WO2004000143A1

WO2004000143A1 - Disposable surgical forceps and method for making same

Info

Publication number: WO2004000143A1
Application number: PCT/FR2003/001898
Authority: WO
Inventors: Philippe Paoli
Original assignee: Supra Medical
Priority date: 2002-06-21
Filing date: 2003-06-20
Publication date: 2003-12-31
Also published as: FR2841119A1; FR2841119B1

Abstract

The invention concerns disposable surgical forceps and a method for making same. The technical field of the invention is the manufacture of surgical instruments. The invention relates to surgical, aesthetic or veterinary forceps, comprising two elongated plastic arms each including a proximal end (9, 10) via which the arms (2, 3) are mutually integral and each comprising a distal jaw (11, 12) and a grip zone (13, 14) extending between the proximal end and the distal jaw, each arm increasing in width in its grip zone.

Description

Disposable surgical forceps and method of making the same

The present invention relates to a disposable surgical forceps and a method for its manufacture.

The technical field of the invention is that of the manufacture of surgical instruments.

The present invention relates more particularly to a surgical instrument which can be actuated manually by a practitioner to grasp body tissues (in particular the eyeball and its membranes), to immobilize a body organ or a part of such an organ, or to pull, hold and / or block a suture.

The invention is particularly applicable to surgical tweezers and tweezers, which have two arms each having, on their external face, a gripping region on which the practitioner presses one of his two fingers by which he holds and actuates (closes) the tweezers .

Multiple-use surgical instruments need to be sterilized and / or decontaminated between two successive uses; the techniques for ensuring perfect decontamination are very complex, from a technical, logistical and administrative point of view, and are therefore expensive; these techniques are moreover unsuitable for surgical practices performed outside an important infrastructure such as a hospital; therefore, disposable surgical instruments have been designed; however, the known single-use surgical instruments have certain drawbacks which constitute an obstacle to the generalization of their use.

The present invention aims to provide an instrument - in particular surgical forceps (e) - improved single use (e).

An object of the invention is to provide a disposable surgical instrument - or clamp - which at least partially remedies the drawbacks of known disposable surgical instruments - and / or surgical clamps. According to a first aspect, the invention provides forceps for surgical, aesthetic or veterinary use (??), comprising two elongated plastic arms each having a proximal end by which the arms are mutually integral, and each comprising a distal jaw and a gripping region extending between the proximal end and the distal jaw, in which each arm is widened in its gripping region.

This widening has the consequence that the corresponding part of each arm has greater stiffness, which facilitates the mutual contacting of the jaws by deformation of the arms; this enlargement also has the consequence that the support of the practitioner's fingers on each of the jaws of the forceps is more stable, which allows a more precise movement for closing the jaws; the grip stability is also improved when at least one of the grip regions - and preferably the two regions respectively provided on each arm - has a depression relative to the longitudinal profile of the arm, this depression having an oval and / or elongated outline towards the jaw; in this case in particular, the gripping region preferably comprises several parallel or concentric ribs - in particular a network of overlapping ribs of oval shape.

This widening of the arm in its gripping region results in the fact that its width in the gripping region is greater than that which it has at its proximal end, and is in particular close to twice this; the width of the grip region is also greater than that of the distal jaw, and in particular at least equal to ten times the width of the jaw, for example close to 20 to 30 times this latter width; preferably, the ratio of the width of the grip region to the average thickness of the arms is at least equal to 3, in particular situated in a range going from 5 to 10.

In order to improve the precision of the closing movement of the jaws of the clamp, each arm is preferably provided with mutual guide means which project on the internal face of each arm, which are able to fit together and / or ' engage one in the other, and which extend between the jaw and the gripping region and / or at the height thereof.

Preferably, the gripping regions further extend on the distal side of the arms, which also facilitates precise closing movement of the jaws of the forceps. In order to properly control the deformation of the arms and jaws when closing the clamp, according to another aspect of the invention, each arm has a transverse rib projecting from the external face of the arms, which extends between the gripping region and the bit.

According to another aspect, the invention provides surgical forceps comprising two elongated plastic arms each comprising a proximal end by which the arms are integral with one another, the arms each comprising a distal jaw and a region of digital support extending between the proximal end and the distal jaw, a substantial part of the longitudinal profile of the arms being generally curved and having a concavity turned towards the longitudinal axis of the forceps; preferably, the clamp further comprises means for relative positioning of the two arms, so as to ensure alignment and relative longitudinal alignment very precise during the joining of the two arms, which are manufactured separately.

