US5709706A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Surgical instrument
Assignee: Aesculap AG
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Filing: 1996-12-27
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Granted: 1998-01-20
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Expires: 2016-12-27
Abstract
Abstract A surgical instrument including a shank, at least one tool mounted for swivel movement at the end of the shank, a swivel element mounted for swivel movement about an axis of rotation for swivelling the tool between an open position and a closed position, and an actuating member actuatable from an end of the shank located opposite the tool for swivelling the swivel element about the axis of rotation. The high closing forces required for plastic deformation of objects can also be achieved without excessive forces being transmitted to the drive mechanisms. The actuating member is an arm which is articulatedly connected at a first articulation point to the swivel element, and that in the open position of the tool, the arm be at an incline to an axis of the swivel element extending perpendicularly to the axis of rotation through the first articulation point and in the closed position of the tool, be essentially perpendicular to the axis of the swivel element.
Inventors
- 👤 Karl-Ernst Kienzle
- 👤 Rupert Mayenberger
- 👤 Markus Nesper
- 👤 Dieter Weisshaupt
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 18:51
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B17/00; A61B17/28; A61B17/29; A61B17/04; A61B17/0469; A61B2017/2926; A61B2017/2932; A61B2017/2939; A61B2017/2941; A61B90/00; A61B90/03
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim
231 words
A surgical instrument, comprising: a shank having a longitudinal axis and an inner width; at least one swiveling tool including a first tool which is mounted for swivel movement at the end of said shank; a second tool which opposes said first tool; a first swivel element which is mounted for swivel movement about an axis of rotation for swiveling said first tool in a range of motion between a first position and a second position; and a first actuating member actuatable from an end of said shank which is located opposite said first tool for swiveling said swivel element about said axis of rotation; wherein: said first actuating member comprises an arm which is articulatedly connected to said first swivel element at a first articulation point; said arm is adapted to position said first tool in said first position when said arm is at an incline to an axis of said first swivel element and at an incline to said shank axis; said axis of said first swivel element extends perpendicularly to said axis of rotation through said first articulation point; said arm is adapted to position said first tool in said second position when said arm is approximately perpendicular to said axis of said first swivel element and almost perpendicular to said shank axis; and a length of said arm corresponds almost to said inner width of said shank.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
231 words
A surgical instrument, comprising: a shank having a longitudinal axis and an inner width; at least one swiveling tool including a first tool which is mounted for swivel movement at the end of said shank; a second tool which opposes said first tool; a first swivel element which is mounted for swivel movement about an axis of rotation for swiveling said first tool in a range of motion between a first position and a second position; and a first actuating member actuatable from an end of said shank which is located opposite said first tool for swiveling said swivel element about said axis of rotation; wherein: said first actuating member comprises an arm which is articulatedly connected to said first swivel element at a first articulation point; said arm is adapted to position said first tool in said first position when said arm is at an incline to an axis of said first swivel element and at an incline to said shank axis; said axis of said first swivel element extends perpendicularly to said axis of rotation through said first articulation point; said arm is adapted to position said first tool in said second position when said arm is approximately perpendicular to said axis of said first swivel element and almost perpendicular to said shank axis; and a length of said arm corresponds almost to said inner width of said shank.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
27 words
A surgical instrument as defined in claim 1, wherein: said first position is away from said second tool and said second position is toward said second tool.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
25 words
A surgical instrument as defined in claim 1, wherein: said arm is articulatedly connected to a transmission member which is displaceable along said shank axis.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
44 words
A surgical instrument as defined in claim 3, wherein: said arm extends from a first end to a second end; said first articulation point is proximate to said first end; and said arm is articulatedly connected at said second end to said transmission member.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
32 words
A surgical instrument as defined in claim 1, wherein: a radial spacing of said first articulation point from said axis of rotation is considerably larger than the inner width of said shank.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
20 words
A surgical instrument as defined in claim 1, wherein: said first swivel element is rigidly connected to said first tool.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
19 words
A surgical instrument as defined in claim 1, wherein: said first and second tools comprise respective forceps jaw portions.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
19 words
A surgical instrument as defined in claim 1, wherein said second tool is stationary with respect to said shank.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
36 words
A surgical instrument as defined in claim 1, wherein: said second tool is mounted for swivel movement at the end of said shank and is adapted for swiveling in an opposite direction than said first tool.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
45 words
A surgical instrument as defined in claim 9, further comprising: a second swivel element which is mounted for swivel movement for swiveling said second tool; and a second actuating member which is actuatable from said end of said shank for swiveling said second swivel element.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
23 words
A surgical instrument as defined in claim 10, wherein: said second swivel element is mounted for swivel movement about said axis of rotation.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
43 words
A surgical instrument as defined in claim 10, wherein: said first and second swivel elements are arranged symmetrically in relation to said shank axis during at least a portion of a range of the swivel movement of said first and second swivel elements.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
19 words
A surgical instrument as defined in claim 10, wherein: said first and second tools comprise respective forceps jaw portions.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
37 words
A surgical instrument as defined in claim 13, wherein: said forceps jaw portions are spaced apart from one another even when said forceps jaw portions swivel toward each other to respective limits of their ranges of motion.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
114 words
A surgical instrument as defined in claim 10, wherein: said first position is away from said second tool and said second position is toward said second tool; said second actuating member comprises an arm which is articulatedly connected to said second swivel element at a second articulation point; said arm of said second actuating member is adapted to position said second tool toward said first tool when said arm of said second actuating member is at an incline to an axis of said second swivel element and at an incline to said shank axis; and said axis of said second swivel element extends perpendicularly to said axis of rotation through said second articulation point.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
54 words
A surgical instrument as defined in claim 15, wherein: said arm which swivels said first swivel element and said arm which swivels said second swivel element are arranged symmetrically in relation to said shank axis during at least a portion of a range of the swivel movement of said first and second swivel elements.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
54 words
A surgical instrument as defined in claim 15, wherein: said arm of said second actuating member is adapted to position said second tool away from said first tool when said arm of said second actuating member is approximately perpendicular to said axis of said second swivel element and almost perpendicular to said shank axis.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2001-01-19 | 2001-07-21 | 2002-01-20 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2005-01-19 | 2005-07-21 | 2006-01-20 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2009-01-19 | 2009-07-21 | 2010-01-20 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |