US3576072A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Surgical instrument
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1969-09-29
•
Granted: 1971-04-27
•
Expires: 1989-09-29
Abstract
Abstract Surgical forceps for cutting and removing skin sutures, comprising tweezerlike grasping arms with a suture-receiving lateral slot near the tip of one arm, and a member intermediate the arms which advances across the slot to part a suture held there, when the arms are squeezed together.
Inventors
- 👤 James Bernard Turner Foster
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 19:27
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B17/00; A61B17/30; A61B17/04; A61B17/0467; A61B17/00234; A61B2017/00353; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S7/00; Y10S7/90
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
104 words
Surgical forceps for coordinate parting and grasping of skin sutures, comprising: tweezer means having joined upper and lower arms with opposed tip means for grasping; structure defining a suture-receiving slot opening lateral of the lower arm near the tip; and means cooperative with the slot for suture parting, consisting of an inner member having one end adjacent the slot and substantially laterally coextensive with the slot, with the other end affixed to the tweezer means, and an intermediate length thereof diagonally deployed between the arms for advancement of said one end across the slot on compressive straightening of the inner means between said arms.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
104 words
Surgical forceps for coordinate parting and grasping of skin sutures, comprising: tweezer means having joined upper and lower arms with opposed tip means for grasping; structure defining a suture-receiving slot opening lateral of the lower arm near the tip; and means cooperative with the slot for suture parting, consisting of an inner member having one end adjacent the slot and substantially laterally coextensive with the slot, with the other end affixed to the tweezer means, and an intermediate length thereof diagonally deployed between the arms for advancement of said one end across the slot on compressive straightening of the inner means between said arms.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
30 words
Surgical forceps as recited in claim 1, wherein said one end of the inner member comprises a cutting edge laterally extending between said opposed tips next adjacent the lower arm.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
16 words
Surgical forceps as recited in claim 2, wherein the slot in the lower arm is canted.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
27 words
Surgical forceps as recited in claim 3, wherein the lateral extent of said one end of the inner member is canted oppositely the cant of the slot.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
31 words
Surgical forceps as recited in claim 1, wherein the lower arm has a groove receiving a substantial portion of the thickness of the inner member and guiding said one end thereof.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
22 words
Surgical forceps as recited in claim 1, wherein said slot-defining structure includes a sharp upper edge of the slot adjacent said tip.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
38 words
Surgical forceps as recited in claim 2, wherein said slot-defining structure includes a sharp upper edge of the slot adjacent said tip, and wherein said laterally extending cutting edge is adapted to pass over the sharp upper edge.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
23 words
Surgical forceps as recited in claim 1, wherein said other end of the inner member is affixed at the joinder of the arms.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
23 words
Surgical forceps as recited in claim 8, wherein the upper arm has structure for guiding the inner member at said intermediate length thereof.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
33 words
Surgical forceps as recited in claim 1, wherein the inner member originates at said other end intermediate the length of an arm and wherein said other end is recurved toward said tip means.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
38 words
Surgical forceps as recited in claim 1, wherein the inner member originates at said other end intermediate the length of the upper arm, and wherein the upper arm has an opening above a portion of the inner member.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
17 words
Surgical forceps as recited in claim 11, wherein the opening divides the tip of the uPper arm.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
34 words
Surgical forceps as recited in claim 2, wherein said slot-defining structure includes a raised portion adapted to receive cutting edge thereagainst on advancement of said one end of the inner member across the slot.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
35 words
Surgical forceps as recited in claim 1, wherein the tip of the lower arm is reduced to an edge around the outer margin, with the edge tapering in section into the arm beyond said slot.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
43 words
Surgical forceps as recited in claim 10, wherein the upper arm has recessed means for receiving and guiding a portion of said intermediate length of the inner member, and wherein the lower arm has recessed means for receiving and fixing said recurved end.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-04-26 | 1974-10-26 | 1975-04-27 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-04-26 | 1978-10-26 | 1979-04-27 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-04-26 | 1982-10-26 | 1983-04-27 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |