Laparoscopic grasper and cutter

Claim 2

A surgical instrument, which comprises: a rotatable combination shaft having a proximal end and a distal end; said rotatable shaft combination comprising: an outer hollow shaft; an inner shaft slidably positioned axially in said outer hollow shaft; means at said distal end of said inner shaft for cutting; anchor means at said proximal end of said inner shaft; a pair of distal and proximal squeeze handles pivotally secured together; mounting means on each of said handles; means attached to said mounting means on said proximal handle for releasably securing said anchor means at said proximal end of said inner shaft; stationary barrel means having a proximal end and a distal end, and having an axial bore and mounted on said mounting means of said distal handle; movable barrel means having an axial bore and mounted at said distal end of said stationary barrel means; means for engaging said shaft combination with said removable barrel means so that both can rotate in unison; clutch means for allowing said shaft combination and said rotatable barrel means to temporarily disengage from said stationary barrel means to allow angular adjustment of said means for cutting on said shaft combination; and cartridge means positioned in said axial bore of said movable barrel and said axial bore of said stationary barrel means for holding said movable barrel means, said shaft combination, said stationary barrel means and said clutch means together as a unit; said cartridge means having an axial bore for allowing said inner shaft to reciprocate therein.

Claim 3

The surgical instrument as recited in claim 1 wherein said means attached to said mounting means on said proximal handle for releasably securing said anchor means at said proximal end of said shaft includes a socket with a quick-release button.

Claim 4

The surgical instrument as recited in claim 2 wherein said anchor means at said proximal end of said shaft includes a ball-like tip so that said socket will secure said tip and yet allow said inner shaft to rotate and reciprocate when desired, and allows said inner shaft to be removed by pressing said quick-release button and pulling said inner shaft out from said outer shaft.

Claim 5

The surgical instrument as recited in claim 1 wherein said mounting means on each of said handles includes a yoke and a brace.

Claim 6

The surgical instrument as recited in claim 1 wherein said pair of distal and proximal squeeze handles pivotally secured together include angled shanks and braces so that when said pair of handles are squeezed together by the surgeon during the operation, said socket is pulled proximally relative to said stationary hollow shaft whereby said hollow shaft and supports remain stationary while said means for cutting at said proximal end of said inner shaft are cutting tissue.

Claim 7

The surgical instrument as recited in claim 1 wherein said means at said distal end of said inner shaft for cutting includes a pair of opposed scissor-like blades, each said blade being secured to said proximal end of said inner shaft with a flexible arm angled outwardly from the axis of said shaft combination, said blades and flexible arms flexing together in response to the surgeon squeezing said pair of handles in order to cut tissue positioned between said pair of blades.

Claim 8

The surgical instrument as recited in claim 1 wherein said inner shaft can be removed from said instrument and replaced with another shaft.

Claim 9

The surgical instrument as recited in claim 1 wherein said inner shaft and said means for cutting can be rotated about its axis by actuating and turning said clutch means.

Claim 10

A surgical instrument, which comprises: a rotatable combination shaft having a proximal end and a distal end; said rotatable shaft combination comprising: an outer hollow shaft; an inner shaft; means at said distal end of said inner shaft for cutting; anchor means at said proximal end of said inner shaft; a pair of distal and proximal squeeze handles pivotally secured together; locking means on said handles for keeping said handles closed unless a release means is disengaged; mounting means on each of said handles; means attached to said mounting means on said proximal handle for releasably securing said anchor means to said proximal end of said inner shaft; stationary barrel means having a proximal end and a distal end, and having an axial bore, and mounted on said mounting means of said distal handle; gear teeth means on said proximal end of said stationary barrel means forming a ring of gear teeth; movable barrel means mounted at said distal end of said stationary barrel means; means for engaging said shaft combination with said movable barrel means so that both can rotate in unison; thumb wheel means having a distal face and a proximal face and mounted on said inner shaft and distal to said stationary barrel; a ring of gear teeth means on said distal face of said thumb wheel means for complementary mating with said gear teeth means on said stationary barrel means; clutch means for allowing said shaft combination and rotatable barrel means to temporarily disengage from said stationary barrel means to allow angular adjustment of said means for cutting on said shaft combination; cartridge means positioned in said axial bore of said movable barrel and said axial bore of said stationary barrel for holding said movable barrel, said shaft combination, said stationary barrel and said clutch means together as a unit; said cartridge means having an axial bore for allowing said inner shaft to reciprocate therein.

