Sheathed surgical instrument and applicator kit

Claim 2

An applicator system for putting a removable cover or sleeve of a predetermined length onto an instrument, the applicator system comprising: spreader means selectively operable to engage the cover or sleeve and expand the cover or sleeve so the cover or sleeve can be received onto the instrument; stop means on said spreader means adjacent a distal end thereof to facilitate placement of the cover or sleeve on said spreader means prior to expansion thereof; storing means for said cover or sleeve further comprising: a base; a plurality of rods extending from said base, said rods extending through the cover or sleeve for support thereof until said spreader means is inserted into the cover or sleeve and spread apart for removal of the cover or sleeve from said base and placement on the instrument.

Claim 3

The applicator system of claim 1 further comprising: an instrument for surgical procedures comprising: an elongated body having a proximal and a distal end; means for performing a surgical procedure mounted to said distal end of said body, said surgical procedure means actuable between at least two positions, said surgical procedure means growing in transverse cross-section when moving between said positions; cover means having a tubular shape when substantially circumscribing and extending longitudinally at least in part over said surgical procedure means and extending toward said distal end of said body, said cover means remaining substantially in place longitudinally while flexing outwardly in response to a force created by said growing in transverse section of said means for performing a surgical procedure, which growing tends apply a force to said cover means tending to pull said cover means in a direction away from said body and said surgical means.

Claim 4

The instrument of claim 2, wherein: said surgical procedure means comprises a pair of jaws, at least one of which is movable with respect to the other to accomplish an open and closed position; said pair of jaws pivotally mounted to each other.

Claim 5

The instrument of claim 3, wherein: said jaws change in profile adjacent said pivotal mounting as said jaws are moved between said open and closed positions.

Claim 6

The instrument of claim 4, wherein: said cover means is a sleeve extending over said jaws at the area of said pivotal mounting of said jaws to each other; said sleeve having at most a clearance fit over said distal end of said body for retaining said sleeve substantially in a longitudinal position as said jaws are manipulated, causing said sleeve to flex radially.

Claim 7

The instrument of claim 5, further comprising: actuating means in said body to move said jaws between said open and closed positions.

Claim 8

The instrument of claim 6, futher comprising: linkage means connecting each of said jaws to said actuating means, said linkage means and jaws assuming no greater profile than said body in said closed position and assuming a greater profile than said body when said jaws are in said open position; said sleeve covering said linkage means and said pivotal mounting of said jaws to each other as said jaws are manipulated by said actuating means between said open and closed positions.

Claim 9

The instrument of claim 7, wherein: said linkage means further comprises: two links each having a proximal and distal end pinned to each other and to said actuating means at said proximal ends of said links, one of said links pinned at its said distal end to one of said jaws and the other of said links pinned at its said distal end to the other of said jaws, said pin connections between said jaws and said links both located proximally of said pivotal mounting of said jaws to each other, such that reciprocation of said actuating means causes said jaws to move between said open and closed positions.

Claim 10

The instrument of claim 8, wherein said sleeve is made of a polyurethane.

Claim 11

The instrument of claim 8, wherein said sleeve is made of rubber.

Claim 12

The instrument of claim 8, wherein said sleeve is a dielectric material.

Claim 13

The instrument of claim 8, wherein said cover means is a thermoplastic elastomer.

Claim 14

The instrument of claim 2, wherein said cover means is made of a polyurethane.

Claim 15

The instrument of claim 2, wherein said cover means is made of rubber.

Claim 16

The instrument of claim 2, wherein said cover means is made of a dielectric material.

Claim 17

The instrument of claim 2, wherein said cover means is a thermoplastic elastomer.

Claim 18

The applicator system of claim 1, wherein: said stop means further comprises a pair of opposed surfaces actuable away from each other by said spreader means; and said stop means further comprises a nonparallel surface extending from each of said opposed surfaces for connection to said spreader means; said nonparallel surfaces acting as travel stops for a cover as said pair of opposed surfaces is inserted into a cover for expansion and placement thereof onto an instrument.

Claim 19

The applicator system of claim 17, further comprising: means for storing covers in a manner to facilitate grasping them with said opposed surfaces.

Claim 20

The applicator system of claim 1 further comprising: an instrument kit comprising: an elongated body having a proximal and a distal end; means for performing a surgical procedure mounted to said distal end of said body, said surgical procedure means actuable between an open and closed position, said ssurgical procedure menas growing in transverse cross-section when moving between said open and closed positions; cover means having a tubular shape when substantially circumscribing and extending longitudinally at least in part over said surgical procedure means and extending to said distal end of said body, said cover means remaining substantially in place longitudinally while flexing outwardly in response to a force created by said growing transverse cross-section of said means for performing a surgical procedure, which growing tends to apply a force to said cover means tending to pull said cover means in a direction away from said body and said surgical procedure means, said cover means retained to said body and surgical procedure means by virtue of an interference fit thereon resulting from selective operation of said spreader means allowing said cover means to contract onto said body and said surgical procedure means.

