Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
334 words
A grasping instrument for arthroscopic surgical use in externally manipulating a curved needle between the outside of a patient and a remote operation site, the instrument comprising: a pair of jaws, said pair comprising a first jaw and a second jaw, the first jaw having a nose at the front end thereof and an articulation point at the rear end thereof for articulation with respect to the second jaw, the first jaw having an outer surface with a top portion, front portion, and side portions and having an inner surface, the second jaw being similar in external dimensions to the first jaw and having a nose at the front end thereof, the second jaw having an outer surface with a top portion, a front portion, and side portions and an inner surface, wherein the first jaw contains a channel therethrough from the top surface of the first jaw through to the inner surface of the first jaw; a shaft with said pair of jaws operatively connected thereto at a first end thereof; a pair of handles operatively connected to the second end of said shaft; and means for opening and closing said jaws; wherein the channel of the first jaw of said pair of jaws is dimensioned to receive at least a rear portion of a curved needle therethrough, said jaws capable of securely grasping the needle so received, wherein the inner surface of the second jaw of said pair of jaws has a longitudinal groove coincident with the longitudinal axis of the second jaw and dimensioned to receive a portion of the curved needle therein when said curved needle is in the channel and is being held by the grasping device, and wherein the nose of the first jaw of said pair of jaws has a notch therein, the notch dimensioned to receive a portion of the curved needle and wherein the channel of the first jaw of said pair is arcuate and wherein the groove of the second jaw is likewise arcuate.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
334 words
A grasping instrument for arthroscopic surgical use in externally manipulating a curved needle between the outside of a patient and a remote operation site, the instrument comprising: a pair of jaws, said pair comprising a first jaw and a second jaw, the first jaw having a nose at the front end thereof and an articulation point at the rear end thereof for articulation with respect to the second jaw, the first jaw having an outer surface with a top portion, front portion, and side portions and having an inner surface, the second jaw being similar in external dimensions to the first jaw and having a nose at the front end thereof, the second jaw having an outer surface with a top portion, a front portion, and side portions and an inner surface, wherein the first jaw contains a channel therethrough from the top surface of the first jaw through to the inner surface of the first jaw; a shaft with said pair of jaws operatively connected thereto at a first end thereof; a pair of handles operatively connected to the second end of said shaft; and means for opening and closing said jaws; wherein the channel of the first jaw of said pair of jaws is dimensioned to receive at least a rear portion of a curved needle therethrough, said jaws capable of securely grasping the needle so received, wherein the inner surface of the second jaw of said pair of jaws has a longitudinal groove coincident with the longitudinal axis of the second jaw and dimensioned to receive a portion of the curved needle therein when said curved needle is in the channel and is being held by the grasping device, and wherein the nose of the first jaw of said pair of jaws has a notch therein, the notch dimensioned to receive a portion of the curved needle and wherein the channel of the first jaw of said pair is arcuate and wherein the groove of the second jaw is likewise arcuate.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
18 words
The instrument of claim 1 wherein the inner surface of each of said pair of jaws is serrated.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
16 words
The instrument of claim 1 further including means to bias said jaws in a closed position.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
18 words
The instrument of claim 3 wherein the inner surface of each of said pair of jaws is serrated.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
19 words
The instrument of claim 1 further including means to rotate said jaws with respect to said pair of handles.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
18 words
The instrument of claim 5 wherein the inner surface of each of said pair of jaws is serrated.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
323 words
A grasping instrument for arthroscopic surgical use in externally manipulating a curved needle between the outside of a patient and a remote operation site, the instrument comprising: a pair of jaws, said pair comprising a first jaw and a second jaw, the first jaw having a nose at the front end thereof and an articulation point the rear end thereof for articulation with respect to the second jaw, the first jaw having an outer surface with a top portion, front portion, and side portions and having an inner surface, the second jaw having an articulation point at the rear end thereof and having a nose at the front end thereof, the second jaw having an outer surface with a top portion, front portion, and side portions and an inner surface, wherein the first jaw contains a channel therethrough from the top surface of the first jaw through to the inner surface of the first jaw; wherein the inner surface of the second jaw of said pair of jaws has an arcuate longitudinal groove coincident with the longitudinal axis of the second jaw and dimensioned to receive a portion of a curved needle therein when said curved needle is in the channel and is being held by the grasping device; wherein the nose of the first jaw of said pair of jaws has a notch therein, the notch dimensioned to receive a portion of the curved needle; a shaft with said pair of jaws operatively connected thereto at a first end thereof; a pair of handles operatively connected to the second end of said shaft; and means for opening and closing said jaws, said means operatively engaging both said handles and said pair of jaws; wherein the channel of the first jaw of said pair of jaws is arcuate and is dimensioned to receive at least the rear portion of the curved needle therethrough, said jaws capable of securely grasping the needle so received.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
323 words
A grasping instrument for arthroscopic surgical use in externally manipulating a curved needle between the outside of a patient and a remote operation site, the instrument comprising: a pair of jaws, said pair comprising a first jaw and a second jaw, the first jaw having a nose at the front end thereof and an articulation point the rear end thereof for articulation with respect to the second jaw, the first jaw having an outer surface with a top portion, front portion, and side portions and having an inner surface, the second jaw having an articulation point at the rear end thereof and having a nose at the front end thereof, the second jaw having an outer surface with a top portion, front portion, and side portions and an inner surface, wherein the first jaw contains a channel therethrough from the top surface of the first jaw through to the inner surface of the first jaw; wherein the inner surface of the second jaw of said pair of jaws has an arcuate longitudinal groove coincident with the longitudinal axis of the second jaw and dimensioned to receive a portion of a curved needle therein when said curved needle is in the channel and is being held by the grasping device; wherein the nose of the first jaw of said pair of jaws has a notch therein, the notch dimensioned to receive a portion of the curved needle; a shaft with said pair of jaws operatively connected thereto at a first end thereof; a pair of handles operatively connected to the second end of said shaft; and means for opening and closing said jaws, said means operatively engaging both said handles and said pair of jaws; wherein the channel of the first jaw of said pair of jaws is arcuate and is dimensioned to receive at least the rear portion of the curved needle therethrough, said jaws capable of securely grasping the needle so received.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
18 words
The instrument of claim 7 wherein the inner surface of each of said pair of jaws is serrated.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
16 words
The instrument of claim 7 further including means to bias said jaws in a closed position.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
19 words
The instrument of claim 7 further including means to rotate said jaws with respect to said pair of handles.