Surgical device for performing thoracostomies

Claim 1

Surgical apparatus for performing thoracostomies comprising: a pair of upper and lower handle portions removably secured together, each of said handle portions having an elongated handle at one end and a planar extension portion at the other end, each of said extension portions having a generally semi-circular opening therethrough on one side thereof, said handle portions being independent of each other and adapted to abut against each other so that said handles extend in a direction substantially parallel to each other but spaced therefrom with said extension portions abutting against each other such that said semi-circular openings abut against each other with said opening forming a generally circular opening; each of said handle portions having a flange intermediate said handle and said extension portion, each of said flanges having an opening therethrough, said last mentioned openings being adapted to coincide with each other to form a single opening through said flanges when said portions are abutted against each other as heretofore stated; a key member removably mounted in said single opening, said key member and said openings in said flanges having key means therein keying said key member within said single opening so that said key member can quickly and easily non-resiliently lock said handle portions together or be removable therefrom upon rotation thereof to release said handle portions from engagement with each other, said key member and said key means comprising the sole means retaining said handle portions together; a curved needle half secured to each extension portion extending downwardly from said semi-circular opening, each of said needle halves having an inner groove terminating at their terminal ends in sharp edges, each of said grooves being aligned with its respective semi-circular opening so that, when said handle portions abut against each other as heretofore stated, said needle halve form a generally circular channel communicating at one end with the exterior of said extension portions and at the other end with said sharp edges; and a sytlet having an elongated body terminating in a curved end disposed between said curved needle halves and generally conforming thereto.