US5219357A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Micro-instrument
Assignee: Wells Fargo Credit Inc
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Filing: 1992-01-03
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Granted: 1993-06-15
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Expires: 2012-01-03
Abstract
Abstract An endoscopic surgical tool (10, FIG. 1 ) with a single moveable inner tip (22), and a fixed outer tip (12) pivotably interacting via an integral essentially-hourglass-form pivot extension of both walls of the outer tip and an engaging channel (24) of the inner tip(s), articulated by a link with an integral stud and also realizable as with dual moveable inner tips (22A, 22B/FIG. 6 ), pivotably interacting with respective end-to-end adjacent essentially-hourglass-form sections of a pivot that is an integral extension of the outer tip.
Inventors
- 👤 George P. Honkanen
- 👤 Roger M. Burke
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 15:50
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B17/00; A61B17/28; A61B17/29; A61B17/16; A61B17/1604; A61B17/1606; A61B17/1608; A61B2017/2926; A61B2017/2932; A61B2017/2939; A61B2017/294
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
129 words
A miniature articulated tip tool comprising: (a) means defining an articulated tip assembly with at least one pivotable element and a pivot element therefor with a range of movement between extended and retracted positions for effecting selective user controlled pivotal working movements, the said tip assembly comprising at least one wall with an integrally formed extension thereof serving as said pivot element, (b) means defining a user control handle-actuating system, (c) means defining an elongated linkage between the handle-actuating system and the articulatable tip pivotable member and a channel including such elongated linkage, the tip having two opposed movable elements on the same pivot, the pivot being of essentially dual hourglass form and the movable elements each having channels of inverse hourglass form conforming to respective hourglass pivot sections.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
129 words
A miniature articulated tip tool comprising: (a) means defining an articulated tip assembly with at least one pivotable element and a pivot element therefor with a range of movement between extended and retracted positions for effecting selective user controlled pivotal working movements, the said tip assembly comprising at least one wall with an integrally formed extension thereof serving as said pivot element, (b) means defining a user control handle-actuating system, (c) means defining an elongated linkage between the handle-actuating system and the articulatable tip pivotable member and a channel including such elongated linkage, the tip having two opposed movable elements on the same pivot, the pivot being of essentially dual hourglass form and the movable elements each having channels of inverse hourglass form conforming to respective hourglass pivot sections.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
17 words
The tool of clam 1 further including means for configuring said tool as an endoscopic surgical instrument.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
17 words
The tool of clam 1 further including means for configuring said tool as an endoscopic surgical instrument.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
15 words
The tool of claim 2 further including means for configuring said tool as a grasper.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
15 words
The tool of claim 2 further including means for configuring said tool as a punch.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
15 words
The tool of claim 2 further including means for configuring said tool as a scissors.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
25 words
The tool of claim 2 wherein the fixed tip has a construction of two side walls with said pivot constituting an integral extension of both.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
22 words
The tool of claim 1 wherein said sidewalls are essentially parallel and the integral pivot has essentially a dual hour glass form.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
27 words
The tool of claim 1 wherein said pivotable elements each have a channel opening of inverse hour glass form conforming to a portion of the integral pivot.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
32 words
The tool of claim 1 constructed and arranged wherein the two channel-pivot conformations comprise gaps, when the instrument is unloaded, that expand going from adjacent walls toward the middle of the pivot.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
144 words
A miniature articulated tip tool comprising: (a) means defining an articulated tip assembly with at least one pivotable element and a pivot element therefor with a range of movement between extended and retracted positions for effecting selective user controlled pivotal working movements, the said tip assembly comprising at least one wall with an integrally formed extension thereof serving as said pivot element, (b) means defining a user control handle-actuating system, (c) means defining an elongated linkage between the handle-actuating system and the articulatable tip pivotable member and a channel including such elongated linkage, the tip assembly having a construction of two side walls with said pivot constituting an integral extension of both, said sidewalls being essentially parallel and the integral pivot has essentially an hour glass form, each said pivotable element having a channel essentially of inverse hour glass form conforming to the pivot.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
144 words
A miniature articulated tip tool comprising: (a) means defining an articulated tip assembly with at least one pivotable element and a pivot element therefor with a range of movement between extended and retracted positions for effecting selective user controlled pivotal working movements, the said tip assembly comprising at least one wall with an integrally formed extension thereof serving as said pivot element, (b) means defining a user control handle-actuating system, (c) means defining an elongated linkage between the handle-actuating system and the articulatable tip pivotable member and a channel including such elongated linkage, the tip assembly having a construction of two side walls with said pivot constituting an integral extension of both, said sidewalls being essentially parallel and the integral pivot has essentially an hour glass form, each said pivotable element having a channel essentially of inverse hour glass form conforming to the pivot.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
DE50053C
Cited
US4887612A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1996-06-14 | 1996-12-14 | 1997-06-15 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2000-06-14 | 2000-12-14 | 2001-06-15 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2004-06-14 | 2004-12-14 | 2005-06-15 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |