Maxillary frenum clamping tool
The maxillary frenum clamping tool includes two articulating members, each of the members having a clamping end and a gripping end. The clamping ends of the articulating members are curved to retract the upper lip while clamping the maxillary labial frenum and have blunt tips to minimize damage to the surrounding tissue. Immediately below the blunt tips, each member defines a jaw section having a serrated inner edge. The outer edges of the jaw sections define guide indentations for guiding a curved suture needle. The gripping end of each member defines a finger loop and part of a ratcheting lock mechanism for locking the members at set positions. During use, the clamping too may be used to clamp the maxillary frenum with the jaw portions so that the clamped tissue can be easily sutured using the guide indentations.
1. A maxillary frenum clamping tool, comprising:
first and second articulating members, each of the members having:
a central pivot plate, the pivot plates each having opposing lateral sides, the pivot plates being pivotally disposed one above the other;
a lower shank extending downward from one side of the pivot plate, the lower shank having a terminal end and a finger loop defined at the terminal end; and
an upper shank extending upward from the opposite side of the pivot plate, the upper shanks of the first and second members extending parallel to and abutting each other when the first and second members are pivoted to approximate the upper shanks in a clamping position, the lower shanks being spaced apart and extending obliquely away from each other in the clamped position, the first and second members being pivotal to an open position in which the upper shanks separate from each other, the upper shanks each having a blunt tip end at a distal end of each upper shank, each blunt tip end including a distal end, a proximal end, an inner surface, and being arcuately curved parallel to each other between the distal end of the blunt tip end and the proximal end of the blunt tip end, wherein the inner surfaces of each of the blunt tip ends defines a planar surface, the blunt tip ends being adapted for retracting a patient's upper lip above the patient's maxillary labial frenum in the clamping position;
a hinge pin extending centrally through the overlapping pivot plates to pivotally attach the first and second articulating members;
a clamping jaw section defined on the upper shanks of the first and second articulating members, the clamping jaw section being disposed between the hinge pin and the proximal end of the blunt tip end, the clamping jaw section including:
a serrated edge, the serrated edge extending below the blunt tip end and being solely disposed on the clamping jaw section, the serrated edges of the first and second articulating members meshing when the first and second members are pivoted to approximate the upper shanks in a clamping position; and
a plurality of guides extending in series opposite the serrated edge, the guides being adapted for guiding a curved suture needle when suturing folds of the maxillary labial frenum, the plurality of guides comprises an alternating series of projections and arcuate indentations defining a continuous scalloped formation, wherein the projections and arcuate indentations of the plurality of guides disposed on the first articulating member are aligned with the projections and arcuate indentations of the plurality of guides disposed on the second articulating member; and
a first lock plate and a second lock plate extending from the lower shanks of the first and second articulating members, respectively, the lock plates overlapping and having selectively interlocking ratcheting teeth in order to selectively lock the first and second articulating members in the clamping position with folds of the maxillary labial frenum clamped between the serrated edges of the clamping jaw sections of the upper shanks.
2. The maxillary frenum clamping tool according to claim 1 , wherein the serrated edge of each of the clamping jaw sections is disposed lower than the opposing plurality of guides.
3. The maxillary frenum clamping tool according to claim 1 , wherein the upper shank of each of the first and second articulating members defines a face extending between the serrated edge and the opposing plurality of guides.
4. The maxillary frenum clamping tool according to claim 3 , wherein said face is concave.
5. The maxillary frenum clamping tool according to claim 1 , wherein the blunt tip end of each of the upper shanks has a planar face, the planar faces of the blunt tip ends abutting each other when the first and second articulating members are pivoted to the clamping position.
6. The maxillary frenum clamping tool according to claim 1 , wherein the blunt tip end of each of the upper shanks has rounded edges adapted for reducing tears in mucosal tissue when the blunt tip ends retract the patient's upper lip to expose the maxillary labial frenum.
7. The maxillary frenum clamping tool according to claim 1 , wherein the tool is made from stainless steel.