing a tactile indication of the applied force exceeding said predetermined force via said grip members.

Claim 4

A surgical forceps as recited in claim 2 wherein one of said grip members is mounted to pivot about a pivot pin and said force diverting means includes means biasing said pivot pin away from said other grip member with a force corresponding to said predetermined force and permitting said pivot pin to move against said bias means when the applied force exceeds said predetermined force.

Claim 5

A surgical forceps as recited in claim 3 wherein said handle means includes means for permitting visualization of movement of said pivot pin.

Claim 6

A surgical forceps as recited in claim 1 wherein said handle means include movable pivot means for pivotally mounting one of said grip members and means for movably supporting said pivot means, said pivot means being movable when the applied force exceeds said predetermined force.

Claim 7

A surgical forceps as recited in claim 5 wherein said handle means includes a body mounting said grip members, said supporting means includes slots in said body, and said pivot means includes a pivot pin having opposing ends movably received in said slots.

Claim 8

A surgical forceps as recited in claim 6 wherein said body includes spaced parallel walls and said slots are formed in said walls.

Claim 9

A surgical forceps as recited in claim 7 wherein said force diverting means includes means for biasing said pivot pin against movement in said slots when the applied force is less than said predetermined force and permitting movement of said pivot pin in said slots when the applied force exceeds said predetermined force.

Claim 10

A surgical forceps as recited in claim 8 wherein said body includes an upper passage between said side walls and a lower passage between said side walls in parallel with said upper passage, said handle means includes actuating means connecting said one grip member with said inner probe member proximal end and disposed in said upper passage, said bias means is disposed in said lower passage, said pivot pin is disposed in said body in longitudinal alignment with said lower passage, and said force diverting means includes means for holding said pivot pin in engagement with said bias means including a disk disposed in said lower passage in engagement with said bias means and a projection on said disk having a notch therein for retaining said pivot pin.

Claim 11

A surgical forceps as recited in claim 9 wherein said bias means includes a helical spring mounted in compression in said lower passage and means for selectively compressing said spring against said holding means.

Claim 12

A surgical forceps as recited in claim 1 wherein said first and second jaws have peripheral cutting edges for severing tissue, said inner probe member is tubular, and said handle means has a passage therethrough terminating at a suction fitting, said inner probe member and said handle means passage forming a suction passage for aspirating cut tissue through said surgical forceps.

Claim 13

A surgical forceps as recited in claim 1 wherein said first and second jaws carry cooperatively interengagable grasping teeth for holding tissue therebetween, said inner probe member is tubular, and said handle means has a passage therethrough terminating at a suction fitting, said inner probe member and said handle means passage forming a suction passage for assisting grasping of tissue between said first and second jaws.

Claim 14

A surgical forceps for engaging tissue in the body comprising an elongate probe having a distal end and a proximal end; jaw means mounted on said probe distal end for movement between an open position and a closed position to engage tissue; handle means coupled with said probe proximal end including hand grip members movable relative to each other for moving said jaw means between said open and closed positions; and locking means carried by said handle means for locking said jaw means in said closed position, said locking means being movable to a locked position engaging one of said grip members only when said jaw means is in said closed position.

Claim 15

A surgical forceps for engaging tissue in the body comprising an elongate probe having a distal end and a proximal end; jaw means mounted on said probe distal end for movement between an open position and a closed position to engage tissue; handle means coupled with said probe proximal end including hand grip members movable relative to each other for moving said jaw means between said open and closed positions; and locking means carried by said handle means for locking said jaw means in said closed position, said locking means being movable to a locked position engaging one of said grip members only when said jaw means is in said closed position.

Claim 16

A surgical forceps as recited in claim 13 wherein said handle means includes means for preventing movement of said locking mean to said locked position when said jaw means is not in said closed position.

Claim 17

A surgical forceps as recited in claim 14 wherein said handle means includes latch means for securing said locking means in said locked position.

