Thermal cautery surgical forceps

Claim 2

A thermocautery surgical forceps comprising: a surgical forceps body including a pair of elongate tine members extending from the forceps body to respective free end tip portions spaced from the forceps body, the tine members being mounted to the forceps body in a manner providing resilient compressible movement of the tine members between a normally open position wherein the tines are disposed in aligned, parallel, spaced-apart relationship and a squeezed closed position wherein the tip portions of the tine members are disposed in confronting abutting relationship; said tip portions of the tine members comprising respective heater elements having opposed flat gripping and heating surfaces defined on inner facing surfaces of respective tip portions, the heater elements connected to power source leads; and the tine members capable of being squeezed together toward their squeezed closed position to grippingly, squeezably engage tissue or blood vessels to be cauterized or sealed between the flat gripping and heating surfaces of said heater elements with the flat gripping and heating surfaces applying substantially uniform pressure and heat to the tissue or blood vessels gripped between the flat gripping and heating surfaces; further comprising an indicator configured to indicate an operative state of said heater elements.

Claim 3

A thermocautery surgical forceps comprising: a surgical forceps body including a pair of elongate tine members extending from the forceps body to respective free end tip portions spaced from the forceps body, the tine members being mounted to the forceps body in a manner providing resilient compressible movement of the tine members between a normally open position wherein the tines are disposed in aligned, parallel, spaced-apart relationship and a squeezed closed position wherein the tip portions of the tine members are disposed in confronting abutting relationship; said tip portions of the tine members comprising respective heater elements having opposed flat gripping and heating surfaces defined on inner facing surfaces of respective tip portions, the heater elements connected to power source leads; and the tine members capable of being squeezed together toward their squeezed closed position to grippingly, squeezably engage tissue or blood vessels to be cauterized or sealed between the flat gripping and heating surfaces of said heater elements with the flat gripping and heating surfaces applying substantially uniform pressure and heat to the tissue or blood vessels gripped between the flat gripping and heating surfaces; further comprising an indicator configured to indicate an operative state of said heater elements; wherein said indicator comprises a speaker.

Claim 4

A thermocautery surgical forceps comprising: a surgical forceps body including a pair of elongate tine members extending from the forceps body to respective free end tip portions spaced from the forceps body, the tine members being mounted to the forceps body in a manner providing resilient compressible movement of the tine members between a normally open position wherein the tines are disposed in aligned, parallel, spaced-apart relationship and a squeezed closed position wherein the tip portions of the tine members are disposed in confronting abutting relationship; said tip portions of the tine members comprising respective heater elements having opposed flat gripping and heating surfaces defined on inner facing surfaces of respective tip portions, the heater elements connected to power source leads; and the tine members capable of being squeezed together toward their squeezed closed position to grippingly, squeezably engage tissue or blood vessels to be cauterized or sealed between the flat gripping and heating surfaces of said heater elements with the flat gripping and heating surfaces applying substantially uniform pressure and heat to the tissue or blood vessels gripped between the flat gripping and heating surfaces; further comprising an indicator configured to indicate an operative state of said heater elements; wherein said indicator comprises a speaker.

Claim 5

A thermocautery surgical forceps comprising: a surgical forceps body including a pair of elongate tine members extending from the forceps body to respective free end tip portions spaced from the forceps body, the tine members being mounted to the forceps body in a manner providing resilient compressible movement of the tine members between a normally open position wherein the tines are disposed in aligned, parallel, spaced-apart relationship and a squeezed closed position wherein the tip portions of the tine members are disposed in confronting abutting relationship; said tip portions of the tine members comprising respective heater elements having opposed flat gripping and heating surfaces defined on inner facing surfaces of respective tip portions, the heater elements connected to power source leads; and the tine members capable of being squeezed together toward their squeezed closed position to grippingly, squeezably engage tissue or blood vessels to be cauterized or sealed between the flat gripping and heating surfaces of said heater elements with the flat gripping and heating surfaces applying substantially uniform pressure and heat to the tissue or blood vessels gripped between the flat gripping and heating surfaces; further comprising an indicator configured to indicate an operative state of said heater elements; wherein said indicator comprises a visual indicator.

