Instrument for engaging a body structure

1. An instrument for engaging an underlying blood vessel or body structure comprising:

first and second instrument arms each having a proximal end and a distal end and coupled by a hinge, said hinge permitting said instrument arms to move relative to one another, said arms disposed in a first plane perpendicular to the axis of said hinge;

first and second handles extending proximally from the proximal ends of said first and second instrument arms respectively; and

first and second instrument fingers extending distally from the distal ends of said first and second instrument arms respectively and terminating at a distal tip, said instrument fingers being axially straight over their entire length to said distal tip, each of said instrument fingers having a proximal end and a distal end, each of said instrument fingers proximal ends joined to a respective distal end of each of said instrument arms thereby forming a juncture, said juncture comprising a bend of 20 to 80 degrees of angulation with respect to said first plane thereby disposing said straight instrument fingers in a second plane at an angle of 20 to 80 degrees to said first plane, said second plane defined by said straight instrument fingers in a spread-apart position;

wherein each of said instrument fingers distal ends comprises a substantially planar bottom surface, said bottom surface extending to said distal tip and being disposed at a 20 to 80 degree angle to said second plane.

2. The instrument according to claim 1 wherein said bend of 20 to 80 degrees of angulation is a discrete line of departure of said second plane from said first plane.

3. The instrument according to claim 1 wherein said bend of 20 to 80 degrees of angulation is a curvilinear transition from said first plane to said second plane.

4. The instrument according to claim 1 wherein each of said distal tips is pointed.

5. The instrument according to claim 4 wherein said distal tips in a position adjacent each other together define a pointed distal end.

6. The instrument according to claim 1 wherein said bottom surfaces in a position adiacent each other together define an end surface to interface with the curved surface of the underlying blood vessel or body structure.

7. The instrument according to claim 1 wherein said planar surface is disposed in a plane substantially parallel to said first plane.

8. The instrument according to claim 1 wherein said bottom surfaces, when adiacent one another and in an abutting position, possess no opening through said adiacent bottom surfaces to an interior portion of said instrument fingers.

9. The instrument according to claims 1 wherein said distal tips in a position adiacent each other together present a blunt end surface.

10. The instrument according to claim 1 wherein each of the said straight instrument fingers tapers toward said instrument finger distal end.

11. The instrument according to claim 1 wherein at least one of said instrument fingers has an outer surface bearing a marking, the marking configured to provide an indicia of distance from said distal tip to the marking.

12. The instrument according to claim 1 wherein said handles are disposed in the same plane as said instrument arms.

13. The instrument according to claim 1 wherein the said straight instrument fingers move apart when said first and second instrument arms are moved toward one another.

14. The instrument according to claim 1 wherein said juncture comprises a bend of 30 to 45 degrees of angulation with respect to said first plane, thereby disposing said straight instrument fingers in a second plane at an angle of 30 to 45 degrees to said first plane.

15. An instrument for engaging an underlying blood vessel or body structure comprising:

first and second instrument arms each having a proximal end and a distal end and coupled by a hinge, said hinge permitting said instrument arms to move relative to one another, said arms disposed in a first plane perpendicular to the axis of said hinge;

first and second handles extending proximally from the proximal ends of said first and second instrument arms respectively; and

first and second instrument fingers extending distally from the distal ends of said first and second instrument arms respectively and terminating at a distal tip, said instrument fingers being axially straight over their entire length to said distal tip, each of said instrument fingers having a proximal end and a distal end, each of said instrument fingers proximal ends joined to a respective distal end of each of said instrument arms thereby forming a juncture, said juncture comprising a bend of 30 to 45 degrees of angulation with respect to said first plane, thereby disposing said straight instrument fingers in a second plane at an angle of 30 to 45 degrees to said first plane, said second plane defined by said straight instrument fingers in a spread-apart position;

wherein each of said instrument fingers distal ends comprises a substantially planar bottom surface, said bottom surface extending to said distal tip and being disposed at a 30 to 45 degree angle to said second plane.

16. The instrument according to claim 15 wherein said bottom surfaces, when adiacent one another and in an abutting position, possess no opening through said adiacent bottom surfaces to an interior portion of said instrument fingers.

17. The instrument according to claim 15 wherein said bend of 30 to 45 degrees of angulation is a discrete line of departure of said second plane from said first plane.

