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US4589631A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Surgical staple remover

Assignee: United States Surgical Corp
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Filing: 1984-09-28
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Granted: 1986-05-20
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Expires: 2004-09-28
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Abstract

Abstract A surgical staple remover has two pivotally connected arms, each of which is made up of a proximal handle piece and a distal nose piece. All four pieces are held together by a single pivot pin, and the handle and nose pieces of each arm interfit with one another so that both pieces of each arm pivot as a unit about the pivot pin. The nose piece of a first arm includes two, small, laterally spaced members which can be slipped under the backspan of a surgical staple to be removed. The nose piece of the second arm includes a single member which is initially between and above the two laterally spaced members. When the arms are manually squeezed together, the single member bends the center of the staple backspan down between the laterally spaced members and pivots the legs of the staple out of the tissue.

Inventors

  • 👤 Richard L. Markus

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-24 19:13
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B17/00; A61B17/076; B; B25; B25C; B25C11/00; B25C11/02

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim 368 words
A surgical staple remover comprising: a first longitudinal handle piece having a proximal handle portion and a distal aperture transverse to a first longitudinal axis which extends from the handle portion to the aperture of the first handle piece; a second longitudinal handle piece having a proximal handle portion and a distal aperture transverse to a second longitudinal axis which extends from the handle portion to the aperture of the second handle piece, the first and second longitudinal axes intersecting at the apertures of the first and second handle pieces and thereby defining a first plane to which the apertures of the first and second handle pieces are perpendicular; a first longitudinal nose piece having (a) a distal nose portion including two laterally spaced, distally extending fingers parallel to the first plane, (b) an intermediate aperture perpendicular to the first plane, and (c) proximal surfaces transverse to the first plane and nonconcentric with the aperture of the first nose piece, the proximal surfaces of the first nose piece mating with distal surfaces of the first handle piece when the aperture in the first handle piece and the aperture in the first nose piece are coaxial so that the first handle piece and the first nose piece pivot as a unit about the coaxial apertures; a second longitudinal nose piece having (a) a distal nose portion including a single distally extending finger laterally intermediate the two laterally spaced fingers and parallel to the first plane, (b) an intermediate aperture perpendicular to the first plane, and (c) proximal surfaces transverse to the first plane and nonconcentric with the aperture of the second nose piece, the proximal surfaces of the second nose piece mating with distal surfaces of the second handle piece when the aperture in the second handle piece and the aperture in the second nose piece are coaxial so that the second handle piece and the second nose piece pivot as a unit about the coaxial apertures; and a pivot pin through the coaxial apertures in all of the first and second pieces, the pivot pin being the sole means for holding together any two of the first and second handle pieces and the first and second nose pieces.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 368 words
A surgical staple remover comprising: a first longitudinal handle piece having a proximal handle portion and a distal aperture transverse to a first longitudinal axis which extends from the handle portion to the aperture of the first handle piece; a second longitudinal handle piece having a proximal handle portion and a distal aperture transverse to a second longitudinal axis which extends from the handle portion to the aperture of the second handle piece, the first and second longitudinal axes intersecting at the apertures of the first and second handle pieces and thereby defining a first plane to which the apertures of the first and second handle pieces are perpendicular; a first longitudinal nose piece having (a) a distal nose portion including two laterally spaced, distally extending fingers parallel to the first plane, (b) an intermediate aperture perpendicular to the first plane, and (c) proximal surfaces transverse to the first plane and nonconcentric with the aperture of the first nose piece, the proximal surfaces of the first nose piece mating with distal surfaces of the first handle piece when the aperture in the first handle piece and the aperture in the first nose piece are coaxial so that the first handle piece and the first nose piece pivot as a unit about the coaxial apertures; a second longitudinal nose piece having (a) a distal nose portion including a single distally extending finger laterally intermediate the two laterally spaced fingers and parallel to the first plane, (b) an intermediate aperture perpendicular to the first plane, and (c) proximal surfaces transverse to the first plane and nonconcentric with the aperture of the second nose piece, the proximal surfaces of the second nose piece mating with distal surfaces of the second handle piece when the aperture in the second handle piece and the aperture in the second nose piece are coaxial so that the second handle piece and the second nose piece pivot as a unit about the coaxial apertures; and a pivot pin through the coaxial apertures in all of the first and second pieces, the pivot pin being the sole means for holding together any two of the first and second handle pieces and the first and second nose pieces.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 15 words
The apparatus defined in claim 1 wherein the pivot pin is a double headed rivet.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 28 words
The apparatus defined in claim 1 wherein the first and second handled pieces are made of plastic and the first and second nose pieces are made of metal.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 26 words
The apparatus defined in claim 3 wherein each of the first and second handle pieces and each of the first and second nose pieces is unitary.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 147 words
The apparatus defined in claim 1 wherein the second handle piece includes an intermediate first finger extending transversely in the direction away from the longitudinal axis of the second handle piece and toward the longitudinal axis of the first handle piece, the first finger having a first shoulder surface facing toward the longitudinal axis of the second handle piece, and wherein the first handle piece includes (a) a second resilient spring finger for contacting the first finger and for resiliently urging the first finger in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the second handle piece, and (b) an intermediate second shoulder surface facing away from the longitudinal axis of the second handle piece for contacting the first shoulder surface to prevent the spring finger from pushing the first finger more than a predetermined distance in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the second handle piece.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 59 words