Claim 6

A thermocautery surgical forceps comprising: a surgical forceps body including a pair of elongate tine members extending from the forceps body to respective free end tip portions spaced from the forceps body, the tine members being mounted to the forceps body in a manner providing resilient compressible movement of the tine members between a normally open position wherein the tines are disposed in aligned, parallel, spaced-apart relationship and a squeezed closed position wherein the tip portions of the tine members are disposed in confronting abutting relationship; said tip portions of the tine members comprising respective heater elements having opposed flat gripping and heating surfaces defined on inner facing surfaces of respective tip portions, the heater elements connected to power source leads; and the tine members capable of being squeezed together toward their squeezed closed position to grippingly, squeezably engage tissue or blood vessels to be cauterized or sealed between the flat gripping and heating surfaces of said heater elements with the flat gripping and heating surfaces applying substantially uniform pressure and heat to the tissue or blood vessels gripped between the flat gripping and heating surfaces; further comprising an indicator configured to indicate an operative state of said heater elements; wherein said indicator comprises a visual indicator.

Claim 7

A thermocautery surgical forceps comprising: a surgical forceps body including a pair of elongate tine members extending from the forceps body to respective free end tip portions spaced from the forceps body, the tine members being mounted to the forceps body in a manner providing resilient compressible movement of the tine members between a normally open position wherein the tines are disposed in aligned, parallel, spaced-apart relationship and a squeezed closed position wherein the tip portions of the tine members are disposed in confronting abutting relationship; said tip portions of the tine members comprising respective heater elements having opposed flat gripping and heating surfaces defined on inner facing surfaces of respective tip portions, the heater elements connected to power source leads; and the tine members capable of being squeezed together toward their squeezed closed position to grippingly, squeezably engage tissue or blood vessels to be cauterized or sealed between the flat gripping and heating surfaces of said heater elements with the flat gripping and heating surfaces applying substantially uniform pressure and heat to the tissue or blood vessels gripped between the flat gripping and heating surfaces; further comprising an indicator configured to indicate a level of battery power reserve.

Claim 8

A thermocautery surgical forceps comprising: a surgical forceps body including a pair of elongate tine members extending from the forceps body to respective free end tip portions spaced from the forceps body, the tine members being mounted to the forceps body in a manner providing resilient compressible movement of the tine members between a normally open position wherein the tines are disposed in aligned, parallel, spaced-apart relationship and a squeezed closed position wherein the tip portions of the tine members are disposed in confronting abutting relationship; said tip portions of the tine members comprising respective heater elements having opposed flat gripping and heating surfaces defined on inner facing surfaces of respective tip portions, the heater elements connected to power source leads; and the tine members capable of being squeezed together toward their squeezed closed position to grippingly, squeezably engage tissue or blood vessels to be cauterized or sealed between the flat gripping and heating surfaces of said heater elements with the flat gripping and heating surfaces applying substantially uniform pressure and heat to the tissue or blood vessels gripped between the flat gripping and heating surfaces; further comprising an indicator configured to indicate a level of battery power reserve.

Claim 9

A thermocautery surgical forceps comprising: a surgical forceps body including a pair of elongate tine members extending from the forceps body to respective free end tip portions spaced from the forceps body, the tine members being mounted to the forceps body in a manner providing resilient compressible movement of the tine members between a normally open position wherein the tines are disposed in aligned, parallel, spaced-apart relationship and a squeezed closed position wherein the tip portions of the tine members are disposed in confronting abutting relationship; said tip portions of the tine members comprising respective heater elements having opposed flat gripping and heating surfaces defined on inner facing surfaces of respective tip portions, the heater elements connected to power source leads; and the tine members capable of being squeezed together toward their squeezed closed position to grippingly, squeezably engage tissue or blood vessels to be cauterized or sealed between the flat gripping and heating surfaces of said heater elements with the flat gripping and heating surfaces applying substantially uniform pressure and heat to the tissue or blood vessels gripped between the flat gripping and heating surfaces; further comprising an indicator configured to indicate an operative state of said heater elements; wherein said indicator is configured to indicate when said heaters reach a predetermined operational temperature.

Claim 10

A thermocautery surgical forceps comprising: a surgical forceps body including a pair of elongate tine members extending from the forceps body to respective free end tip portions spaced from the forceps body, the tine members being mounted to the forceps body in a manner providing resilient compressible movement of the tine members between a normally open position wherein the tines are disposed in aligned, parallel, spaced-apart relationship and a squeezed closed position wherein the tip portions of the tine members are disposed in confronting abutting relationship; said tip portions of the tine members comprising respective heater elements having opposed flat gripping and heating surfaces defined on inner facing surfaces of respective tip portions, the heater elements connected to power source leads; and the tine members capable of being squeezed together toward their squeezed closed position to grippingly, squeezably engage tissue or blood vessels to be cauterized or sealed between the flat gripping and heating surfaces of said heater elements with the flat gripping and heating surfaces applying substantially uniform pressure and heat to the tissue or blood vessels gripped between the flat gripping and heating surfaces; further comprising an indicator configured to indicate an operative state of said heater elements; wherein said indicator is configured to indicate when said heaters reach a predetermined operational temperature.