Claim 11

A surgical instrument, which comprises: a rotatable combination shaft having a proximal end and a distal end; said rotatable shaft combination comprising: an outer hollow shaft; an inner shaft; means at said distal end of said inner shaft for cutting; anchor means at said proximal end of said inner shaft; a pair of distal and proximal squeeze handles pivotally secured together; locking means on said handles for keeping said handles closed unless a release means is disengaged; mounting means on each of said handles; means attached to said mounting means on said proximal handle for releasably securing said anchor means to said proximal end of said inner shaft; stationary barrel means having a proximal end and a distal end, and having an axial bore, and mounted on said mounting means of said distal handle; gear teeth means on said proximal end of said stationary barrel means forming a ring of gear teeth; movable barrel means mounted at said distal end of said stationary barrel means; means for engaging said shaft combination with said movable barrel means so that both can rotate in unison; thumb wheel means having a distal face and a proximal face and mounted on said inner shaft and distal to said stationary barrel; a ring of gear teeth means on said distal face of said thumb wheel means for complementary mating with said gear teeth means on said stationary barrel means; clutch means for allowing said shaft combination and rotatable barrel means to temporarily disengage from said stationary barrel means to allow angular adjustment of said means for cutting on said shaft combination; cartridge means positioned in said axial bore of said movable barrel and said axial bore of said stationary barrel for holding said movable barrel, said shaft combination, said stationary barrel and said clutch means together as a unit; said cartridge means having an axial bore for allowing said inner shaft to reciprocate therein.

Claim 12

The surgical instrument as recited in claim 9 wherein said means attached to said mounting means on said proximal handle for releasably securing said anchor means at said proximal end of said shaft includes a socket with a quick-release button.

Claim 13

The surgical instrument as recited in claim 10 wherein said anchor means at said proximal end of said shaft includes a ball-like tip so that said socket will secure said tip and yet allow said inner shaft to rotate and reciprocate when desired, and allow said inner shaft to be removed by pressing said quick-release button and pulling said inner shaft out from said outer shaft.

Claim 14

The surgical instrument as recited in claim 9 wherein said mounting means on each of said handles includes a yoke and a brace.

Claim 15

The surgical instrument as recited in claim 9 wherein said pair of distal and proximal squeeze handles pivotally secured together include angled shanks and braces so that when said pair of handles are squeezed together by the surgeon during the operation, said socket is pulled proximally relative to said stationary hollow shaft whereby said hollow shaft and supports remain stationary while said cutting means at said proximal end of said inner shaft are cutting tissue.

Claim 16

The surgical instrument as recited in claim 9 wherein said means at said distal end of said inner shaft for cutting includes a pair of opposed scissor-like blades, each said blade being secured to said proximal end of said inner shaft with a flexible arm angled outwardly from the axis of said shaft combination, said blades and flexible arms flexing together in response to the surgeon squeezing said pair of handles in order to cut tissue positioned between said pair of blades.

Claim 17

The surgical instrument as recited in claim 9 wherein said inner shaft can be removed from said instrument and replaced with another shaft.

Claim 18

The surgical instrument as recited in claim 9 wherein said inner shaft and said means for cutting can be rotated about its axis.

