Microsurgical instrument having dexterous handle with interchangeable instrument heads
US5370658A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Nov 5, 1992 |
| Grant date | Dec 6, 1994 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Nov 5, 2012 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
- CPC primaryA61F9/00754
- WIPO fieldMedical technology
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A microsurgical instrument is comprised of a handle and a plurality of interchangeable instrument heads. Each of the instrument heads is constructed to perform a microsurgical operation such as forcep clamping and scissors cutting in a plane parallel to a longitudinal axis of the instrument, and in a plane positioned at an angle relative to the longitudinal axis of the instrument. The instrument handle is comprised of an exterior surface formed as at least two lever arms that are manually manipulable laterally toward and away from the longitudinal axis of the instrument to control the surgical operation performed by the instrument head connected with the handle. Because the entire handle exterior surface is manipulated to operate the instrument head connected with the handle, the instrument need not be held at any specific orientation relative to the hand in order to easily operate the instrument head by manipulating the fingers of the hand.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.