Cleanable, inspectable, and replaceable surgical instrument
US5507772A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | May 20, 1994 |
| Grant date | Apr 16, 1996 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | May 20, 2014 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
- CPC primaryA61B2217/005
- WIPO fieldMedical technology
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A surgical instrument includes a removable tip assembly having an elongated support member including a proximal end configured to be coupled to the handle and a distal end for insertion into a patient's body. The support member may either be straight or curved. The tip assembly also includes an operating unit coupled to the distal end of the support member, and a drive actuator having a distal end and a proximal end. The distal end of the drive actuator is pivotably coupled to the operating unit for moving the operating unit relative to the support member. The surgical instrument also includes a handle having a body portion formed to include an opening for receiving the proximal end of the tip assembly therein, a movable trigger configured to actuate the operating unit of the selected tip assembly, and a locking mechanism for removably coupling the selected tip assembly to the handle. The locking mechanism is movable from a first position to hold the selected tip assembly in a locked position relative to the handle to a second position to release the selected tip assembly from the handle and permit the removal of the selected tip assembly from the handle. The drive actuator can be …
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.