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EP0170482A2 Expired / Lapsed EP ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Instruments for use in treating deformed nails on a human patient

Assignee: ELLIS, CEDRIC REX
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Filing: 1985-07-23
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2005-07-23
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Abstract

Abstract Pliers 1 are disclosed for the treatment of ingrowing nails on the human body. The pliers 1 comprise first and second jaws 5, 6. The upper jaw 5 has a support member 11 on which there is mounted an electrical heating wire 13. A slot 8 in the lower jaw 6 is adapted to receive the support member 11 and wire 13. In use, the pliers 1 grip an ingrowing toe nail, and an electric heating current is applied to the wire 13, to cause local heating of the nail. The nail thus softens, and can be bent back into better shape, which shape is retained upon subsequent cooling of the nail. The lower jaw 6 is of a relatively great heat mass 6, so as to ensure that no undue heating of the nail plate occurs. Control circuitry is provided for controlling the heating current through the heating wire 13, optionally in dependence upon a detected temperature.

Inventors

  • 👤 Cedric Rex Ellis
  • 👤 Peter Graham Long
  • 👤 Christopher Allan Marshman
  • 👤 David James Gillery

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction EP
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-01 19:00
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B17/00; A61B17/54; A61B18/00; A61B18/04; A61B18/08; A61B18/082; A61B18/085; A61B2017/00017; A61B2017/00022; A61B2017/00084; A61B2017/00092

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim 75 words
An instrument for treating a horny structure on an animal body, the instrument comprising first and second jaws (5,6) adapted to grip part of a horny structure therebetween, and means (2,3) for closing and opening the jaws (5,6), characterised in that electrical heating means (13) is arranged to heat at least a portion (10) of the first jaw (5), and control means (20) is arranged to control the heating current through the electrical heating means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 75 words
An instrument for treating a horny structure on an animal body, the instrument comprising first and second jaws (5,6) adapted to grip part of a horny structure therebetween, and means (2,3) for closing and opening the jaws (5,6), characterised in that electrical heating means (13) is arranged to heat at least a portion (10) of the first jaw (5), and control means (20) is arranged to control the heating current through the electrical heating means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 11 words
An instrument according to Claim 1, being adapted to treat nails.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 18 words
An instrument according to Claim 1 or 2, in the form of a pair of pliers or forceps.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 27 words
An instrument according to Claim 1, 2 or 3 wherein said control means comprises a timer arranged to allow said current to flow for a predetermined time.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 19 words
An instrument according to Claim 4, wherein the timer includes indicator means arranged to indicate operation of the timer.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 21 words
An instrument according to any preceding claim, wherein said control means is operative to limit said current to a predetermined value.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 46 words
An instrument according to any preceding claim, wherein said control means includes temperature sensor means arranged to sense temperature in the vicinity of said first jaw portion, and said control means is arranged to control said current in response to an output of said sensor means.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 49 words
An instrument according to any preceding claim, wherein at least one of said jaws has an area which is arranged to be disposed adjacent the body of an animal and is so arranged as to undergo no appreciable rise in temperature under any heating effect of said heating means.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 25 words
An instrument according to Claim 8, wherein said one jaw has a heat mass which is high relative to that of said first jaw portion.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 20 words
An instrument according to Claim 8 or 9, wherein said one jaw is thermally insulated from said first jaw portion.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 105 words
An instrument for use in treating a horny structure on an animal body, the instrument comprising first and second jaws (5,6) adapted to grip part of a horny structure therebetween and means (2,3) for closing and opening the jaws (5,6) characterised in that electrical heating means (13) is provided to heat at least a portion (10) of the first jaws (5), and at least one of the jaws (5,6) has an area (16) which is arranged to be disposed adjacent the body of an animal and is so arranged as to undergo no appreciable rise in temperature under any heating effect of said heating means.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 105 words
An instrument for use in treating a horny structure on an animal body, the instrument comprising first and second jaws (5,6) adapted to grip part of a horny structure therebetween and means (2,3) for closing and opening the jaws (5,6) characterised in that electrical heating means (13) is provided to heat at least a portion (10) of the first jaws (5), and at least one of the jaws (5,6) has an area (16) which is arranged to be disposed adjacent the body of an animal and is so arranged as to undergo no appreciable rise in temperature under any heating effect of said heating means.

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