The apparatus defined in claim 1 wherein the portion of each of the first handle piece and first nose piece adjacent the pivot pin is laterally bifurcated, and wherein the portion of each of the second handle piece and second nose piece adjacent the pivot pin passes through the bifurcation in the first handle piece and first nose piece.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 434 words
A surgical staple remover comprising: a first longitudinal handle piece having a proximal handle portion and a distal aperture transverse to a first longitudinal axis which extends from the handle portion to the aperture of the first handle piece; a second longitudinal handle piece having a proximal handle portion and a distal aperture transverse to a second longitudinal axis which extends from the handle portion to the aperture of the second handle piece, the first and second longitudinal axes intersecting at the apertures of the first and second handle pieces and thereby defining a first plane to which the apertures of the first and second handle pieces are perpendicular; a first longitudinal nose piece having (a) a distal nose portion includling two laterally spaced, distally extending fingers parallel to the first plane, (b) an intermediate aperture perpendicular to the first plane, and (c) proximal surfaces transverse to the first plane and nonconcentric with the aperture of the first nose piece, the proximal surfaces of the first nose piece mating with distal surfaces of the first handle piece when the aperture in the first handle piece and the aperture in the first nose piece are coaxial so that the first handle piece and the first nose piece pivot as a unit about the coaxial apertures; a second longitudinal nose piece having (a) a distal nose portion including a single distally extending finger laterally intermediate the two laterally spaced fingers and parallel to the first plane, (b) an intermediate aperture perpendicular to the first plane, and (c) proximal surfaces transverse to the first plane and nonconcentric with the aperture of the second nose piece, the proximal surfaces of the second nose piece mating with distal surfaces of the second handle piece when the aperture in the second handle piece and the aperture in the second nose piece are coaxial so that the second handle piece and the second nose piece pivot as a unit about the coaxial apertures; and a pivot pin through the coaxial apertures in the first and second handle pieces and the first and second nose pieces; wherein the portion of each of the first handle piece and the first nose piece adjacent the pivot pin is laterally bifurcated, wherein the portion of each of the second handle piece and the second nose piece adjacent the pivot pin passes through the bifurcation in the first handle piece and first nose piece, wherein the second nose piece is also laterally bifurcated adjacent the pivot pin, and wherein the distal portion of the second handle piece extends into the bifurcation in the second nose piece.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 434 words
A surgical staple remover comprising: a first longitudinal handle piece having a proximal handle portion and a distal aperture transverse to a first longitudinal axis which extends from the handle portion to the aperture of the first handle piece; a second longitudinal handle piece having a proximal handle portion and a distal aperture transverse to a second longitudinal axis which extends from the handle portion to the aperture of the second handle piece, the first and second longitudinal axes intersecting at the apertures of the first and second handle pieces and thereby defining a first plane to which the apertures of the first and second handle pieces are perpendicular; a first longitudinal nose piece having (a) a distal nose portion includling two laterally spaced, distally extending fingers parallel to the first plane, (b) an intermediate aperture perpendicular to the first plane, and (c) proximal surfaces transverse to the first plane and nonconcentric with the aperture of the first nose piece, the proximal surfaces of the first nose piece mating with distal surfaces of the first handle piece when the aperture in the first handle piece and the aperture in the first nose piece are coaxial so that the first handle piece and the first nose piece pivot as a unit about the coaxial apertures; a second longitudinal nose piece having (a) a distal nose portion including a single distally extending finger laterally intermediate the two laterally spaced fingers and parallel to the first plane, (b) an intermediate aperture perpendicular to the first plane, and (c) proximal surfaces transverse to the first plane and nonconcentric with the aperture of the second nose piece, the proximal surfaces of the second nose piece mating with distal surfaces of the second handle piece when the aperture in the second handle piece and the aperture in the second nose piece are coaxial so that the second handle piece and the second nose piece pivot as a unit about the coaxial apertures; and a pivot pin through the coaxial apertures in the first and second handle pieces and the first and second nose pieces; wherein the portion of each of the first handle piece and the first nose piece adjacent the pivot pin is laterally bifurcated, wherein the portion of each of the second handle piece and the second nose piece adjacent the pivot pin passes through the bifurcation in the first handle piece and first nose piece, wherein the second nose piece is also laterally bifurcated adjacent the pivot pin, and wherein the distal portion of the second handle piece extends into the bifurcation in the second nose piece.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 45 words
The apparatus defined in claim 7 wherein the bifurcated portion of the second nose piece has at least one inwardly extending dimple for releasably engaging an aperture in the portion of the second handle piece which extends into the bifurcation in the second nose piece.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 82 words
The apparatus defined in claim 7 wherein the first nose piece is adjacent and bears on both inner surfaces of the bifurcation in the first handle piece, wherein the second nose piece is adjacent and bears on both inner surfaces of the bifurcation in the first nose piece, and wherein the second nose piece includes proximal, outwardly extending pads for contacting both inner surfaces of the bifurcation in the first handle piece at a location which is spaced from the pivot pin.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US3283557A Cited
US3344649A Cited
US3926195A Cited
US3833953A Cited
US4026520A Cited
US4073179A Cited
USD271742S Cited
WO1983000428A1 Cited
US4465071A Cited
EP0597781A1 Cited
EP1071571A1 Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1989-05-19 1989-11-18 1990-05-20 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1993-05-19 1993-11-18 1994-05-20 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1997-05-19 1997-11-18 1998-05-20 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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