According to another aspect, the invention consists in manufacturing each arm separately, each arm being provided with precise mutual positioning means, then in assembling the two arms by engaging said positioning means in each other.

The method according to the invention makes it possible to obtain with great precision two arms having curved and / or complex shapes, and makes it possible to obtain a clamp having good precision in closing the jaws after assembling the arms using the means positioning integrated into each arm; preferably, these means comprise two pairs of complementary centering members - male and female -; according to a particular embodiment, a first arm is provided with two parallel cylindrical pins or projections while a second arm is pierced with two orifices whose spacing corresponds to that of the pins of the first arm; the pins are provided to engage without play in these orifices, until two bearing faces - respectively provided on the proximal internal face of each of the arms - are in mutual contact; a final joining of the two arms in this position is then carried out by localized melting of the plastic material constituting the arms, or else by bonding of the facing faces, or else by crimping of the pins passing through the centering orifices; preferably, the proximal ends of the arms are in the form of flat plates which are superimposed after assembly. Although the invention is particularly suitable for ophthalmic surgery, the forceps according to the invention can be used in other fields of surgery, body aesthetics and veterinary care.

In particular for its application to ophthalmic surgery, each jaw preferably has a tapered tip, the cross section of which is generally at most equal to 1 mm ² and the length of which is at least 2 mm, in particular of the order of 5 mm; this tapered tip has an elongated planar internal face, the two planar faces respectively equipping the tapered points of the two jaws being designed to rest on one another when the clamp is strongly tightened; this allows easy gripping, by pinching between these flat faces, a suture thread and / or living tissue; one of the tapered points is preferably terminated by a tooth projecting from the internal face of the jaw, while the tapered point of the second jaw is terminated by a groove or cavity of profile complementary to that of the tooth and in which the tooth can be engaged when closing the clamp; the dimensions - in cross section - of the tooth and / or of the groove or cavity are preferably less than or equal to 0.5 mm - in particular of the order of 0.2 to 0.3 mm; this facilitates the use of the forceps during surgical operations under a microscope.

Preferably, the elongated internal faces of the tapered points have, when the points are brought into mutual contact - by engagement of the tooth of one in the groove of the other -, a first angle of closure (opening towards the end proximal of the forceps) whose value is in a range from 5 to 30 °, in particular from 10 to 20 °; from this first configuration of closing the clamp, by a more intense pinching force, the user can cause the mutual pressing of the two elongated internal faces of the tapered points, thanks to a deformation of the arms and jaws; during this deformation, the engagement of the tooth in the groove completes the action of the mutual guide means, so as to avoid a relative (lateral) sliding of the elongated internal pinching faces.

More preferably, the elongated internal faces of the tapered points have, when the clamp is "at rest", in a configuration where the jaws are spaced by several millimeters, a second angle of "closure", the value of which is less than that of the first closing angle; the value of this second closing angle is preferably of the order of 1 to 10 °, in particular of the order of 5 °; this facilitates the engagement of the tooth in the groove or cavity when the clamp is closed.

According to another aspect, the invention proposes a pliers made of plastic material comprising two arms respectively terminated by two jaws, a detachable appendage being fixed by a bridge of small section to at least one of the arms and of which a part extends in the extension at least one of the two jaws, so as to protect it (s) from impact and to form a witness of first use; preferably this appendage has a wall extending in the extension of the two jaws, and the point of attachment of the appendage to the clamp is disposed on the side - the edge - of one of the arms, so as to simplify its obtaining by molding.

For this purpose also, the arms - and where appropriate the removable appendage - having a substantially constant thickness - with the exception in particular of the projections mentioned above - which is preferably situated in a range from 1 to 3 mm .

Other advantages and characteristics of the invention will be understood through the following description which refers to the accompanying drawings, and which illustrates without any limiting character of the preferred embodiments of the invention.

Figures 1 and 2 illustrate a clamp according to the invention equipped with a detachable jaw protection appendage; FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the clamp, while FIG. 2 is a top view - along II - of the clamp of FIG. 1.