Claim 18

A surgical forceps as recited in claim 15 wherein said handle means includes track means and aid locking means includes a pin having opposing ends movably received in said track means.

Claim 19

A surgical forceps as recited in claim 15 wherein said handle means includes a body with said track means formed therein, and said latch means includes spring arms formed integral with said body along said track means.

Claim 20

A suction forceps for cutting tissue in the body and aspirating the cut tissue comprising an elongate probe including an outer tubular member having a proximal end and a distal end and an inner tubular member axially slidable in said outer probe member and having a proximal end and a distal end, a stationary jaw mounted on said outer probe member distal end and having an opening therein with at least a proximal portion of said opening forming a cutting edge: a movable jaw pivotally mounted on said stationary jaw at a pivot point disposed distally of said proximal cutting edge portion, said movable jaw being movable between closed and open positions and having a cutting portion extending proximally from said pivot point when said movable jaw is in said closed position adjacent said cutting edge and an actuating portion connected with said inner probe member distal end and extending distally from said pivot point when said movable jaw is in said closed position; handle means receiving said proximal ends of said inner and outer probe member and including a first hand grip member connected with said inner probe member proximal end and a second hand grip member connected with said outer probe member proximal end, said first and second grip members being squeezable to move said inner probe member within said outer probe member to move said movable jaw between said open and closed positions to cut tissue, and suction passage means for aspirating cut tissue formed of the lumen in said inner probe member and a passage in said handle means terminating at a suction fitting.

Claim 21

A suction forceps for cutting tissue in the body and aspirating the cut tissue comprising an elongate probe including an outer tubular member having a proximal end and a distal end and an inner tubular member axially slidable in said outer probe member and having a proximal end and a distal end, a stationary jaw mounted on said outer probe member distal end and having an opening therein with at least a proximal portion of said opening forming a cutting edge: a movable jaw pivotally mounted on said stationary jaw at a pivot point disposed distally of said proximal cutting edge portion, said movable jaw being movable between closed and open positions and having a cutting portion extending proximally from said pivot point when said movable jaw is in said closed position adjacent said cutting edge and an actuating portion connected with said inner probe member distal end and extending distally from said pivot point when said movable jaw is in said closed position; handle means receiving said proximal ends of said inner and outer probe member and including a first hand grip member connected with said inner probe member proximal end and a second hand grip member connected with said outer probe member proximal end, said first and second grip members being squeezable to move said inner probe member within said outer probe member to move said movable jaw between said open and closed positions to cut tissue, and suction passage means for aspirating cut tissue formed of the lumen in said inner probe member and a passage in said handle means terminating at a suction fitting.

Claim 22

A suction forceps as recited in claim 18 and further comprising force diverting means coupled with said grip members for diverting at least a portion of a force applied to said grip members from said jaws when the applied force exceeds a predetermined force and for providing a tactile indication via said grip members of the applied force exceeding said predetermined force.

Claim 23

A suction forceps as recited in claim 19 wherein said handle mean includes means for locking said movable jaw in said closed position.

Claim 24

A suction forceps for cutting tissue in the body and aspirating the cut tissue comprising an elongate probe including an outer tubular member having a proximal end and a distal end and an inner tubular member axially slidable in said outer probe member and having an open proximal end and an open distal end; a stationary jaw mounted on said outer probe member distal end and having a first opening in one side thereof with at least a distal portion of said opening forming a cutting edge and a second opening disposed in a side opposing said one side, the first and second openings defining a chamber therebetween; a movable jaw pivotally mounted on said stationary jaw at a pivot point disposed proximally of said second opening, said movable jaw being movable between closed and open positions and having a cutting portion extending distally from said pivot point when said movable jaw is in said closed position adjacent said cutting edge and an actuating portion connected with said inner probe member distal end and extending proximally from said pivot point when said movable jaw is in said closed position; handle means receiving said proximal ends of said inner and outer probe members and including a first hand grip member connected with said inner probe member proximal end and a second hand grip member connected with said outer probe member proximal end, said first and second grip members being squeezable to move said inner probe member within said outer probe member to move said movable jaw between aid open and closed positions to cut tissue; and suction passage means for aspirating cut tissue formed of said second opening and said chamber in said stationary jaw, said open distal end and the lumen in said inner probe member and a passage in said handle means communicating with said open proximal end of said inner probe member terminating at a suction fitting.

