Forceps

Abstract

Abstract The present invention relates to surgical forceps. During surgery forceps are frequently used to grip and manipulate tissue. For large scale surgery the operating table is sufficiently well illuminated to enable the surgeon to identify and grip tissue as required. With the advent of microsurgery substantially more accurate positioning of the forceps is required and it is often the case that the forceps itself will intervene between the eye of the surgeon and the precise area of tissue to be gripped thus creating uncertainty as to whether the correct piece of tissue is being gripped. A pair of microsurgical forceps has a shank (6), and a pair of resilient arms (2, 4) extending from the shank (6) and each terminating in a curved tip portion (2a, 4a). At least two fibre optic bundles (14, 16) extend from the shank (6) to a position adjacent at least to one of said tip portions (2a, 4a). A light source is connected to one bundle (14) to illuminate the area between the tip portions, and an endoscope is coupled to the other bundle (16) to enable the area between the tips to be viewed whereby to enable any gripping action performed by the forceps to be visually monitored.

Inventors

• 👤 William John Hoskin
• 👤 John Tesar

Bibliographic Details