Patent ID: 6010523
Filing Date: 2000-01-04
Classification: A61B

Abstract:
Forceps instrument of the biopsy-forceps type, comprising, on the end of a rigid or flexible sheath (1,3), in which may slide an elongate maneuvering element (2), two jaw-pieces (9), one of which, at least, is capable of being moved away from and of being moved towards the other when said maneuvering element (2) slides axially in the end of the sheath (1,3), wherein said jaw-piece or jaw-pieces (9), capable of being moved away from and of being moved towards each other have, in the extension of a part of the jaw-pieces acting as the jaws proper (10), an arm (13), which goes progressively toward an axis (A--A) of the sheath (1,3) so as to form a first, internal, inclined surface (14), going progressively towards the axis (A--A) and facing the latter, a second, external, inclined surface (15) also going progressively towards the axis (A--A) and facing the internal surface of the end of the sheath (1,3), said arm (13) having a convex excrescence (16) capable of sliding substantially against said internal surface of the end of the sheath (1,3), said excrescence (16) having, facing the axis (A--A), a substantially spherical concave hollow cavity (18), wherein said sheath (1,3) has, near its end beyond which the said jaw proper (10) extends, a transverse element (8) against which the said internal surface (14) of the said arm (13) slides, and wherein said elongate maneuvering element (2) terminates in a ball (20) housed in said spherical cavity (18) so that, when said elongate maneuvering element (2) is moved towards the free end of the sheath (1,3), it pushes said jaw-piece (9) back beyond the end, thus causing the internal surface (14) of said arm (13), which slides over said transverse element (8), to pivot by a ramp effect, moving the jaw of the jaw-piece away from the other jaw, said movement away from the other jaw being allowed by the inclination of said external surface (15) which protrudes from the end of the internal surface of the sheath (1,3), said excrescence (16) of the arm pivoting, during this movement, about said ball (20) while still being guided in said sheath (1,3), the reverse movement of the maneuvering element (2) causing the jaw-pieces (9) to come together by a reverse movement.