Claim 25

A suction forceps for cutting tissue in the body and aspirating the cut tissue comprising an elongate probe including an outer tubular member having a proximal end and a distal end and an inner tubular member axially slidable in said outer probe member and having an open proximal end and an open distal end; a stationary jaw mounted on said outer probe member distal end and having a first opening in one side thereof with at least a distal portion of said opening forming a cutting edge and a second opening disposed in a side opposing said one side, the first and second openings defining a chamber therebetween; a movable jaw pivotally mounted on said stationary jaw at a pivot point disposed proximally of said second opening, said movable jaw being movable between closed and open positions and having a cutting portion extending distally from said pivot point when said movable jaw is in said closed position adjacent said cutting edge and an actuating portion connected with said inner probe member distal end and extending proximally from said pivot point when said movable jaw is in said closed position; handle means receiving said proximal ends of said inner and outer probe members and including a first hand grip member connected with said inner probe member proximal end and a second hand grip member connected with said outer probe member proximal end, said first and second grip members being squeezable to move said inner probe member within said outer probe member to move said movable jaw between aid open and closed positions to cut tissue; and suction passage means for aspirating cut tissue formed of said second opening and said chamber in said stationary jaw, said open distal end and the lumen in said inner probe member and a passage in said handle means communicating with said open proximal end of said inner probe member terminating at a suction fitting.

Claim 26

A suction forceps as recited in claim 21 and further comprising force diverting means coupled with said grip members for diverting at least a portion of a force applied to said grip members from said jaws when the applied force exceeds a predetermined force and for providing a tactile indication via said grip members of the applied force exceeding said predetermined force.

Claim 27

A suction forceps as recited in claim 22 wherein said handle means includes means for locking said movable jaw in said closed position.

Claim 28

A suction forceps for cutting tissue in the body and aspirating the cut tissue comprising an elongate probe including an outer tubular member having a proximal end and a distal end and an inner tubular member axially slidable in said outer probe member and having an open proximal end and an open distal end; a stationary jaw mounted on said outer probe member distal end and having an opening therein forming a cutting edge; a movable jaw pivotally mounted on said stationary jaw and having a cutting edge cooperating with said stationary jaw cutting edge to cut tissue therebetween; handle means receiving said proximal ends of said inner and outer probe members and including a first hand grip member connected with said inner probe member proximal end and a second nd grip member connected with said outer probe member proximal end, said first and second grip members being sqeezable to move said inner probe member within said outer probe member to move said movable jaw; suction passage means for aspirating cut tissue from said jaws through said probe and said handle means; and suction control means responsive to squeezing movement of said grip members to selectively control suction at said jaws.

Claim 29

A suction forceps for cutting tissue in the body and aspirating the cut tissue comprising an elongate probe including an outer tubular member having a proximal end and a distal end and an inner tubular member axially slidable in said outer probe member and having an open proximal end and an open distal end; a stationary jaw mounted on said outer probe member distal end and having an opening therein forming a cutting edge; a movable jaw pivotally mounted on said stationary jaw and having a cutting edge cooperating with said stationary jaw cutting edge to cut tissue therebetween; handle means receiving said proximal ends of said inner and outer probe members and including a first hand grip member connected with said inner probe member proximal end and a second nd grip member connected with said outer probe member proximal end, said first and second grip members being sqeezable to move said inner probe member within said outer probe member to move said movable jaw; suction passage means for aspirating cut tissue from said jaws through said probe and said handle means; and suction control means responsive to squeezing movement of said grip members to selectively control suction at said jaws.