Disposable biopsy forceps

Claim 2

A biopsy device comprising: a pair of biopsy jaws; an elongate flexible tubular member having a proximal end and a distal end; mounting means at the distal end of the tube for supporting said pair of biopsy jaws for movement between open and closed positions; a jaw actuating member carried at the distal end of the tube and controllably movable toward and away from the jaws, the actuating member being constructed and arranged to urge the jaws together when the actuating member is moved in one of said directions and for permitting the jaws to separate when moved in the other of said directions; and actuating means at the proximal end of the tube and connected to the actuating member for moving the actuating member selectively in either of said directions.

Claim 3

A biopsy device as defined in claim 1 further comprising: means for biasing the jaws toward their open position; said jaw actuating member being movable in one of its directions to urge the jaws to a closed position.

Claim 4

A biopsy device as defined in claim 2 further comprising: the jaw actuating member being constructed and arranged to engage the jaws directly.

Claim 5

A biopsy device as defined in claim 3 wherein the jaw actuating member is generally U-shaped and having a pair of distally extending fingers joined to each other at a base, the fingers being disposed to engage the jaws when the jaw actuating member is moved toward the jaws.

Claim 6

A biopsy device as defined in claim 4 wherein the fingers of the jaw actuating member engage the outwardly facing surfaces of the jaws.

Claim 7

A biopsy device as defined in claim 5 further comprising: detent means for engaging the jaw actuating member and jaws in the closed position.

Claim 8

A biopsy device as defined in claim 6 wherein the detent means comprises snap fit means emitting a detectable signal.

Claim 9

A biopsy device as defined in claim 4 wherein the mounting means comprises: a jaw support mounted to the end of the tubular member; the U-shaped jaw actuating member being movably mounted on the jaw support for movement in a proximal and distal direction; the jaws being mounted to the distal end of the jaw support.

Claim 10

A biopsy device as defined in claim 8 further comprising: a longitudinally extending slot formed in the jaw support to receive the U-shaped actuating member.

Claim 11

A biopsy device as defined in claim 9 further comprising the fingers of the jaw actuating member engage the outwardly facing surfaces of the jaws.

Claim 12

A biopsy device as defined in claim 10 further comprising: detent means for engaging the jaw actuating member and jaws in the closed position.

Claim 13

A biopsy device as defined in claim 9 further comprising: the means connecting the actuating means to the jaw actuating member comprises a control wire attached to the base of the actuating member.

Claim 14

A biopsy device as defined in claim 12 wherein the control wire passes through the jaw support.

Claim 15

A biopsy device as defined in claim 1 wherein the elongate flexible tubular member is sufficiently inelastic as to be non-distendable.

Claim 16

A biopsy device as defined in claim 2 further comprising: each of the jaws having a cup having a sharp rim at the distal end of the jaw; the jaws being hinged to each other at their proximal ends; the proximal ends of the jaws being hingedly mounted to the distal end of the jaw support.

Claim 17

A biopsy device as defined in claim 15 further comprising: a tissue retention spike formed in at least one of the cups.

Claim 18

A biopsy device as defined in claim 15 further comprising: said jaws being connected to each other at a pin hinge connection, the pin being connected to the distal end of the jaw support.

Claim 19

A biopsy device as defined in claim 15 wherein the jaws are connected to each other by a strip of spring material; the jaws being attached to the distal end of the jaw support by a pin overlying the spring strip and connected at its ends to the jaw support.

Claim 20

A biopsy device as defined in claim 2 wherein the jaw support and the jaws are injection molded in a single integral piece from a polymeric material, the jaws being connected to the distal end the jaw support at a juncture.

Claim 21

A biopsy device as defined in claim 19 further comprising: the jaw support having a longitudinally extending slot formed therein to receive the jaw actuating member.

Claim 22

A biopsy device as defined in claim 19 further comprising: a distally extending spike molded integrally and extending distally from the juncture of the jaws and the jaw support.

Claim 23

A biopsy device as defined in any of claims 1-21 wherein at least the cup and sharp rim of each of the jaws is injection molded from a polymeric material.

Claim 24

A biopsy device as defined in claim 1 wherein the mounting means for the jaws comprises: a tubular housing attached to the distal end of the tubular member, the housing having a pair of diametrally opposed holes formed adjacent the end thereof; an actuating member movable longitudinally within the tubular housing and having a pair of longitudinally extending diametrally opposed slots registrable with the holes in the tubular member; a pin connected to the holes in the tubular member and secured thereto, the pin extending through the diametrally opposed slots in the actuating member; the upper end of the actuating member having a diametrally extending bar and defining a pair of openings on opposite sides of said bar; said jaws being pivotable attached at their proximal ends to the pivot pin and extending distally through the openings on opposite sides of said bar; the distal ends of the jaws each carrying a cup defined by a cutting edge; said housing, actuating member and jaws being constructed and arranged so that when the actuating member is moved in a proximal direction the bar will engage the facing sides of the arms and spread the arms apart to an open position the actuating member is moved to a distal position, it engages the outwardly facing surfaces of the arms to urge them together, the proximal ends of the arms being received in the hollow of the tubular actuating member; the facing surfaces of the arms being formed to define a space receptive to the cross bar when the jaws are in their closed position.

Claim 25

A biopsy device as defined in claim 23 wherein each of the biopsy jaws includes a cup defined by a sharp rim, said cup and rim being injection molded from a polymeric material.