Disposable bipolar instrument

Claim 2

A disposable bipolar instrument for ophthalmic surgery comprising: a first shell half having a proximal end and a distal end; a second shell half having a proximal end and a distal end; and a means for connecting said first and said second shell halves at respective proximal ends thereof so that they can function as forceps; said means for connecting including a support portion for maintaining said respective proximal ends in substantially fixed relative relationship, so that said first and second shell halves are cantilevered thereabout; said proximal ends being spaced apart a predetermined distance when no manual force is being applied to said first and second shell halves; said first shell half including a first pair of upstanding wall-like projections; said second shell half including a second pair of upstanding wall-like projections; said first pair of upstanding wall-like projections being in sliding engagement with said second pair of upstanding wall-like projections during manual flexure of said first and second shell halves; said first pair of upstanding wall-like projections being guided, during flexure of said first shell half toward said second shell half, by said second pair of upstanding wall-like projections; said first pair of wall-like projections including a sloped region; and said second pair of wall-like projections including a sloped region; said sloped regions of said first pair of wall-like projections and said second pair of wall-like projections being disposed such that the respective said distal ends of said first and second shell halves can be urged manually toward each other by resilient bending flexure of said first and second shell halves in cantilevered bending; said resilient bending flexure causing a progressive increase in resistive force to further flexure, thereby providing tactile feedback to an operator during manual operation of said first and second shell halves; a first electrode carried by said first shell half; a second electrode carried by said second shell half; a connector means for connecting said first and second electrodes to a voltage source; said first and second electrodes projecting beyond said respective distal ends for simultaneous use as forcep tips and as operational electrodes during ophthalmic surgery; whereby said first electrode and said second electrode can be guided toward and away from one another by manual urging of said first and second shell halves.

Claim 3

A disposable bipolar instrument as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first shell half and second shell half are composed of a resiliently deformable plastic material.

Claim 4

A disposable bipolar instrument as claimed in the claim 1, wherein said means for connecting said first shell half and said second shell half comprises a collar which snugly receives said respective proximal ends of said first and second shell halves.

Claim 5

A disposable bipolar instrument as claimed in claim 3, wherein said respective proximal ends of said first shell half and said second shell half are disposed in mating relationship with each other within said collar.

Claim 6

A disposable bipolar instrument as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first shell half has a groove disposed therein which receives said first electrode; and said second shell half has a groove disposed therein which receives said second electrode.

Claim 7

A disposable bipolar instrument as claimed in claim 1, further comprising means for maintaining separation of respective proximal ends of said first electrode and said second electrode.

Claim 8

A disposable bipolar instrument as claimed in claim 6, wherein said means for maintaining separation comprises a solid insulating body disposed between said first pair of wall like projections of said first shell half adjacent said proximal end thereof.

Claim 9

An instrument for ophthalmic surgery, comprising: a first shell half and a second shell half; said first and second shell halves each having a proximal end and a distal end; said first shell half being resiliently deformable and having a first wall-like projection which supports a second wall-like projection and a third wall-like projection; said second and third wall-like projections being disposed generally perpendicularly to said first wall-like projection; said second wall-like projection and said third wall-like projection being spaced apart and generally parallel to each other; said second shell half being resiliently deformable and having a fourth wall-like projection which supports a fifth wall-like projection and a sixth wall-like projection, said fifth wall-like projection and said sixth wall-like projection being disposed generally perpendicularly to said fourth wall-like projection; said fifth wall-like projection and said sixth wall-like projection being spaced apart and generally parallel to each other; said first shell half carrying a first electrode; said second shell half carrying a second electrode; said first and second electrodes each having a distal end which projects beyond distal ends of said first and second shell halves; a first conductor connected to said first electrode for supplying current to said first electrode, and a second conductor connected to said second electrode for carrying current away from said second electrode; a means for connecting said first shell half to said second shell half at said proximal ends thereof, so that said first and second shell halves can function as forceps; said means for connecting including a portion for maintaining said respective proximal ends in substantially fixed relative relationship, so that said first and second shell halves are cantilevered thereabout; said proximal ends being spaced apart a predetermined distance when no manual force is being applied to said first and second shell halves; during manual actuation of said first and second shell halves, said second wall-like projection being in sliding engagement with said fifth wall-like projection, and said third wall-like projection being in sliding engagement with said sixth wall-like projection; whereby manual engagement of said first shell half and said second shell half causes resilient flexural deformation of said first and second shell halves toward one another with a progressive resistance, so as to bring the exposed tips of said first electrode and said second electrode together; whereby cauterization can be performed.

Claim 10

An instrument for ophthalmic surgery, comprising: a first shell half and a second shell half; said first and second shell halves each having a proximal end and a distal end; said first shell half being resiliently deformable and having a first wall-like projection which supports a second wall-like projection and a third wall-like projection; said second and third wall-like projections being disposed generally perpendicularly to said first wall-like projection; said second wall-like projection and said third wall-like projection being spaced apart and generally parallel to each other; said second shell half being resiliently deformable and having a fourth wall-like projection which supports a fifth wall-like projection and a sixth wall-like projection, said fifth wall-like projection and said sixth wall-like projection being disposed generally perpendicularly to said fourth wall-like projection; said fifth wall-like projection and said sixth wall-like projection being spaced apart and generally parallel to each other; said first shell half carrying a first electrode; said second shell half carrying a second electrode; said first and second electrodes each having a distal end which projects beyond distal ends of said first and second shell halves; a first conductor connected to said first electrode for supplying current to said first electrode, and a second conductor connected to said second electrode for carrying current away from said second electrode; a means for connecting said first shell half to said second shell half at said proximal ends thereof, so that said first and second shell halves can function as forceps; said means for connecting including a portion for maintaining said respective proximal ends in substantially fixed relative relationship, so that said first and second shell halves are cantilevered thereabout; said proximal ends being spaced apart a predetermined distance when no manual force is being applied to said first and second shell halves; during manual actuation of said first and second shell halves, said second wall-like projection being in sliding engagement with said fifth wall-like projection, and said third wall-like projection being in sliding engagement with said sixth wall-like projection; whereby manual engagement of said first shell half and said second shell half causes resilient flexural deformation of said first and second shell halves toward one another with a progressive resistance, so as to bring the exposed tips of said first electrode and said second electrode together; whereby cauterization can be performed.