Modular forceps
View Patent ↗A forceps system is disclosed, including a handle and a shaft-and-jaw assembly. The handle includes an immovable proximal handgrip and a lever resiliently pivotably coupled to the immovable proximal handgrip, such that exertion of a manual gripping force on the lever pivots the lever in a proximal direction toward the handgrip. The shaft-and-jaw assembly is releasably couplable to the handle, the shaft-and-jaw assembly including at least one pivotable jaw member normally biased to an open configuration, the open configuration of the jaws corresponding to a released configuration of the handle, the jaws being moved to a closed configuration upon the exertion of the manual gripping force on the lever, pivoting the lever toward the handgrip.
1 . A modular forceps, comprising:
a handle assembly, including
a palm grip,
a receiver fixedly coupled to the palm grip, and
a lever, pivotably coupled to the receiver and distally positioned relative to the palm grip, the receiver defining an upwardly open slot and a distal end opening; and
a shaft-and-jaw assembly releasably couplable to the handle assembly, the shaft-and-jaw assembly including
a frame having a cavity therein,
an elongated hollow tube extending distally from a forward end of the frame, the hollow tube having opposed proximal and distal open ends, the hollow tube in communication with the cavity, the tube slidably received within the frame,
a jaw assembly disposed on the distal end of the hollow tube, the jaw assembly including at least a pivotable jaw pivotably mounted to the distal end of the hollow tube, and
an actuation member fixedly coupled to the frame and the pivotable jaw, the tube axially movable relative to the actuation member, and an end of the lever engageable with a proximal end of the tube, such that pivoting movement of the lever toward the palm grip causes the lever to exert a pushing force on the tube, causing the distal end of the tube to, in turn, pivot the pivotable jaw from an open position to a closed position, and further comprising an assembly lock mechanism, comprising:
a receiver collar portion extending distally from a front region of the receiver;
a frame collar portion extending distally from a front region of the frame, the receiver and frame collar portions at least partially mating to form a complete collar encircling a proximal portion of the hollow tube,
the receiver and frame collar portions having on an external surface thereof, threaded sections that, upon mating of the receiver and frame portions, forms an at least substantially continuous external thread; and
an assembly lock cylinder, through which the hollow tube is inserted, the assembly lock cylinder having internal threading therein, such that upon insertion of the shaft-and-jaw assembly into the receiver, the assembly lock cylinder may be reversibly and removably screwed onto the receiver and frame collar portions to maintain the shaft-and-jaw assembly securely in position in the handle assembly during use.
2 . A modular forceps, comprising:
a handle assembly, including
a palm grip,
a receiver fixedly coupled to the palm grip, and
a lever, pivotably coupled to the receiver and distally positioned relative to the palm grip, the receiver defining an upwardly open slot and a distal end opening; and
a shaft-and-jaw assembly releasably couplable to the handle assembly, the shaft-and-jaw assembly including
a frame having a cavity therein,
an elongated hollow tube extending distally from a forward end of the frame, the hollow tube having opposed proximal and distal open ends, the hollow tube in communication with the cavity, the tube slidably received within the frame,
a jaw assembly disposed on the distal end of the hollow tube, the jaw assembly including at least a pivotable jaw pivotably mounted to the distal end of the hollow tube, and
an actuation member fixedly coupled to the frame and the pivotable jaw, the tube axially movable relative to the actuation member, and an end of the lever engageable with a proximal end of the tube, such that pivoting movement of the lever toward the palm grip causes the lever to exert a pushing force on the tube, causing the distal end of the tube to, in turn, pivot the pivotable jaw from an open position to a closed position, and further comprising an assembly lock mechanism, comprising:
a receiver collar portion extending distally from a front region of the receiver;
a frame collar portion extending distally from a front region of the frame, the receiver and frame collar portions at least partially mating to form a complete collar encircling a proximal portion of the hollow tube,
the receiver and frame collar portions defining collectively, a substantially smooth external surface; and
an assembly lock cylinder, through which the hollow tube is inserted, the assembly lock cylinder having a substantially smooth internal surface, the respective smooth internal and external surfaces interfacing with a forced frictional or interference fit, when the assembly lock cylinder is pushed onto the collar, to maintain the shaft-and-jaw assembly securely in position in the handle assembly during use.