Surgical instruments and methods of manufacturing surgical instruments for performing tonsillectomy, adenoidectomy, and other surgical procedures
A surgical instrument includes a housing having a movable handle operably coupled to the housing and movable relative thereto between an initial position and a compressed position. A trigger is operably coupled to the housing within a slot defined therein and movable relative to the housing and the movable handle between an un-actuated position and an actuated position. A flange is disposed on the trigger and configured to extend distally therefrom. The flange is dimensioned to cover the slot when the trigger is moved between the un-actuated and actuated positions to avoid creating a potential pinch point between the trigger and the slot.
1. A surgical instrument, comprising:
a housing;
a movable handle operably coupled to the housing and movable relative thereto between an initial position and a compressed position;
a trigger operably coupled to the housing within a slot defined therein, the trigger movable relative to the housing and the movable handle between an un-actuated position and an actuated position; and
a flange disposed on the trigger and extending distally therefrom, the flange dimensioned to cover the slot when the trigger is moved between the un-actuated and actuated positions to avoid creating a potential pinch point between the trigger and the slot.
2. The surgical instrument according to claim 1 , wherein movement of the trigger from the un-actuated position to the actuated position deploys a knife.
3. The surgical instrument according to claim 1 , wherein the flange is made from the same material as the trigger.
4. The surgical instrument according to claim 1 , wherein the flange is made from material selected from the group consisting of plastic, polymer, rubber and silicone.
5. The surgical instrument according to claim 1 , wherein the movable handle and the trigger are pivotably coupled to the housing.
6. The surgical instrument according to claim 5 , wherein the movable handle and the trigger are pivotably coupled to the housing about a common pivot.
7. The surgical instrument according to claim 1 , wherein the trigger at least partially surrounds the movable handle.
8. The surgical instrument according to claim 1 , wherein the trigger and the movable handle define complementarily-contoured abutting surfaces.
9. The surgical instrument according to claim 1 , wherein the flange and an underside of the housing define complementarily-contoured facing surfaces.
10. A surgical instrument, comprising:
a housing;
a movable handle operably coupled to the housing and movable relative thereto between an initial position and a compressed position;
a trigger operably coupled to the housing within a slot defined therein, the trigger movable relative to the housing when the movable handle is disposed in the compressed position between an un-actuated position and an actuated position; and
a flange disposed on the trigger and extending distally therefrom, the flange dimensioned to cover the slot when the trigger is moved between the un-actuated and actuated positions to avoid creating a potential pinch point between the trigger and the slot.
11. The surgical instrument according to claim 10 , wherein movement of the trigger from the un-actuated position to the actuated position deploys a knife.
12. The surgical instrument according to claim 10 , wherein the flange is made from the same material as the trigger.
13. The surgical instrument according to claim 10 , wherein the flange is made from material selected from the group consisting of plastic, polymer, rubber and silicone.
14. The surgical instrument according to claim 10 , wherein the movable handle and the trigger are pivotably coupled to the housing.
15. The surgical instrument according to claim 14 , wherein the movable handle and the trigger are pivotably coupled to the housing about a common pivot.
16. The surgical instrument according to claim 10 , wherein the trigger at least partially surrounds the movable handle.
17. The surgical instrument according to claim 10 , wherein the trigger and the movable handle define complementarily-contoured abutting surfaces.
18. The surgical instrument according to claim 10 , wherein the flange and an underside of the housing define complementarily-contoured facing surfaces.