IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,521,136
Granted Patent B2
US 12,521,136 · App. 18/719,469 · Granted Jan 13, 2026

Medical instrument

Inventors: Christian Stark (Tuttlingen, DE); Gilles Roland Waeldin (Pulau Penang, MY)
Assignee: Aesculap AG
A61B17/282A61B17/2816A61B17/2841A61B2017/00473
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,521,136
App. No.
18/719,469
Granted
Jan 13, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

A medical instrument includes two pivotally coupled branches. Each branch has a handling portion and a jaw portion. The jaw portions form a mouth which is movable between a closed state, in which the jaw portions are moved inwardly, and an open state, in which the jaw portions are moved outwardly. At least one branch includes a branch member and jaw member. The branch member includes one of the handling portions and a coupling. The jaw member forms one of the jaw portions and has a complementary coupling. The coupling and complementary coupling form a releasable connection to exchangeably attach the jaw member to the branch member. The coupling includes two wedge surfaces opposing each other along a medial/lateral axis. The wedge surfaces are inclined proximally toward each other by a first angle of inclination, and inclined inwardly toward each other by a second angle of inclination.

Claims (16)

1 . A medical instrument, comprising:

a first instrument branch and a second instrument branch pivotally coupled to the first instrument branch,

each of the first instrument branch and the second instrument branch having a proximal handling portion and a distal jaw portion,

the distal jaw portions forming an instrument mouth which is movable by a pivotal movement of the first instrument branch and the second instrument branch between a closed state, in which the distal jaw portions are moved inwardly toward each other, and an open state, in which the distal jaw portions are moved outwardly away from each other,

at least one of the first instrument branch and the second instrument branch comprising a branch member and a jaw member, the branch member being elongated along a proximal/distal axis and having one of the proximal handling portions and a distal coupling portion, the jaw member forming one of the distal jaw portions and having a proximal complementary coupling portion,

the distal coupling portion and the proximal complementary coupling portion forming a releasable connection to exchangeably attach the jaw member to the branch member,

the distal coupling portion is comprising a wedge-shaped protrusion and the proximal complementary coupling portion is comprising a complementary wedge-shaped recess, or vice versa,

the wedge-shaped protrusion comprising two wedge surfaces opposing each other along a medial/lateral axis, the two wedge surfaces being inclined in a proximal direction toward each other by a first angle of inclination, and

the two wedge surfaces being inclined inwardly toward each other by a second angle of inclination.

2 . The medical instrument according to claim 1 , wherein the first angle of inclination measures between 10° and 30°.

3 . The medical instrument according to claim 1 , wherein the second angle of inclination measures between 10° and 30°.

4 . A kit comprising:

the medical instrument according to claim 1 ; and

a plurality of different jaw members, each of the plurality of different jaw members being interchangeable with the jaw member of the medical instrument,

the plurality of different jaw members comprising identical complementary coupling portions configured for releasable connection to the distal coupling portion of the branch member of the medical instrument, and

the identical complementary coupling portions each being identical to the proximal complementary coupling portion of the jaw member of the medical instrument.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 23, 2024
From: STARK, CHRISTIAN; WAELDIN, GILLES ROLAND
To: AESCULAP AG
Reel/Frame 068385/0761 →
Priority Claims (1)
EP 21214904 · Dec 15, 2021 · regional
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20250049458A1 · Feb 13, 2025
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