Patent ID: 6106542
Filing Date: 2000-08-22
Classification: A61B

Abstract:
A surgical forceps assembly, comprising:first and second branch arms joined at proximal ends thereof so that distal ends thereof are springingly biased apart;first and second opposing tips, the first opposing tip at the distal end of the first branch arm, and the second opposing tip at the distal end of the second branch arm, wherein the first and second opposing tips are made of a first material;first and second platforms located on inside faces of the first and second opposing tips and portions of the distal ends of the first and second branch arms proximal to the first and second tips, respectively, wherein the first and second platforms are adapted to grasp a suture needle, wherein the first and second platforms are made from a second material and the second material is harder than the first material;an alignment pin attached perpendicular to a long axis of the first branch arm;an alignment bushing having a hole therein is incorporated into the second branch arm;the alignment pin and alignment bushing being positioned close to the distal ends of the first and second branch arms, and placed so as to engagingly cooperated together such that the alignment pin fits into the hole of the alignment bushing, wherein the first and second opposing tips cannot crossover each other; andfirst and second stops on an inside face of a central portion of the first branch arm, the first and second stops limiting how close the first and second branch arms come together, whereby a certain pressure between the first and second tips is not exceeded.