Claim 19

A monopolar laparoscopic electrocautery laparoscopic surgical instrument, which comprises: a rotatable combination shaft having a proximal end and a distal end; said rotatable shaft combination comprising: an outer hollow shaft; an inner shaft slidably positioned axially in said outer hollow shaft; means at said sital end of said inner shaft for cutting; anchor means at said proximal end of said inner shaft; a pair of distal and proximal squeeze handles pivotally secured together; means on said handles and said instrument for receiving an electric cored and transmitting electric current to said means for cutting on said distal end of said inner shaft; mounting means on each of said handles; means attached to said mounting means on said proximal handle for releasably securing said anchor means at said proximal end of said inner shaft; stationary barrel means having a proximal end and a distal end, and having an axial bore and mounting on said mounting means of said distal handle; movable barrel means having an axial bore and mounted at said distal end of said stationary barrel means; means for engaging said shaft combination with said movable barrel means so that both can rotate in unison; clutch means for allowing said shaft combination and said rotatable barrel means to temporarily is engage from said stationary barrel means to allow angular adjustment of said means for cutting on said shaft combination; cartridge means postioned in said axial bore of said movable barrel and said axial bore of said stationary barrel for holding said movable barrel, said shaft combination, said stationary barrel and said clutch means together as a unit; said cartridge means having an axial bore for allowing said inner shaft to reciprocate therein; and electric insulation means covering the exterior of said instrument for protection against electric shock whenever electric current is passed through said instrument.

Claim 20

A monopolar laparoscopic electrocautery laparoscopic surgical instrument, which comprises: a rotatable combination shaft having a proximal end and a distal end; said rotatable shaft combination comprising: an outer hollow shaft; an inner shaft slidably positioned axially in said outer hollow shaft; means at said sital end of said inner shaft for cutting; anchor means at said proximal end of said inner shaft; a pair of distal and proximal squeeze handles pivotally secured together; means on said handles and said instrument for receiving an electric cored and transmitting electric current to said means for cutting on said distal end of said inner shaft; mounting means on each of said handles; means attached to said mounting means on said proximal handle for releasably securing said anchor means at said proximal end of said inner shaft; stationary barrel means having a proximal end and a distal end, and having an axial bore and mounting on said mounting means of said distal handle; movable barrel means having an axial bore and mounted at said distal end of said stationary barrel means; means for engaging said shaft combination with said movable barrel means so that both can rotate in unison; clutch means for allowing said shaft combination and said rotatable barrel means to temporarily is engage from said stationary barrel means to allow angular adjustment of said means for cutting on said shaft combination; cartridge means postioned in said axial bore of said movable barrel and said axial bore of said stationary barrel for holding said movable barrel, said shaft combination, said stationary barrel and said clutch means together as a unit; said cartridge means having an axial bore for allowing said inner shaft to reciprocate therein; and electric insulation means covering the exterior of said instrument for protection against electric shock whenever electric current is passed through said instrument.

Claim 21

The surgical instrument as recited in claim 17 wherein said means attached to said mounting means on said proximal handle for releasably securing said anchor means at said proximal end of said shaft includes a socket with a quick-release button.

Claim 22

The surgical instrument as recited in claim 18 wherein said anchor means at said proximal end of said shaft includes a ball-like tip so that said socket will secure said tip and yet allow said inner shaft to rotate and reciprocate when desired, and allow said inner shaft to be removed by pressing said quick-release button and pulling said inner shaft out from said outer shaft.

Claim 23

The surgical instrument as recited in claim 17 wherein said mounting means on each of said handles includes a yoke and a brace.

Claim 24

The surgical instrument as recited in claim 17 wherein said pair of distal and proximal squeeze handles pivotally secured together include angled shanks and braces so that when said pair of handles are squeezed together by the surgeon during the operation, said socket is pulled proximally relative to said stationary hollow shaft whereby said hollow shaft and supports remain stationary while said cutting at said proximal end of said inner shaft are cutting tissue.

Claim 25

The surgical instrument as recited in claim 17 wherein said means at said distal end of said inner shaft for cutting includes a pair of opposed scissor-like blades each said blade being secured to said proximal end of said inner shaft with a flexible arm angled outwardly from the axis of said shaft combination, said blades and flexible arms flexing together in response to the surgeon squeezing said pair of handles in order to cut tissue positioned between said pair of blades.

Claim 26

The surgical instrument as recited in claim 17 wherein said inner shaft can be removed from said instrument and replaced with another shaft.

Claim 27

The surgical instrument as recited in claim 17 wherein said inner shaft and said means for cutting can be rotated about its axis.