Claim 11

A thermocautery surgical forceps comprising: a surgical forceps body including a pair of elongate tine members extending from the forceps body to respective free end tip portions spaced from the forceps body, the tine members being mounted to the forceps body in a manner providing resilient compressible movement of the tine members between a normally open position wherein the tines are disposed in aligned, parallel, spaced-apart relationship and a squeezed closed position wherein the tip portions of the tine members are disposed in confronting abutting relationship; said tip portions of the tine members comprising respective heater elements having opposed flat gripping and heating surfaces defined on inner facing surfaces of respective tip portions, the heater elements connected to power source leads; and the tine members capable of being squeezed together toward their squeezed closed position to grippingly, squeezably engage tissue or blood vessels to be cauterized or sealed between the flat gripping and heating surfaces of said heater elements with the flat gripping and heating surfaces applying substantially uniform pressure and heat to the tissue or blood vessels gripped between the flat gripping and heating surfaces; further comprising an indicator configured to indicate an operative state of said heater elements; wherein said indicator is configured to indicate a temperature of said heaters.

Claim 12

A thermocautery surgical forceps comprising: a surgical forceps body including a pair of elongate tine members extending from the forceps body to respective free end tip portions spaced from the forceps body, the tine members being mounted to the forceps body in a manner providing resilient compressible movement of the tine members between a normally open position wherein the tines are disposed in aligned, parallel, spaced-apart relationship and a squeezed closed position wherein the tip portions of the tine members are disposed in confronting abutting relationship; said tip portions of the tine members comprising respective heater elements having opposed flat gripping and heating surfaces defined on inner facing surfaces of respective tip portions, the heater elements connected to power source leads; and the tine members capable of being squeezed together toward their squeezed closed position to grippingly, squeezably engage tissue or blood vessels to be cauterized or sealed between the flat gripping and heating surfaces of said heater elements with the flat gripping and heating surfaces applying substantially uniform pressure and heat to the tissue or blood vessels gripped between the flat gripping and heating surfaces; further comprising an indicator configured to indicate an operative state of said heater elements; wherein said indicator is configured to indicate a temperature of said heaters.

Claim 13

A thermocautery surgical forceps comprising: a surgical forceps body including a pair of elongate tine members extending from the forceps body to respective free end tip portions spaced from the forceps body, the tine members being mounted to the forceps body in a manner providing resilient compressible movement of the tine members between a normally open position wherein the tines are disposed in aligned, parallel, spaced-apart relationship and a squeezed closed position wherein the tip portions of the tine members are disposed in confronting abutting relationship; said tip portions of the tine members comprising respective heater elements having opposed flat gripping and heating surfaces defined on inner facing surfaces of respective tip portions, the heater elements connected to power source leads; and the tine members capable of being squeezed together toward their squeezed closed position to grippingly, squeezably engage tissue or blood vessels to be cauterized or sealed between the flat gripping and heating surfaces of said heater elements with the flat gripping and heating surfaces applying substantially uniform pressure and heat to the tissue or blood vessels gripped between the flat gripping and heating surfaces; further comprising an indicator configured to indicate an operative state of said heater elements; wherein said indicator is configured to indicate an internal resistance of said heaters.

Claim 14

A thermocautery surgical forceps comprising: a surgical forceps body including a pair of elongate tine members extending from the forceps body to respective free end tip portions spaced from the forceps body, the tine members being mounted to the forceps body in a manner providing resilient compressible movement of the tine members between a normally open position wherein the tines are disposed in aligned, parallel, spaced-apart relationship and a squeezed closed position wherein the tip portions of the tine members are disposed in confronting abutting relationship; said tip portions of the tine members comprising respective heater elements having opposed flat gripping and heating surfaces defined on inner facing surfaces of respective tip portions, the heater elements connected to power source leads; and the tine members capable of being squeezed together toward their squeezed closed position to grippingly, squeezably engage tissue or blood vessels to be cauterized or sealed between the flat gripping and heating surfaces of said heater elements with the flat gripping and heating surfaces applying substantially uniform pressure and heat to the tissue or blood vessels gripped between the flat gripping and heating surfaces; further comprising an indicator configured to indicate an operative state of said heater elements; wherein said indicator is configured to indicate an internal resistance of said heaters.