Claim 21

The instrument kit of claim 19, wherein: said surgical procedure means comprises a pair of jaws, at least one of which is movable with respect to the other to accomplish said open and closed positions; said pair of jaws pivotally mounted to each other.

Claim 22

The instrument kit of claim 20, wherein: said jaws change in profile adjacent said pivotal mounting as said jaws are moved between said open and closed positions.

Claim 23

The instrument kit of claim 21, wherein: said cover means is a tubular sleeve extending over said jaws at the area of said pivotal mounting of said jaws to each other; said sleeve having at most a clearance fit over said distal end of said body for retaining said sleeve in a longitudinal position as said jaws are manipulated, causing said sleeve to flex radially.

Claim 24

The instrument kit of claim 19, wherein said cover means is made of a polyurethane.

Claim 25

The instrument kit of claim 19, wherein said cover means is made of silicone rubber.

Claim 26

The instrument kit of claim 19, wherein said cover means is a dielectric material.

Claim 27

The instrument of claim 19, wherein said cover means is a thermoplastic elastomer.

Claim 28

The applicator system of claim 1 further comprising: a removable and disposable sheath, comprising: an insulating material capable of removable mounting to the body of an instrument to substantially over an assembly mounted to the tip section of the body of the instrument, leaving a selected portion of the instrument exposed for electrocauterization, said insulating material retained against longitudinal movement with respect to the body when subjected to an increase in traverse cross-section of the assembly during its use by virtue of being formed into a tubular shape and interference fitted to the body.

Claim 29

The sheath of claim 27, further comprising: retaining means selectively mountable to said sheath to secure its longitudinal position of the body of the instrument.

Claim 30

The sheath of claim 28, wherein: said insulating material is a sheet formed into a tubular shape and mounted over a portion of the assembly; and said retaining means encircles said sheet at least in part.

Claim 31

The sheath of claim 27, wherein: said insulating material is preformed into a tubular shape.

Claim 32

The sheath of claim 27, wherein said insulating material is a thermoplastic elastomer.

Claim 33

The sheath of claim 27, wherein said insulating material is rubber.

Claim 34

The sheath of claim 27, wherein said insulating material is polyurethane.

Claim 35

An applicator system for putting a removable cover or sleeve of a predetermined length onto an instrument, the applicator system comprising: spreader means selectively operable to engage the cover or sleeve and expand the cover or sleeve so the cover or sleeve can be received onto the instrument; stop means on said spreader means adjacent a distal end thereof to facilitate placement of the cover or sleeve on said spreader means prior to expansion thereof; said stop means further comprises a pair of opposed surfaces actuable away from each other by said spreader means; said stop means further comprises a nonparallel surface extending from each of said opposed surfaces for connection to said spreader means; said nonparallel surfaces acting as travel stops for a cover or sleeve as said pair of opposed surfaces is inserted into a cover or sleeve for expansion and placement thereof onto an instrument; means for storing covers or sleeves in a manner to facilitate grasping them with said opposed surfaces; said storing means further comprises: a base; a plurality of rods extending from said base, said rods extending through the cover or sleeve for support thereof until said opposed surfaces are inserted into the cover or sleeve and spread apart for removal of the cover or sleeve from said storing means and placement on the instrument.

Claim 36

An applicator system for putting a removable cover or sleeve of a predetermined length onto an instrument, the applicator system comprising: spreader means selectively operable to engage the cover or sleeve and expand the cover or sleeve so the cover or sleeve can be received onto the instrument; stop means on said spreader means adjacent a distal end thereof to facilitate placement of the cover or sleeve on said spreader means prior to expansion thereof; said stop means further comprises a pair of opposed surfaces actuable away from each other by said spreader means; said stop means further comprises a nonparallel surface extending from each of said opposed surfaces for connection to said spreader means; said nonparallel surfaces acting as travel stops for a cover or sleeve as said pair of opposed surfaces is inserted into a cover or sleeve for expansion and placement thereof onto an instrument; means for storing covers or sleeves in a manner to facilitate grasping them with said opposed surfaces; said storing means further comprises: a base; a plurality of rods extending from said base, said rods extending through the cover or sleeve for support thereof until said opposed surfaces are inserted into the cover or sleeve and spread apart for removal of the cover or sleeve from said storing means and placement on the instrument.