Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 30
Claim 1
Independent Claim
211 words
A surgical instrument suitable for use in performing gynecological procedures comprising a first forceps lever having a forwardly disposed section insertable into a vaginal cavity, an intermediate section and a rearwardly disposed handle section, a second forceps lever having a forwardly disposed section insertable into said vaginal cavity with the insertable section of said first forceps lever, an intermediate section pivotally connected to the intermediate section of said first forceps lever and a rearwardly disposed handle section cooperable with the handle section of said first forceps lever, said insertable section of said first forceps component having a longitudinally disposed bore, a plunger disposed in said longitudinally disposed bore and displaceable longitudinally therein, insertable in the uterine canal when the insertable sections of said forceps levers are inserted into said vaginal cavity, means disposed on said plunger and expandable to engage the wall of said uterine canal and provide an expansive bearing contact therewith, and the insertable section of said second forceps lever having a lip portion engageable with the cervix of the uterus when the insertable sections of said forceps levers are inserted in said vaginal cavity, said plunger is inserted in said uterine canal and said handle sections are moved together causing the cervix to be clamped to said instrument.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
211 words
A surgical instrument suitable for use in performing gynecological procedures comprising a first forceps lever having a forwardly disposed section insertable into a vaginal cavity, an intermediate section and a rearwardly disposed handle section, a second forceps lever having a forwardly disposed section insertable into said vaginal cavity with the insertable section of said first forceps lever, an intermediate section pivotally connected to the intermediate section of said first forceps lever and a rearwardly disposed handle section cooperable with the handle section of said first forceps lever, said insertable section of said first forceps component having a longitudinally disposed bore, a plunger disposed in said longitudinally disposed bore and displaceable longitudinally therein, insertable in the uterine canal when the insertable sections of said forceps levers are inserted into said vaginal cavity, means disposed on said plunger and expandable to engage the wall of said uterine canal and provide an expansive bearing contact therewith, and the insertable section of said second forceps lever having a lip portion engageable with the cervix of the uterus when the insertable sections of said forceps levers are inserted in said vaginal cavity, said plunger is inserted in said uterine canal and said handle sections are moved together causing the cervix to be clamped to said instrument.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
36 words
A surgical instrument according to claim 1 including means opratively interconnecting said first forceps lever and said plunger for restraining the longitudinal displacement of said plunger relative to the insertable section of said first forceps lever.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
17 words
A surgical instrument according to claim 2 wherein said restraining means comprises a pawl and ratchet mechanism.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
38 words
A surgical instrument according to claim 1 including means operatively interconnecting said handle sections for restraining the angular displacement of said handle sections between each other relative to the axis of the pivotal connection between said forceps levers.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
44 words
A surgical instrument according to claim 4 wherein said handle restraining means includes a portion of one of said handle sections having a contact surface slidably engageable by the other of said handle sections to frictionally hold said handle sections in selected angular relationships.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
46 words
A surgical instrument according to claim 1 wherein the longitudinally disposed bore in the insertable section of said first forceps lever extends from a front end thereof, a predetermined distance into said section, and said plunger has a length greater than the length of said bore.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
53 words
A surgical instrument according to claim 1 wherein the longitudinally disposed bore in the insertable section of said first forceps lever extends through the entire length of said section thereby permitting the insertion and removal of said plunger into and out of said bore to and from the front and rear ends thereof.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
21 words
A surgical instrument according to claim 7 wherein the length of said plunger is greater than the length of said bore.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
15 words
A surgical instrument according to claim 1 wherein said expandable means comprises an inflatable bladder.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
24 words
A surgical instrument according to claim 9 including fluid supply means communicating with said inflatable bladder and communicable with a source of pressurized fluid.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
45 words
A surgical instrument according to claim 10 wherein said fluid supply means includes a fluid passageway in said plunger communicating with the interior of said bladder and a fluid supply line communicating with said fluid supply passageway and communicable with a source of pressurized fluid.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
53 words
A surgical instrument according to claim 9 wherein said plunger extends through said bladder so that upon inflation of said bladder, the bladder will expand away from the periphery of the plunger to engage the periphery of the wall of the uterine canal and maintain said wall in spaced relation to said plunger.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
24 words
A surgical instrument according to claim 12 including fluid supply means communicating with said inflatable bladder and communicable with a source of pressurized fluid.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
44 words
A surgical instrument according to claim 13 wherein said fluid supply means includes a fluid passageway in said plunger communicating with the interior of said bladder and a fluid supply line communicating with said fluid passageway and communicable with a source of pressurized fluid.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
90 words
A surgical instrument according to claim 1 wherein said plunger includes a fluid passageway for conducting and injecting a contrast fluid into the uterus when said plunger is inserted in the uterine canal, said expandable means has been expanded to engage the wall of the uterine canal to form an occlusion of the uterine canal and said handle section have been moved together to clamp the cervix between the forceps levers, and contrast fluid supply means communicating with said fluid passageway and communicable with a source of said contrast fluid.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
31 words
A surgical instrument according to claim 1 wherein the intermediate section of said second forceps lever includes an opening through which the intermediate section of said first forceps lever is received.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
25 words
A surgical instrument according to claim 16 wherein said opening in the intermediate section of said second forceps lever is elongated along the length thereof.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
36 words
A surgical instrument according to claim 17 wherein the handle section of said first forceps lever is offset relative to the insertable section thereof to accommodate the movement of said handle sections relative to each other.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
57 words
A surgical instrument according to claim 1 wherein the length of the insertable section of said second forceps lever is greater than the length of the insertable section of said first forceps lever whereby said lip portion of the insertable section of said second forceps lever is cooperable with said plunger to clamp the uterine cervix therebetween.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
33 words
A surgical instrument according to claim 1 wherein the lip portion of the insertable section of said second forceps lever is provided with a transversely disposed serrated edge engageable with the uterine cervix.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
14 words
A surgical instrument according to claim 1 wherein said handle sections include finger rings.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
24 words
A surgical instrument according to claim 1 wherein at least portions of said insertable sections of said forceps levers are curved to facilitate insertion.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
28 words
A surgical instrument according to claim 1 wherein at least portions of said handle sections of said forceps levers are curved to facilitate insertion of said insertable section.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
20 words
A surgical instrument according to claim 1 wherein said forceps levers and said plunger are formed of a metallic material.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
20 words
A surgical instrument according to claim 1 wherein said forceps levers and said plunger are formed of a plastic material.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
19 words
A surgical instrument according to claim 1 wherein said forceps levers and said plunger are formed of disposable materials.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
26 words
A surgical instrument according to claim 1 wherein said forceps levers are formed of a metallic material and said plunger is formed of a disposable material.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
27 words
A surgical instrument according to claim 1 wherein said forceps levers are formed of stainless steel and said plunger is formed of a clear polyvinyl chloride material.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
19 words
A surgical instrument according to claim 1 wherein said plunger is provided with measurement markings along the length thereof.