Figure 3 is a longitudinal sectional view of the clamp of Figures 1 and 2 after separation of the detachable appendix, and is a view along III - III of Figure 2; in Figure 3, the clamp is open.

Figures 4 and 5 illustrate in longitudinal sectional view two separate configurations for closing the clamp of Figures 1 to 3; in FIG. 4, the jaws are in contact by their toothed ends only, while in FIG. 5, the jaws are deformed so as to be in contact by their respective elongated internal faces.

Figure 6 is a detail view along VI of Figure 3, on an enlarged scale; FIGS. 7 and 8 are end views - along VII and VIII respectively - of each of the two jaws of the clamp of FIGS. 1 to 6. Figure 9 is a view - along IX - detail on an enlarged scale of Figure 3, which illustrates the mutual positioning members of the arms for their attachment.

With reference to Figures 1 to 3 in particular, the clamp 1 consists of two arms 2, 3 having an elongated shape along a longitudinal axis 4 of the clamp, and an appendage 5 fixed to the arm 3 detachably.

In order to facilitate the separation of the appendix from the edge 6 of the arm 3, the end 7 of the appendage which connects it to the arm has a reduced cross-section - and / or thickness, with respect to the thickness - or section - of the arm 3 on the one hand, as well as the thickness of the central part 8 - in the form of an arch - of the appendix.

The arm 3 has a proximal end 9 by which it is fixed to the proximal end 10 of the arm 2; the arms 2 and 3 are each provided with a jaw 11, 12 at their end.

Each arm 2, 3 further comprises a part or region 13, 14 respectively of digital support used for gripping and closing the clamp by pinching between two fingers (of the user) in respective support on these parts or regions .

As illustrated in FIG. 3, the longitudinal profile of the arms 2, 3 is, with the exception of their proximal parts 9, 10 and digital support 13, 14, generally curved (curved), the concavity of the profiles being directed towards the axis longitudinal median 4; the support regions 13 and 14 form a hollow or depression relative to the external face 15, 16 of the arms, have an oval outline, elongated in the longitudinal direction (axis 4), and each comprise a network of concentric ribs (see Figures 1 to 3).

Two complementary systems for mutual guidance of the arms when the clamp is closed are illustrated in FIG. 3 in particular: a first guidance results from the sliding of a projection 139 provided on the internal face 32 of the arm 3, between two projections 140 of shapes complementary to that of the projection 139 which are provided on the internal face 33 of the arm 2; a second guide similar to the first guide is marked 39, 40, which produces its effects after the projection 139 is engaged between the projections 140.

Furthermore, the deformation of the portion of the arms extending between the digital support region and the jaws is reduced due to the presence of a rib. transverse external 100, 101 respectively provided in this part of each arm.

As illustrated in FIG. 2, the support region 14 extends from the distal side of the arm 3, that is to say between its distal end 11 and a midpoint 17; it is the same for the support region 13, the clamp being generally - with the exception in particular of appendix 5 and of the relative positioning members of the arms described below - substantially symmetrical with respect to a plane orthogonal to plane of Figure 3 and containing axis 4.

By way of example, the clamp has a length 18 of 10 cm, a maximum width 19 of 15 mm, a proximal width 20 of 7 mm and an average thickness 99 close to 2 millimeters.

As illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, the appendix 5 comprises a wall 21 in the form of a cylindrical cap, which extends in the extension of the jaws 11, 12 and which is suspended from the central part 8 of the appendix.

After rupture of the bridge 7 of material connecting the appendix 5 to the arm 3, the clamp is usable and is presented as illustrated in FIGS. 3 to 9.

With reference to FIGS. 3 and 9, the end 10 of the arm 2 is in the form of a plate and has on its internal face 22 two lugs 23, 24 cylindrical with axes 25, 26 parallel, which are respectively engaged in two orifices 27, 28 drilled in the end 9 of the arm 3 which is also in the form of a thin plate.

These members allow precise relative positioning of the two arms with a view to their final connection which is obtained by bonding their respective faces 22, 29 facing each other, by welding the arms in mutual support by these two faces.

22, 29 or, as shown in FIG. 9, by deformation of the pins 23, 24 resulting in their crimping in the orifices 27, 28.