18. The instrument according to claim 15 wherein said bend of 30 to 45 degrees of angulation is a curvilinear transition from said first plane to said second plane.

19. An instrument for engaging an underlying blood vessel or body structure comprising:

first and second instrument arms each having a proximal end and a distal end and coupled by a hinge, said hinge permitting said instrument arms to move relative to one another, said arms disposed in a first plane perpendicular to the axis of said hinge;

first and second handles extending proximally from the proximal ends of said first and second instrument arms respectively; and

first and second instrument fingers extending distally from the distal ends of said first and second instrument arms respectively and terminating at a distal tip, said instrument fingers being axially straight over their entire length to said distal tip, each of said instrument fingers having a proximal end and a distal end, each of said instrument fingers proximal ends joined to a respective distal end of each of said instrument arms thereby forming a juncture, said juncture comprising a bend of 20 to 80 degrees of angulation with respect to said first plane thereby disposing said straight instrument fingers in a second plane at an angle of 20 to 80 degrees to said first plane, said second plane defined by said straight instrument fingers in a spread-apart position;

wherein each of said instrument fingers distal ends have a bottom surface that is flat, said bottom surface extending to said distal tip and disposed at an angle to said second plane substantially the same as the angle of the bend.

20. The instrument according to claim 19 wherein said bottom surfaces together define a substantially planar surface disposed in a plane at 20 to 80 degrees from said second plane.

21. The instrument according to claim 19 wherein said flat bottom surfaces are disposed in a plane substantially parallel to said first plane.

22. An instrument for engaging an underlying blood vessel or body structure comprising:

first and second instrument arms each having a proximal end and a distal end and coupled by a hinge, said hinge permitting said instrument arms to move relative to one another, said arms disposed in a first plane perpendicular to the axis of said hinge;

first and second handles extending proximally from the proximal ends of said first and second instrument arms respectively; and

first and second instrument fingers extending distally from the distal ends of said first and second instrument arms respectively and terminating at a distal tip, said instrument fingers being axially straight over their entire length to said distal tip, each of said instrument fingers having a proximal end and a distal end, each of said instrument fingers proximal ends joined to a respective distal end of each of said instrument arms thereby forming a juncture, said juncture comprising a bend of 20 to 80 degrees of angulation with respect to said first plane thereby disposing said straight instrument fingers in a second plane at an angle of 20 to 80 degrees to said first plane, said second plane defined by said straight instrument fingers in a spread-apart position;

wherein each of said instrument fingers distal ends comprises a planar bottom surface, said bottom surface extending to said distal tip and being disposed in a third plane substantially parallel to said first plane.

23. The instrument according to claim 22 wherein said bend of 20 to 80 degrees of angulation is a discrete line of departure of said second plane from said first plane.

24. The instrument according to claim 22 wherein said bend of 20 to 80 degrees of angulation is a curvilinear transition from said first plane to said second plane.

25. The instrument according to claim 22 wherein said bottom surfaces, when adiacent one another and in an abutting position, possess no opening through said adiacent bottom surfaces to an interior portion of said instrument fingers.

26. The instrument according to claim 1 wherein said underlying blood vessel is the femoral artery and said bottom surfaces rest upon said femoral artery.

27. The instrument according to claim 19 wherein said bottom surfaces in a position adjacent each other together define an end surface adapted to interface the curved surface of the underlying blood vessel or body structure.

28. The instrument according to claim 22 wherein said bottom surfaces in a position adjacent each other together define an end surface adapted to interface with the curved surface of the underlying blood vessel or body structure.

29. The instrument according to claim 19 wherein said underlying blood vessel is the femoral artery.

30. The instrument according to claim 19 wherein each of said bottom surfaces is configured such that the said bottom surfaces lie flat upon the blood vessel or body structure to be engaged.

31. The instrument according to claim 19 wherein said juncture comprises a bend of 30 to 45 degrees of angulation with respect to said first plane, thereby disposing said straight instrument fingers in a second plane at an angle of 30 to 45 degrees to said first plane.

32. The instrument according to claim 19 wherein said bottom surfaces, when adjacent one another and are in an abutting position, possess no opening through said adjacent bottom surfaces to an interior portion of said instrument fingers.