With reference to FIGS. 6 to 8 in particular, each jaw 11, 12 is in the form of a tapered point and has a bearing face 30, 31 which extends on the internal face 32, 33 of the arm 2, 3 (and of the jaw corresponding) almost parallel to axis 4; these faces are - in the open position of the clamp shown in Figures 3 and 6 - substantially opposite one another and extends in two planes perpendicular to the planes of these Figures 3 and 6; the trace 34, 35 (FIG. 6) of these planes forms an angle 36, said to be closure, the value of which is increased when, as shown in FIG. 4, the arms are brought into mutual contact by their digital ends.

In this position, a tooth 37 provided at the end of the jaw 12 of the arm 2 is engaged in a groove 38 of shape complementary to that of the tooth, which is provided at the end of the jaw 11 of the arm 3; in - or in the vicinity - of this first configuration for closing the clamp, a guide projection 39 provided on the internal face 32 of the arm 3 engages in a guide cavity delimited by two projections 40 provided on the internal face 33 of the arm 2; these guide members make it possible to avoid that, during the application of a more intense gripping force, a torsion or a lateral flexion of the arms and / or the jaws does not cause a disengagement of the tooth 37 from the groove 38.

By a more intense pinching between the fingers of a user pressing on said gripping regions, the deformation of the jaws 11, 12 resting one on the other by their respective distal end, as well as the deformation of the arms 2, 3 result in the "flattening" of the arms and in mutual contact with the elongated faces 30, 31 of the gripping of the jaws, as illustrated in FIG. 5.

Claims

1. Surgical, cosmetic or veterinary forceps (1), comprising two elongated arms (2, 3) made of plastic material each having a proximal end (9, 10) by which the arms are mutually integral and each comprising a jaw (1 1, 12) distal and a gripping region (13, 14) extending between the proximal end and the distal jaw, characterized in that each arm is widened in its gripping region.

2. Pliers according to claim 1, in which a substantial part of the longitudinal profile of the arms being generally curved and having a concavity turned towards the longitudinal axis of the pliers.

3. Clamp according to claims 1 or 2, wherein the jaws form a closing angle (36), in the open position of the clamp.

4. Pliers according to any one of claims 1 to 3, in which the ratio of the width (19) of the gripping regions to the average thickness (99) of the arms is at least equal to 3, in particular located in a range from 5 to 10.

5. Pliers according to any one of claims 1 to 4, in which each arm has a transverse rib (100, 101) projecting from the external face (15, 16) of the arms, which extends between the gripping region and the bit.

6. Pliers according to any one of claims 1 to 6, in which at least one gripping region of one of the arms has a depression relative to the profile of the arm, as well as ribs, the depression having an oval or elongated outline. .

7. Clamp according to any one of claims 1 to 6, in which each arm is provided with guide means (39, 40, 139, 140) which protrude from the internal face (32, 33) of each arm, which are able to fit and / or engage one another, and which extend between the jaw and the gripping region, and / or at the level thereof.

8. Pliers according to any one of claims 1 to 7, in which the gripping regions extend from the distal side of the arms.

9. Clamp according to any one of claims 1 to 8, which further comprises integrated means for relative positioning of the two arms.

10. Clamp according to claim 9, in which the means for relative positioning of the two arms comprise two pairs of members (23, 24, 27, 28) for complementary centering.

1 1. Pliers according to claim 10, in which two male centering members (23, 24) are in the form of a pin and two female centering members (27, 28) are in the form of orifices, said centering members being integrated at the proximal ends of the two arms which are in the form of superimposed flat plates.

12. Pliers according to any one of claims 1 to 1 1, in which a first jaw has a tapered tip having a first elongated flat internal face (31) and an end tooth (37), and in which a second jaw has a tapered tip comprising a second elongated flat inner face (30) capable of resting on the first face, and a groove (38) or cavity in which the tooth of the first jaw can engage when the clamp is closed , which tapered points have a cross section less than or equal to 1 mm ² and a length (42) at least equal to 2 mm.

13. Pliers according to claim 12, in which said elongated internal nip faces have an angle (36) of closure when the tapered points are brought into contact by their respective ends.

14. Pliers according to claims 1 to 13 which comprises a detachable appendage (5), a part (21) of which extends in the extension of at least one jaw.

15. A method of manufacturing a clamp according to any one of claims 9 to 14, wherein each arm is manufactured separately, each arm being provided with precise mutual positioning means, then the two arms are assembled by engaging each the others said positioning means.